Butterflies of
Thailand, Malaysia &
Borneo
Orange Albatross
Appias nero figulina
BUTLER, 1867
Family - PIERIDAE
subfamily -
PIERINAE
Tribe - PIERINI
introduction
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habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
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Appias
nero, male,
Taman Negara, West Malaysia |
Introduction
Entomologists
disagree about
the classification of Appias.
Some consider that the South American species
drusilla, and the African
sylvia and
lasti belong in this genus, while others prefer to place
them in Glutophrissa. Disregarding
those, there are about
23-28
Appias species, comprising 7-8
species from the Australian region, and 16-20 from the Oriental
region.
Appias nero is instantly
distinguished from other Appias
species by the deep orange colour on the upperside of both sexes.
In freshly emerged specimens this is very vivid, but the colour fades to pale
orange-yellow after a few days. Males have dark veins on the
upperside forewings but are otherwise unmarked. Females differ
in having broad dark borders and a dark subapical streak on the
upperside.
This species is
found from Sikkim to Singapore, and on the islands of Sumatra,
Borneo, Sulawesi, Java and Palawan.
Habitats
Females
are scarce, and seen mainly at elevations above 500m, so this is
presumably where the insect breeds. Males are more commonly seen
at lower altitudes, seeking minerals.
They can often be seen in small groups along riverbanks during
the peak March-June flight season, but are never as abundant as
their relatives lyncida and
paulina.
Lifecycle
I have no data regarding nero,
but the larvae of other Appias
species, e.g. lyncida and
albina are green, with a pair of
anal points. They feed on Capparis.
Adult behaviour
Males are
usually seen in one's and two's,
but occasionally congregate in groups of a dozen or so to imbibe
mineralised moisture from damp sandbanks, normally in company
with other Pierinae. They sometimes also
settle on rocks and pebbles, and can be seen expelling droplets
of moisture from the anus, using the recycled fluids to dissolve
crystallised sodium. The fluids are then re-imbibed, and by
repeating this process many times the butterflies are imbibe
enough salts to replenish those lost during mating. The process
is commonly called filter-feeding.
In hazy or cool
sunny conditions both sexes will bask on rocks, with wings held
half open.
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