Striped Albatross
Appias libythea
Despite its avian name, it is a butterfly; it was named 'Albatross' by early lepidopterists due to its powerful, soaring flight and white wings.
- Scientific name
- Appias libythea
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Lepidoptera › Pieridae › Appias
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Open country, dry deciduous forests, scrublands, and urban gardens.
- Diet
- Adults drink nectar from a variety of wildflowers; larvae feed exclusively on the foliage of Capparaceae species like the Caper bush.
- Range
- India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines
- Size
- Wingspan of 45-60 mm
- Lifespan
- 2-4 weeks (adult stage)
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation and the use of broad-spectrum pesticides in agricultural areas.
- Safe to approach?
- Completely harmless. These butterflies are skittish and fast flyers; observe them from a distance using binoculars near flowering shrubs. Do not attempt to catch them, as touching their wings can remove the vital scales they need for flight and thermoregulation.
Appias libythea , the striped albatross , is a small butterfly of the family Pieridae, that is, the yellows and whites, which is found in India and Peninsular Malaysia.
Photo: Rohit, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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