18/05/2026
Butterfly of the Month - May 2026
Yellow Migrant (Catopsilia gorgophone)
This lovely butterfly belongs to the family Pieridae (Whites and Yellows). Males and females have a wingspan of 56mm.
Superficially, several members of the Pieridae are similar and prone to be confused. However, there are differences which make the identification a little easier. Unlike the Lemon Migrant (C. pomona) as well as the White Migrant (C. pyranthe), the Yellow Migrant’s upper wing side shows contrasting colours in fore and hindwing. The forewing is white or cream, while the hindwing is yellow. C. pomona and C. pyranthe repeat their colours on both wings. When compared with C. scylla, the hindwing of this butterfly exhibits a distinct orange yellow colour in comparison to the yellow tone of C. gorgophone.
The forewing's apex is lined black. This line turns into a series of spots on the outer wing edge (termen). The male shows dull s*x scales near the base and parallel the margin between base and apex of the hindwing.
The female distinguishes itself by exhibiting a band below the outer margin which is made up by a line of interrupted spots. A pronounced black spot appears in the cell (a larger area in the middle of the wing which is usually free of veins). The base colour of the female’s forewing on the upper side is cream.
The underside of both genders shows faint reddish-brown markings which can vary in looks. The spots in the cell of the male are not as pronounced as the ones in the female’s. While the contrasting colours of fore and hindwing (upper side) usually provide the butterfly identification, the female, when in the occasional pale form, may resemble C. pomona’s own paler form. The rounder wing shape of C. gorgophone will then help with identification.
C. gorgophone's antennae are brown with pink scales.
Tiny elongated eggs with vertical ribs start the life cycle and are laid singly on leaves of larval host plants. Green larvae follow, showing a white/yellow band along the length of the larval body, as shown in the image. Small blue spots are located above it. The subsequent pupa is light green and marked with a yellow rigde between head and cremaster (hooked tip of the abdomen).
The following native larval host plants are used in South East Queensland: Brush senna (Senna acclinis), Blunt-leaved Senna (Senna gaudichaudii), Golden senna (Senna sulphurea), Singapore Shower (Senna surattensis), We recommend their planting.
While the Yellow Migrant occurs throughout the year, warmer months will bring more abundance.
Images: KW – Ken Walker, CC BY- NC 4.0; RM – Robert (Bob) Miller, Bob’s Butterflies; SA – Sylvia Alexander; TB – Todd Burrows; WJ – Wesley Jenkinson
