White (Common) Migrant Catopsilia pyranthe
Wingspan: 53 mm
Distribution of this Migratory species: 3 small areas in WA, a northern & southern area in NT, 50% of QLD (mostly coastal areas), 50% of NSW all coastal zones, all of Victoria and large areas of eastern SA
Sighted at Claire Cottage: September to May
Wingspan: 53 mm
Distribution of this Migratory species: 3 small areas in WA, a northern & southern area in NT, 50% of QLD (mostly coastal areas), 50% of NSW all coastal zones, all of Victoria and large areas of eastern SA
Sighted at Claire Cottage: September to May
White Migrant (Catopsilia pyranthe) male (dark form) - upperside, Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 2 Mar 2020
White Migrant (Catopsilia pyranthe) male (dark form) Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 2 Mar 2020
White Migrant (pale form) Claire Cottage Dorrigo NSW, 5 Sep 2020
This (Catopsilia pyranthe) White Migrant female (pale form) fed on our Buddleia bushes for a few days in April 2018
White Migrant (Catopsilia pyranthe) female pale form , Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 15 Apr 2018
White Migrant (Catopsilia pyranthe) female pale form feeding on Pentas, Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 25 Apr 2015
Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 19 Apr 2020
Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 25 Apr 2020
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Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 10 May 2020
Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 10 May 2020
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White Migrant (Catopsilia pyranthe) dark form male, Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 7 Mar 2015
White Migrant female 1 Mar 2015, 11.03 am
White Migrant (Catopsilia pyranthe) male dark form, Claire Cottage Dorrigo, 7 Mar 2015
White (Common) Migrant Catopsilia pyranthe
Wingspan: 53 mm
Distribution of this Migratory species: 3 small areas in WA, a northern & southern area in NT, 50% of QLD (mostly coastal areas), 50% of NSW all coastal zones, all of Victoria and large areas of eastern SA
Butterfly Sightings:
- CLAIRE COTTAGE: Sep 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2020, Oct 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2016, Nov 2004, 2005, 2007, 2016, Dec 2010, 2017, Jan 2007, 2015, 2021; Feb 2008, 2012, 2020, 2021; Mar 2008, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2020; Apr 2004, 2005, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2020; May 2007, 2020;
- DORRIGO PLATEAU: Often seen on Plateau.
Larva Sightings:
- CLAIRE COTTAGE: None to date
- DORRIGO PLATEAU: None to date
Larval food plants:
- CLAIRE COTTAGE: None
- DORRIGO PLATEAU: (as for Claire Cottage)
- ELSEWHERE: (as for Dorrigo Plateau plus) CAESALPINIACEAE - Cassia brewsteri, Senna aciphylla, S. barclayana, S. clavigera, S. planitiicola, S. sophera, S. venusta, *Cassia fistula, *Senna alata, *Senna didymobotrya.
Status Dorrigo Plateau: often very common during migrations
Flight habit: Throughout the day.
The White Migrant is not known to breed on the Plateau which is thought to be too cold for any of its known Cassia and Senna food plants to survive. It is a more common butterfly on the sub-tropical coast where its food plants thrive. White Migrants are seen on the Plateau during summer migratory flights. Sometimes they visit our garden in plentiful numbers, as occurred in October 2016 & March 2020.
This butterfly is a strong fast flyer but will stop in the garden for a long nectar feed on many flowers.
Last autumn sighting - Claire Cottage, Dorrigo Plateau: 16/04/18, 11/05/20;
Minimum night temps starting 30/04/20, 4.5C, 4.0C, 6.0C, 5.5C, 7.0C, 11.0C, 6.0C, 8.5C, 10.0C & 8.1C
Items of Interest: In unseasonal warm weather for mid April on the Plateau, what appeared to be the same White Migrant butterfly (pale form, female), stayed with us between 12th and 16th April 2018 feeding on the few remaining buddleia flowers on our many buddleia bushes. Migrant butterflies usually visit us for very short stays appearing to be always on a journey desiring to rush away after a quick feed heading towards an unknown destination. 2020 Autumn - White Migrants have visited throughout March & April in good numbers - they feed mostly on Buddleia, Red Pentas & Yellow & White Lantana.
There are two seasonal forms, a pale form and a dark form
