Striped albatross (Appias libythea) is a species of butterfly belonging to the family Pieridae. These are medium-to-large-sized butterflies; in males, the tips of the forewings are pointed, whereas in females, they are rounded. In both sexes, vein 9 on the forewing branches off before the end of vein 10.
Males possess a pair of hair tufts located between the eighth abdominal segment and the saccus (a male reproductive structure). On the dorsal (upper) side, the wings are white with black, serrated margins. In females, the wings are covered with numerous black scales, accented by several broad white stripes and a row of yellow spots in the submarginal area of the forewings.
On the ventral (underside), the wings of the male are white, while those of the female appear dusted with yellow. The veins are covered in dark scales. A yellow stripe runs along the costa (leading edge) of each hindwing; this stripe is both broader and longer in females than in males.
Eggs are laid singly on the leaves or floral parts of the host plant. They are spindle-shaped and stand upright on one end, measuring approximately 1 mm in height—roughly 2.5 times their width. The surface features vertical grooves and numerous transverse lines. The vertical grooves terminate at low projections surrounding the micropyle. Initially white, the eggs turn orange overnight and typically hatch within two days.
The larvae are 1.8 mm long and possess a yellowish-orange head capsule. Their cylindrical, yellowish-orange bodies are adorned with rows of small tubercles—positioned sub-dorsally, dorso-laterally, and laterally—that extend along the length of the body. Each tubercle bears a short seta (fine hair) with a tiny droplet of fluid at its tip. The larvae consume their empty eggshells as their first meal, then move on to feeding on leaf tissue. After consuming foliage, their bodies take on a greenish hue. Growth during the first instar stage is rapid, with the larvae reaching a length of 4 mm. After approximately 1.5 days in the first instar phase, they undergo a molt to enter the second instar phase.
The 2nd instar has a yellowish-green body with tubercles and setae similar to those of the 1st instar. Numerous small, cone-shaped tubercles are scattered across the body surface. The head capsule turns pale yellow. The lateral surfaces of the body are covered in small, light-brown spots. At the posterior (rear) end, there are two very small, short, pointed projections. This instar stage lasts for approximately 1.5 days, with a body length of 5.5–6 mm.
The 3rd instar is very similar to the 2nd, though a faint yellowish band appears along the dorsal (back) side, accompanied by a greenish hue. The head capsule becomes yellowish-green. The two pointed projections at the posterior (anal) end are more clearly visible. This stage lasts 1–1.5 days, with a body length of 9 mm.
The 4th instar retains all the characteristics of the 3rd, but a white lateral line appears below the spiracles. Initially faint, this line becomes more distinct as the larva grows. A number of long, fine setae emerge along the sides of the body, just below this white lateral line. This stage lasts 1–1.5 days, with a body length of 17.5 mm.
The 5th instar is very similar to the 4th. Numerous tubercles, ranging in color from blue to dark blue, are scattered across the body surface, giving it a spotted appearance. The green head capsule is covered in many cone-shaped tubercles, with fine setae emerging from most of them. The 5th instar lasts for 2–2.5 days, with a body length of 33 mm.
On the final day of the 5th instar, the body shortens and takes on a dull, pale green color. The larva stops feeding and remains stationary on the lower part of the host plant's stem or on a larger, nearby leaf. Typically, caterpillars prefer vertical or steeply inclined surfaces. They spin a silk pad and a silk girdle to anchor themselves, then remain stationary with their heads facing upward in preparation for pupation.
The process of pupation occurs 0.5 days later. The pupa is yellowish-green and remains anchored by the same silk girdle used during the pre-pupal phase; however, its posterior end is now attached to the silk pad on the stem via a cremaster (a hook-like structure), which replaces the function of the prolegs (claspers). The pupa features a long, pointed, slightly curved, yellow cephalic horn on its head. There is also a prominent, sharply raised thoracic ridge on the dorsal side of the second thoracic segment, marked by a white to yellow line along its crest.
Abdominal segments 2–4 extend laterally, forming tooth-like projections, with the most pronounced ones appearing on either side of the second abdominal segment. Two dorsolateral lines—predominantly white but interrupted in two places by yellow—run from the second abdominal segment to the posterior tip. The pupa measures 21–22 mm in length.
After developing for about 5 days, the pupal cuticle becomes translucent as the developmental process inside the pupal casing nears completion. The patterns on the dorsal side of the forewings become clearly visible, which can serve as an indicator of the sex of the adult butterfly about to emerge. The following day, the adult butterfly emerges from the pupal casing.
These fast-flying butterflies are most active during clear, sunny weather and frequently visit flowers to feed on nectar. They are found in open habitats, such as abandoned land, grasslands, urban areas, and human settlements. Males exhibit a behavior where they land on damp soil to absorb minerals.
TAXON
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Papilionoidea
Family: Pieridae
Subfamily: Pierinae
Tribe: Pierini
Subtribe: Appiadina
Genus: Appias Hübner (1819)
Species: Appias libythea Fabricius (1775)
VERNACULAR NAME
Chinese (simplified): 利比尖粉蝶
Chinese (traditional): 鑲邊尖粉蝶
English: Striped albatross, Western striped albatross
Indonesia: Kupu-kupu lurik, Kupu-kupu batik
Japanese: ヤエヤマシロチョウ
Java: Kupu lurik
Thai: ผีเสื้อหนอนใบกุ่มเส้นดำ
Aryo Bandoro
Dlium TheDlium
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dlium
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