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''Danaus petilia'', the lesser wanderer, is a 
A common butterfly with nomadic populations, particularly in central Australia where many native host plants die of during dry periods, and in south eastern Australia where it is too cold for them in winter. Butterflies prefer an open country or farmland habitat. Flight is generally slow and close to the ground.
Milkweed butterflies.
London: British Museum (Natural History).
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of butterfly
Butterflies are insects in the macrolepidopteran clade Rhopalocera from the Order (biology), order Lepidoptera, which also includes moths. Adult butterflies have large, often brightly coloured wings, and conspicuous, fluttering flight. The ...
in the nymphalid
The Nymphalidae are the largest family of butterflies, with more than 6,000 species distributed throughout most of the world. Belonging to the superfamily Papilionoidea, they are usually medium-sized to large butterflies. Most species have a red ...
Danainae subfamily. It is a migratory species which is found in Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
and in tropical countries. Previously considered a subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
of '' Danaus chrysippus'', this species came about through allopatric speciation
Allopatric speciation () – also referred to as geographic speciation, vicariant speciation, or its earlier name the dumbbell model – is a mode of speciation that occurs when biological populations become geographically isolated from ...
. The deep sea barrier called Lydekker's Line
Richard Lydekker (; 25 July 1849 – 16 April 1915) was an English natural history, naturalist, geologist and writer of numerous books on natural history.
Biography
Richard Lydekker was born at Tavistock Square in London. His father was Gerard ...
, located by the Molluccas and the Sahul Shelf, was what separated ''Danaus petilia'' from ''Danaus chrysippus cratippus''. Its caterpillars feed on native and introduced cotton bush species.
A common butterfly with nomadic populations, particularly in central Australia where many native host plants die of during dry periods, and in south eastern Australia where it is too cold for them in winter. Butterflies prefer an open country or farmland habitat. Flight is generally slow and close to the ground.
Host plants
Host plants include of a range of native and introduced plants that have a milky sap like Gomphocarpus, Cynanchum, Secamone, Marsdenia, Ascelpias, Calotropis, Stapelia and many more.References
Further reading
* Ackery, P. R. & Vane-Wright, R. I. (1984)Milkweed butterflies.
London: British Museum (Natural History).
External links
* Danaus (butterfly) Butterflies described in 1790 {{Danainae-stub