FAMILY NAME: Nymphalidae GENUS/SPECIES: Acraea andromacha SUB SPECIES: none COMMON NAMES: Little Greasy or Small Greasy
SIZE: Wingspan approx 60mm or 2.5".
LOCATION: They are found throughout Australia, excepting Tasmania. They are also present in the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, New Guinea and in Indonesia.
LIFE CYCLE:
- The Eggs are creamy in colour, with a ribbed elliptical shape and about 1mm in dia. Often they are laid in groups of large numbers, by several females. They can be seen on the stems and leaves of host plants.
- The Larvae are dark brown with an orange head. All over the body are black spots, with black spines protruding from each. The spines themselves are further covered in spines (like branches). The maximum length of the larva is about 30mm or 1.2".
- The Pupae are a rich cream colour with black lines. There are also orange spots bordered with black present. The pupae are about 20mm in length and hang head down from the host plant. At the head of the pupa are two blunt horns.
- The Adult Butterfly has transparent forewings with black spots. The hindwings are whitish with an arc of black spots and a black border with white spots within.
HOST PLANTS:
- Lacewing Vine (Adenia heterophylla) a native plant.
- Red Passionflower (Passiflora cinnabarina) a native plant.
- Native Passionfruit (Passiflora herbertiana) a native plant.
- Love in a Mist (Passiflora faetida)
- Banana Passionfruit (Passiflora mallisima)
- Corky Passionfruit (Passiflora suberosa)
- White Passionfruit (Passiflora subpeltata)
- Passionfruit (Passiflora edulis)
- Granadilla (Passiflora quadrangularis)
- Shrub Violet (Hybanthus aurantiacus/i>)
- Spade Flower (Hybanthus enneospermus)
GENERAL: These butterflies are toxic to birds and are slow flyers, giving the birds time to recognise them. Initially the larvae group together after hatching, and do not disperse until more mature. The adult butterflies remain in the vicinity of the host plants.
