Black Jezebel - Becoming Butterflies
Автор: Kathryn Kermode
Загружено: 2025-09-21
Просмотров: 303
Two years ago I planted mistletoe seeds on the Melaleucas along my boundary. Today, those plants have become a nursery for one of Australia’s most striking butterflies — the Black Jezebel (Delias nigrina).
These butterflies rely on mistletoe throughout their life cycle. The caterpillars feed exclusively on mistletoe leaves before pupating on or near the host plant. Their pupae are a vivid translucent orange with black spikes, and when the butterflies emerge, their wings unfold to reveal striking adult colours — black, white, yellow, and red.
The Black Jezebel butterfly is just one example of how native plants like mistletoe support Australian wildlife. Mistletoe doesn’t just provide food for butterflies — its flowers sustain nectar-feeding birds, its seeds are spread by mistletoe birds, and its leaf litter enriches the soil, creating habitat for insects that in turn attract insect-eating birds. It’s a true keystone species, weaving together a lively food web.
Join me in my Wild Backyard as we explore the beauty of butterfly metamorphosis, the importance of mistletoe, and the fascinating journey of the Black Jezebel as they become butterflies.
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