Elodina angulipennis

Elodina angulipennis (P.H.Lucas, 1852)
Common Pearl White
PIERINAE , PIERIDAE

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

Elodina angulipennis
early instar
(Photo: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

This Caterpillar is green with reddish-brown marks and a pale yellow dorsal line, and has a forked tail.

later instar
(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

It feeds on rainforest shrubs from the family CAPPARACEAE :

Scrub Caper Berry ( Capparis arborea ), and

Dog Caper ( Capparis canescens ).

(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

The Caterpillar grows to a length of about 2 cms. The pupa is green with a long pointed head.

(Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

The upper surfaces of the wings of the adults are a pearly white, with big black marks around the tips of the forewings. The forewings also each have a black costa.

(Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

Underneath, each forewing is a pearly pale yellow with a grey patch near the apex. The hind wings are white with a subterminal arc of grey spots. The butterflies have a winspan of about 4 cms.

(Photo: courtesy of Keith Heaven, taken in June 2008, Sydney)

The eggs are spindle-shaped, and laid singly on a foodplant. Initially they are white, but develop red markings as they approach hatching.

(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

The species is found over the north eastern coast of Australia, including Brisbane and just reaching as far south as Sydney.