Pantoporia consimilis

Pantoporia consimilis (Boisduval, 1832)
Orange Aeroplane
(one synonym: Limenitis pedia)
LIMENITINAE , NYMPHALIDAE

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley

(updated 9 May 2008)

(Photo: courtesy of Martin Purvis)

The Caterpillar of this species is olive green with white dots, It has a white line across the thorax, and a dark line along each side of the abdomen. There are paired projections on the head, thorax, and segments two and eight. The head is brown. The Caterpillar feeds on various Australian native peas ( FABACEAE ) including :

Blood Vine ( Austrosteenisia blackii ),

Dalbergia candenatensis, and

Derris species.

(Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

The pupa is brown with dark markings and some silver spots. It is suspended head down by a cremaster from the tip of a ragged half eaten leaf. Its length is about 1.3 cms.

(Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

The adult is dark brown with orange patches. There is a broad one on each hind wing, and two on each fore wing, one of which joins up with the corresponding hind wing patch when the butterfly is at rest.

(Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

The undersides are similar but duller, and there is a pair of dark lines along the margin of each wing. The wingspan is about 4 cms.

The species occurs throughout New Guinea and adjacent islands, and the coastal regions of northern Queensland.