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Delias benasu

Delias benasu

Lepidoptera / Pieridae

A Sulawesi jezebel whose sexes differ markedly: the male is grey-black with a bluish cast, while the female bears broad whitish bands crossed by dark veins.

Read the species account
Delias benasu, dorsal view
Delias benasuDelias benasu · Dorsal view.

At a glance

Family ↘
Pieridae [1]
Range ↘
Sulawesi [3]
Female specimen ↘
95 mm wingspan in Roepke’s description [2]
Adult feeding ↘
Flowering canopy trees near Puncak Palopo [3]

Taxonomy and related species

Delias benasu belongs to Pieridae and is treated within the pasithoe group of jezebels. [1][3]

Adult morphology

Roepke described the male’s upper wings as grey-black with a bluish cast. The female has broader whitish bands divided by dark veins; below, greenish-yellow bands contrast with a sepia-brown ground. [2]

The body is black with whitish scaling along the sides and underside of the abdomen. The underside of the antennal club is pale. [2]

Distribution and habitat

Recorded localities on Sulawesi include Pulu Pulu, Mount Tambusisi and Lore Lindu. Roepke’s female specimen came from Todjambu at 1,000 metres. [2][3]

Behaviour

Adults visit flowering trees in the canopy near Puncak Palopo. [3]

Research findings

The female described by Roepke in 1959 had been collected on 20 July 1936. Its recorded wingspan was 95 mm. [2]

Taxonomic history

The original male material was collected near Boku in 1912. Six additional males from Todjambu, collected in 1936, measured 77–89 mm in wingspan; the later female description extended the documented range of sexual variation. [2]

Illustration notes

Specimen care

Keep the enclosure away from direct sunlight, dampness and large changes in temperature or humidity. Handle the frame, clean only its exterior, and inspect for loose fragments, moisture and pests. Retain the specimen’s original labels and follow the enclosure maker’s care instructions. [4]

Sources and further reading

  1. Delias classification and museum-image catalogue ↗

    University of Florida Lepiverse; Catalogue of Life 2026-08-26 XR · Accessed 2026-10-09

  2. Das Weibchen von Delias benasu Martin ↗

    W. Roepke; Naturalis / Zoologische Mededelingen (1959) · Accessed 2026-10-09

  3. Delias benasu: specialist records and comparison plates ↗

    Delias of the World; international Delias specialists · Accessed 2026-10-09

  4. Caring for natural history collections ↗

    Canadian Conservation Institute; Fiona Graham · Accessed 2026-10-09

Related species

Sources checked 2026-10-09. Illustrations · Luminary Oddities.

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