Cethosia penthesilea methypsea (Plain Lacewing)

The Plain Lacewing is another species which was not documented by the early authors.  This species, like Cethosia hypsea hypsina (The Malay Lacewing), depends on Passifloraceae (Passion Fruit Vines), for its caterpillar food plants.  The Plain Lacewing is found in the northern part of the nature reserves in Singapore, and is rare.  It flies in the same locations where the Malay Lacewing is found.  A favourite nectaring plant is Lantana camara (Prickly Lantana).   The species can be distiguished from the lookalike Malay Lacewing by the white submarginal band on the underside of the hindwing.

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