Idea leuconoe

Idea leuconoe(Idea leuconoe)

Phylum —arthropoda
Class —insecta
Order — lepidoptera
Family —nymphalidae

Genus –idea

Appearance

The caterpillars are black with annular white stripes and a number of red spots on the side. On the dorsal side they have 9 long thin black outgrowths.

These large, striking butterflies have translucent white wings patterned with black streaks and spots. Their patterns serve to warn predators that they are poisonous. The wingspan – 150-170 mm.

Habitat

Butterflies Idea leuconoeare found in Malaysia, Taiwan and the Philippines.

Behavior

It demonstrates daily activity. The flight is slow and graceful.When feeding, these butterflies tend to flutter slowly or fan their wings, but when basking in the sun, they sit with their wings fully spread.

Butterflies are poisonous. The poison accumulates from the plants that the caterpillars feed on.

Diet

Butterflies feed on nectar.

Reproduction

A mesh cage with a size of 100x100x90 cm is needed for reproduction,. Females lay eggs one at a time on the underside of the leaves of the forage plant. The eggs are oval, pale yellow. The caterpillars feed on the leaves of the vinca from the family Apocynaceae.It is better to keep the caterpillars in mesh cages of 6-8 pieces. In the cage, you need to place a branch of a forage plant. The temperature is 22-25 ^oC at the humidity of 65-70%. The pupae are golden with small black spots. The pupal stage lasts 12-15 days. The butterfly lives 4-5 weeks.

In captivity

The mesh terrarium with a size of 70 × 70 × 90 mm is suitable for keeping butterflies. Room temperature is necessary. Daylight time is 12 hours. You can feed the butterflies with an overripe banana or give them a syrup of honey diluted with boiled water in a ratio of 1:10.