Common Leopard Butterfly Larvae

The common leopard butterfly caterpillar has a dark orange color with black and white spots. The color turns paler as the caterpillar mature and finally becomes green. It's black colored sharp branched spines with yellowish spot at the base of each spine. The caterpillar main food plants are willow trees (family: Salicaceae).

Common Leopard Butterfly Caterpillars/Larvae

Common Leopard Butterfly Mature Caterpillar

Common Leopard Butterfly Pre-Pupate Caterpillar

Common Leopard Butterfly

The Common Leopard (Phalanta phalantha)is a medium sized butterfly (wingspan of 50-60 mm) belong to family Nymphalid (Brush-footed Butterflies). This species abounds where its caterpillar food plant, the willow tree (Salix tetrasperma), is found. The upperside of the butterfly has a tawny orange color, marked with black spots and wavy lines. The underside is pale and having a bluish or purple sheen. It visits lantana, duranta, meyenia laxiflora, gymnosporia montana and thistles flowers regularly.

Common Leopard Butterfly