Appias libythea

MORPHOLOGY


External characteristics


Male 
Forewing length (mm): 30 (Kirton, 2018). Wingspan (mm): 54 - 66 (Bingham, 1907).
Forewings: The wing surface is white colouerd, with on the upper side blackened outer ends of the veins, and on the underside are all veins blackened (Kirton, 2018). Hindwings Hindwing underside has a yellow basal spot on the costa (D'Abrera, 1982). The hindwing underside has a small yellow-ish streak at the base (Kirton, 2018).

Female  Wingspan (mm):54 - 66 (Bingham, 1907).
The female has brown with white markings. The underside wing surface is paler coloured and dusted with yellow scaling (Kirton, 2018).  

Subspecies and variation

 
Three subspecies are described. The black markings on the upper side surface are not as heavy on ssp. olferna as with ssp. peducaea. The general distinguishing characters of the dry season form of ssp. olferna is the lighter and with a yellowish suffusion surface of the upper side surface, seen in both sexes. The wet season form of A. libythea is usually recognized by the heavier outlined black veins and apex of the forewing upper side. The female wet season form has most dark markings reduced (D'Abrera, 1982).

Similar species

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