About Cethosia biblis (Drury, 1770)
Cethosia biblis, commonly known as the red lacewing, is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of approximately 8–9 cm (3.1–3.5 in). This species exhibits sexual dimorphism, meaning males and females have distinct wing coloration and patterning. On the dorsal side of the wings, males have bright orange-red coloration, with a black border that holds white spots. The undersides of their wings range from bright red to pale brown, with interlacing black and white markings. This striking pattern helps disguise the butterfly’s shape, while the bright color on the dorsal wing surface acts as a warning to predators: the red lacewing has an unpleasant taste, which it obtains from the poisonous host plants its caterpillars feed on. Females have greyish-brown dorsal wings, marked with black spots; their black margins also hold white bands and spots. Caterpillars of this species have multiple stripes in reddish, black, and white, a black head, and long black poison-containing spikes. They feed primarily on poisonous climbing plants, most commonly Passiflora species such as P. cochinchinensis and P. moluccana. This species occurs from the Indian subcontinent eastward through Southeast Asia and East Asia, with its eastern range limit at the Philippines and southern range limit at Indonesia.
