Tree Nymph Butterfly

Idea leuconoe ranges from Southeast Asia to Taiwan and, in Japan, the Ryukyu Islands south of Kikaijima and Yoron; it is the prefectural butterfly of Okinawa. With a forewing of about 7cm and a wingspan reaching 13cm, its slow, gliding flight on white wings marked with black veins and spots has earned it the nickname 'lady of the south'. Larvae feed on Parsonsia alboflavescens and Tylophora (Apocynaceae), storing alkaloids that make larvae, pupae and adults toxic; the black-and-white pattern is aposematic. The 4-5cm chrysalis gleams gold through structural colour. At Tama Zoological Park, rearing at about 26C gives a larval period of about 20 days and a pupal period of 15-20 days, with the gold brightest for the first 10 days. Adults live 2-3 months, up to six months under good conditions, and breed year-round. Because the life cycle completes in a small space, insectariums and zoos across Japan maintain colonies, and larvae and golden pupae are traded for education and display. Securing the host plant is the prerequisite for keeping.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The Tree Nymph Butterfly lives Adults 2-3 months (up to six months in good conditions); egg to adult about 40 days.

The Tree Nymph Butterfly grows to Wingspan 12-14cm (forewing about 7cm); final-instar larva about 7cm.

The ideal temperature for the Tree Nymph Butterfly is 26℃.