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Lesser Wanderer Caterpillar

Lesser Wanderer caterpillar

Danaus chrysippus petilia (Stoll)
Lesser wanderer [Danaus petilia] caterpillar. Image: belindacopland / CC-BY-NC

Lesser wanderer Danaus petilia caterpillar. Image: belindacopland / CC-BY-NC

Pūtoi
Order
Lepidoptera
Whānau
Family
Nymphalidae
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Te Rahi

  • Up to 40mm long.

Size range

  • Up to 40mm long.

Te Tītaringa

  • Ka kitea nuitia mai i Āwherika ki Ahitereiria, me ētahi o ngā moutere a Kiwa.

Distribution

  • Common from Africa to Australia and some Pacific Islands
  • Sometimes seen in New Zealand in mid–late summer, apparently blown over from Australia

Te Huringa Ora

  • He wā anō ka kitea i Aotearoa i ngā marama whakamutunga o te raumati, te āhua nei i kawea mai rā runga hau mai i Ahitereiria.

Life history

  • Food plant for caterpillar is swan plant
  • Sometimes breeds in New Zealand