Page 258 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Nymphalidae
DISTRIBUTION Mainland New Guinea, northeastern and eastern Australia
HABITAT Mainly lowland rain forest along streams, but occurs up to
2,625 ft (800 m) elevation
HOST PLANTS Stinging trees in the Urticaceae family, such as Dendrocnide spp.,
and Native Mulberry (Pipturus argenteus)
NOTE Caterpillar that moves and feeds gregariously
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but can be locally common

ADULT WINGSPAN
2–2¼ in (50–57 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1 ⁄ –1¾ in (40–45 mm)
MYNES GEOFFROYI
JEZEBEL NYMPH
256
(GUÉRIN-MÉNEVILLE, [1830])

Jezebel Nymph caterpillars hatch in clusters of up to 50
individuals. They are initially orange with black hairs, well

camou aged and gregarious, staying in clusters while feeding on
the underside of leaves. They move en masse to new leaves when
they have devoured the entire leaf. The larval stage lasts six to
seven weeks in the cooler southern locations, and breeding can
occur throughout the year, with several generations completed.

The caterpillars pupate together or close by, often with ten or
more under a single leaf, suspended head down and attached
to a silken pad by the cremaster. The pupae thrash wildly for
several seconds if disturbed. Butter ies from the same cohort

all emerge within a day. Male butter ies are very territorial and
have corridors that they patrol, chasing any other butter ies
entering their territory. The genus Mynes contains 12 species,
which occur only in Australia, New Guinea, or Indonesia.

The Jezebel Nymph caterpillar is dark brown
or black, with numerous white dots and rows
of large, branched, pinkish or pale blue spines.
The head is black or grayish brown with two
small, black branched spines.
Actual size