Apaturina erminea (Cramer, [1779])
 APATURINAE, NYMPHALIDAE

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley

(updated 5 July 2003)


Guinea Bissau 1984

These Caterpillars are thought to feed on :

  • Celtis latifolia ( ULMACEAE ).


    Papua New Guinea     1966

    The adult butterfly of this species is black with an iridescent blue-green patch at the base of each wing. There is a diagonal band of orange spots across each forewing and two white spots at each forewing apex. Each hindwing has an eyespot. The undersides are similar but with no iridescence. The butterflies have a wingspan of about 7 cms.

    The butterflies have been observed feeding on various liquids, including sap, rotting fruits, and even bird droppings.

    This species is found as various subspecies in

  • New Guinea,
  • the Solomons,
  • Indonesia, and rarely on
  • the Cape York Peninsula in Australia.

    Further reading :

    Michael F. Braby, Butterflies of Australia, CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne 2000, vol. 2, p. 533.

    G.A. Wood, First record of Apaturina erminea (Cramer) (Lepidoptera:Nymphalidae) from Australia, Australian Entomological Magazine, Volume 8 (1981), p. 1.

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