Lesser Wanderer (Danaus petilia)

Alice Springs Fauna •

Alice Springs ButterfliesBlue Moon Butterfly Caper White Butterfly, Egg and Instar Glasswing (Acraea andromacha) Lesser Wanderer (Danaus petilia) Tawny Coster (Acraea terpsicore)

The Lesser Wanderer (Danaus petilia, formerly classified as D. chrysippus petilia) is a migratory species found across Australia and in tropical countries^{1, 2}.

A common butterfly with nomadic populations, particularly across the arid region of central Australia where many native host plants die of during dry periods, and in south eastern Australia where it is too cold for them in winter.

The Lesser Wanderer are found in a variety of habitats including open country and agricultural grazing farmland areas. They are known for generally having a slow flight pattern and flying close to the ground.

Butterflies prefer an open country or farmland habitat. Flight is generally slow and close to the ground.

The caterpillars feed on native and introduced cotton bush (genus Gomphocarpus), species, as well know to feed on Asclepias, Brachystelma, Calotropis, Cynanchum, Marsdenia, Rhyncharrhena, Sarcostemma species.

The Lesser Wanderer pictured here was photographed on buffel grass in Alice Springs in the, Northern Territory.

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• Scientific classification
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Subphylum: Hexapoda
• Class: Insecta
• Subclass: Pterygota
• Order: Lepidoptera
• Superfamily: Papilionoidea
• Family: Nymphalidae
• Subfamily: Danainae
• Tribe: Danaini
• Subtribe: Danaina
• Genus: Danaus
• Species: Danaus petilia

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Alice Springs ButterfliesBlue Moon Butterfly Caper White Butterfly, Egg and Instar Glasswing (Acraea andromacha) Lesser Wanderer (Danaus petilia) Tawny Coster (Acraea terpsicore)

Alice Springs Butterflies & Moths (Lepidopterans)Butterflies Moths

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