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Luminary Oddities · Natural history & art
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
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]
Adults visit flowering trees in the canopy near Puncak Palopo. [3]
The female described by Roepke in 1959 had been collected on 20 July 1936. Its recorded wingspan was 95 mm. [2]
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]
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]
University of Florida Lepiverse; Catalogue of Life 2026-08-26 XR · Accessed 2026-10-09
W. Roepke; Naturalis / Zoologische Mededelingen (1959) · Accessed 2026-10-09
Delias of the World; international Delias specialists · Accessed 2026-10-09
Canadian Conservation Institute; Fiona Graham · Accessed 2026-10-09
Sources checked 2026-10-09. Illustrations · Luminary Oddities.
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