The Caterpillar grows to a length of about 3 cms. The pupa is green and attached to a twig of the foodplant with a cremaster and girdle.
(Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)
The upper surfaces of the wings of the adult butterflies are yellow with black edges. The undersides are pale orange with brown markings, and with a large yellow oval under each forewing. The butterfly has a wingspan of about 3 cms.
underside, dry season form
(Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)
The species occurs as various other subspecies from India, through to Japan, including the tropical north of Australia.
The butterfly occurs as two different forms in Australia. Initially, these were thought to be different species :
