Red Pierrot

Talicada nyseus

The Red Pierrot Butterfly has a favorite food, the Kalanchoe plant. These tiny little South Asian insects live in areas where these plants are abundant, because it is on them that they lay their eggs and feed while in the larval stage. As adults, the Red Pierrots also feed on herb flowers for nectar.

Red Pirrots are quite beautiful, especially when you look at the patterns on the undersides of the wings. The topsides are dark in color, almost black. The bottoms on the other hand, are white with black spots, with beautiful orange and black edging.

Adults aren't the strongest fliers, and are usually found fluttering near the ground. They lay their eggs on the underside of Kalanchoe leaves, and when the caterpillars hatch that bore down into the lives, living between the layers for protection. They will exit the leave in order to create the pupa.

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IUCN Status : Not Listed

Location : South Asia

Size : Wingspan 3cm

Classification : Phylum : Arthropoda -- Class : Insecta -- Order : Lepidoptera
Family : Lycaenidae -- Genus : Talicada -- Species : T. nyseus