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Luminary Oddities · Natural history & art
Delias lativitta
Lepidoptera / Pieridae
An Asian jezebel with a white patch in the central cell of the upper hindwing; Taiwan’s formosana has communal, mistletoe-feeding larvae.
Read the species account
A white patch within the central cell of the upper hindwing is a distinguishing character in the specialist comparison. [2]
Named populations extend from Nepal and Bhutan through Assam, southeastern Tibet and China to northern Thailand, Laos, northern Vietnam and Taiwan. Formosana occurs in Taiwan; the nominate population is recorded from Sichuan. [2]
Taiwanese formosana has yellow, conical, ridged eggs. Its larvae have black heads, greenish-brown bodies, white spots and long white hairs. [3]
Taiwanese larvae feed communally on young leaves of Viscum alniformosanae and Viscum articulatum. [3]
The dark-brown formosana pupa has an anterior horn and two pairs of conical dorsal projections; wilemani has one pair of curved dorsal projections. [3]
Leech described lativitta in 1893; Matsumura named the Taiwanese formosana in 1909. Later geographic names include naga, tai, yuani, nepalica and batangensis. [2]
The illustrations preserve the white upper-hindwing cell patch and the surrounding pale markings.
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
Delias of the World; international Delias specialists · Accessed 2026-10-09
National Museum of Natural Science, Taiwan · 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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