About Delias belladonna (Fabricius, 1793)
This species is Delias belladonna (Fabricius, 1793). For male individuals, the upperside of the wings ranges from dusky brownish black to black. The forewing has diffuse white markings in the following pattern: the cell contains an oblique subapical bar, and an angulated discal series of three upper spots that slope obliquely outwards and three lower spots that slope obliquely inwards. In most specimens, the oblique bar in the cell and the lower two spots of the discal series extend diffusely inwards. Finally, there is a subterminal series of large rounded spots that are white on the inner side and dusted with black scales on the outer side. On the male hindwing, the dorsal margin including interspaces 1a, 1 and 2 is whitish on its basal half, and more or less strongly tinged with pure canary yellow on its apical half. A large oval yellow spot sits at the base of interspaces 7 and 8, and a broad, ill-defined diffuse whitish streak runs through the cell. There is a discal series of diffuse whitish spots that angles outwards at interspace 5, with the posterior spots more or less tinged with yellow. This is followed by a subterminal series of whitish spots matching those on the forewing, only slightly tinged with yellow. On the underside, the ground color is similar to the upperside but more brownish, and the markings are similar but clearer and more sharply defined. The subterminal series of spots on both the forewing and hindwing are more or less dentate. The upper three spots of this series on the forewing, and generally all spots on the hindwing, are yellow. On the hindwing, the dorsal margin and the cell streak are also yellow, and the discal series of spots is more often than not tinged with the same yellow color. The antennae, head, thorax and abdomen are black; the antennae are obscurely ringed with white, and the underside of the abdomen is white. Female individuals are similar to males, but always have a paler, duller ground color. Markings on the upperside are less distinct, and the subterminal series of spots on the forewing is usually farther from the margin than it is in males. The wingspan of Delias belladonna ranges from 70 to 98 mm. This species is distributed in the Himalayas from Kulu to Sikkim Bhutan, at altitudes between 2,000 and 7,000 feet (610 to 2,130 m); it is also found in the Khasi Hills of Assam, the hills of Burma and Tenasserim, and ranges extending into Thailand and China.
