The redbase Jezebel, Delias pasithoe, is a medium-sized butterfly in the family Pieridae, the group that includes many whites and yellows. It is found in parts of South Asia and Southeast Asia, including Himalayan foothills, Myanmar, Thailand, southern China, and the Malay region.
From above, the wings are mostly dark with pale streaks and patches. From below, the butterfly shows brighter warning colors, including red at the base of the hindwing and rich yellow markings that make it stand out when it rests with closed wings.
Redbase Jezebels often fly around forest edges, wooded hillsides, gardens, and flowering plants. Adults drink nectar, and males may gather at damp ground to take up minerals, a behavior called mud-puddling.
The caterpillars feed on several host plants, including mistletoe relatives such as Loranthus and Taxillus, as well as other recorded plants. Feeding on chemically defended host plants can help make the butterfly less appealing to predators.
Like other butterflies, this species passes through egg, caterpillar, pupa, and adult stages. Its bold colors are not just beautiful; they are part of a survival strategy that warns birds and other predators to think twice.