Delias harpalyce (Imperial Jezebel)

Other Common Names

Imperial White

Notes

This was a species I’d looked for many times, and whilst I had a few suspected sightings I never got a good enough view to be certain, and no photos either.
However, at Lawson in October 2008 I saw one nectaring from mistletoe flowers, and whilst it was a bit high up I could definitely tell what it was. I got a couple of
photos, but only with my macro lens – I was kicking myself for not taking my long lens along that day. But then a few minutes later it briefly came down to ground level
to feed from flowers, and I was able to get a very nice shot. Most surprising – normally butterflies don’t do what I ask them to do!

Although I’ve only photographed these butterflies on a couple of occasions, I have seen them quite a number of times. They mostly just stay high up in the canopy, just like the books say…

Sightings

Lawson – October 2008
Hazelbrook – September 2009

Links