Idea leuconoe

Idea leuconoe, also known as the paper kite butterfly, rice paper butterfly, large tree nymph,[1] is a butterfly known especially for its presence in butterfly houses and live butterfly expositions. It has a wingspan of 12 to 14 cm. The paper kite is of Southeast Asian origin, but can also be found in Southern Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands.

Paper kite
Dorsal view
Ventral view
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Idea
Species:
I. leuconoe
Binomial name
Idea leuconoe
Erichson, 1834

Larvae feed on Parsonsia species, Tylophora hispida, Parsonsia helicandra, Parsonsia spiralis, and Cynanchum formosanum[2] so both the butterfly and larvae are poisonous.

Description

The paper kite butterfly's forewings and hindwings are translucent silvery white with black spots, similar to the Idea lynceus.

Subspecies

Listed alphabetically:[2]

  • I. l. athesis Fruhstorfer, 1911
  • I. l. caesena Fruhstorfer, 1911
  • I. l. chersonesia (Fruhstorfer, 1898)
  • I. l. clara (Butler, 1867)
  • I. l. engania (Doherty, 1891)
  • I. l. esanga Fruhstorfer, 1898
  • I. l. fregela Fruhstorfer, 1911
  • I. l. godmani Oberthür, 1878
  • I. l. gordita Fruhstorfer, 1911
  • I. l. javana Fruhstorfer, 1896
  • I. l. kwashotoensis (Sonan, 1928)
  • I. l. lasiaka van Eecke, 1913
  • I. l. leuconoe Erichson, 1834
  • I. l. moira Fruhstorfer, 1910
  • I. l. natunensis Snellen, 1895
  • I. l. nigriana Grose-Smith, 1895
  • I. l. obscura Staudinger, 1889
  • I. l. princesa Staudinger, 1889
  • I. l. samara Fruhstorfer, 1910
  • I. l. siamensis (Godfrey, 1916)
  • I. l. solyma Fruhstorfer, 1910
  • I. l. vedana Fruhstorfer, 1906
  • I. l. vicetia Fruhstorfer, 1911
  • A backlighted side ventral view of the silver wings illustrates why the descriptor “rice paper” is used.
    A backlighted side ventral view of the silver wings illustrates why the descriptor “rice paper” is used.
  • Larva (caterpillar)
    Larva (caterpillar)
  • Pupa
    Pupa
  • Dorsal view
    Dorsal view
  • Ventral view
    Ventral view
  • Feeding
    Feeding

References
  1. Cutler, David (2002). Butterflies and Moths (Second American ed.). London: Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 0-7894-8983-X.
  2. "Idea Fabricius, 1807" at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
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