Images contributed by Indian
photographer Jacky Changmai
Butterfly populations are a very good indicator of the health of an area's ecosystem !!
Appias olferna are native to southern Asia and south western Oceania.
They are found in India from Bengal to Assam. and also in Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam, in Indochina; and on Christmas Island off Australia. also in Biñan Laguna, Philippines.
Although common in countries such as India, Sri Lanka and Myanmar, the Striped Albatross only established itself in Singapore and Malaysia about 70 years ago. The species has become rather common due to the widespread occurrence of its local host plant, Cleome rutidosperma, which is a weed found in many areas.
The fast flying adults are most active in sunny weather and frequently visit flowers for nectar.
They can be found in open habitats such as the fringe of a nature reserve, wastelands, grass fields and even in urban and residential areas.
The males have the habit of puddling for mineral intakes.
They get their name from the male butterfly, which is white with prominent black veins on the underside.
The female is dark dusted with yellow wing bases. Appias olferna is a small butterfly of the Philippine subspecies is Appias olferna peducaea (Fruhstorfer, 1910), distributed in Bohol, Cebu, Jolo, Luzon, Marinduque, Mindoro, Mindanao, Negros, Palawan.
Caterpillar diet: Cleome,rutidosperma (Capparaceae, common name: Purple Cleome, Fringed Spiderflower).
Avg. wingspan: 5.5 cm / 1.98"
Family: Pieridae.
The single biggest threat to butterfly survival is habitat destruction!!
