Delias imitator

MORPHOLOGY


External characteristics


Male 

Forewings: The upper side wing surface is black with pale sulphur-yellow markings. The forewing upper side has a narow postdiscal band, beyon which is a square-shaped spot and a vestigial spot. There are three or four submarginal spots, and a subapical spot. The androconia extend as far as the submarginal spots. The underside wing surface has a paler ground-colour than the upper side. The forewing underside has a postdical band with a white with yellow tinge colouration. There are five submarginal spots (Pequin, 2021). Hindwings The hindwing upper side is pale sulphur-yellow coloured, with a broad black marginal border. There are three submarginal dots and the costal edge is white. The hindwing underside has a creamy-white postdiscal band from the costal to inner margin, with a scalloped outer edge. There are yellow psoterior stripes, six submarginal spots, a white with yellow basal spot, a small yellow nebulous spot. The fringe has a white colouration and has five submarginal spots (Pequin, 2021).

Female  
The females generally have a different underside wing surface than the males, by being darker with broader margins on both wings (D'Abrera, 1982). The wings of the female are more rounded that those of the male. The forewing upper side has a broader postdiscal band, the hindwing upper side has a broader dark margin. The underside wing surface is similar in both sexes (Pequin, 2021).  

Subspecies and variation

 
No subspecies (Pequin, 2021).

Similar species

This species is easily distinguished by the creamy-yellow band on the forewing upper side (Pequin, 2021).

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