Euploea usipetes is a butterfly species in the family Nymphalidae. It was first described by the English entomologist William Chapman Hewitson in 1858.
Distribution and Habitat
The species is endemic to the Australasian realm, with its range encompassing New Guinea and the neighbouring Cape York Peninsula in far northern Australia. It has also been recorded on Aru Island, Yule Island, Thursday Island, and various islands in the region (Goodenough, Fergusson Island, Samarai).
Subspecies
Two subspecies are recognized:
- E. u. usipetes — Found in New Guinea, Aru, Papua, Yule Island, Cape York, and Thursday Island.
- E. u. rezia (Kirby, 1894) — Found in West Irian, New Guinea (Papua), Yule Island, Samarai, Goodenough, and Fergusson Island.
Taxonomy
The species belongs to the genus Euploea (commonly known as crows or milkweed butterflies) within the subfamily Danainae of the brush-footed butterfly family Nymphalidae. Its synonyms include Euploea hippias Miskin, 1890, Hirpada rezia Kirby, 1894, astrifera Fruhstorfer, 1910, albodiscalis Fruhstorfer, 1910, and purus van Eecke, 1915. Some sources treat Euploea usipetes as a synonym of Euploea leucostictos (the Orange-flash Crow).
