Hypolimnas misippus(female)

The Danaid Eggfly or Mimic (Hypolimnas misippus) is a widespread species of nymphalid butterfly. It is well known for polymorphism and mimicry.

Female – Polymorphic:

First form: Upperside rich tawny. Fore wing: the costa, the apical half of the wing and the termen black, the inner margin of this black area follows a line crossing the cell obliquely and curving round to near apex of interspace 1 a; a white spot beyond apex of cell; an oblique band of elongate white spots, a more transverse short subapical series of three or four much smaller white spots, and an inner and an outer sub-terminal transverse series of very small slender white lunules. Hind wing: a transverse round spot in interspace 7, the terminal margin broadly black, the latter traversed by two transverse series of paired small white lunules. Cilia of fore and hind wings white alternated with black. Underside paler tawny yellow, the disc of the fore wing deeper tawny; the markings are much as on the upperside but differ as follows: Fore wing: three white spots along the anterior margin of cell, the black on the apical area beyond the oblique band of white spots replaced by golden. Hind wing: a black spot at base of vein 8, another at base of interspace 5, and a postdiscal transverse series of small white spots in addition to the markings as on the upperside.

Second form: Similar to the above but the disc of the hind wing on both upper and under sides white, =alcippoides, Butler.

Third form: Similar to the first form, but on the fore wing the oblique series of: elongate spots yellowish and tho middle portion of the black apical area tawny

Male: Upperside rich velvety dark brownish black. Fore wing: a broad oval oblique white spot from below vein 3 to vein 7, and a preapical smaller similar white spot; both spots crossed by black veins and surrounded by iridescent blue. Hind wing with a much larger similar rounded white spot, surrounded with iridescent blue, but the veins crossing it yellowish, not so prominent as on the fore wing; two or three minute specks of white at the tornus. Cilia of both fore and hind wings white alternated with black.

Lampides boeticus

The Peablue (Lampides boeticus), or Long-tailed Blue, is a small butterfly found in Europe, Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and Australia that belongs to the Lycaenids or Blues family

The Common Fourring Ypthima huebneri is a species of Satyrinae butterfly found in Asia.

Wet-season form

Upperside greyish brown. Fore wing with the usual comparatively large, bi-pupilled, yellow-ringed, black pre-apical ocellus. Hind wing usually with two, sometimes with three, very rarely without any, smaller similar uni-pupilled post-discal ocelli. Underside greyish white, not very densely covered with transverse short brown striae. Fore wing with the preapical ocellus as on the upperside, obscure discal and subterminal dull brown transverse fasciae and a narrow brown ring round the ocellus diffusely produced posteriorly. Hind wing with one apical and typically three postdiscal posterior ocelli placed in a curve; traces of transverse brown discal and subterminal fasciae in most specimens. Antenna, head, thorax and abdomen greyish brown, the abdomen paler beneath. Male without secondary sex-mark

Dry-season form

Similar, somewhat paler on both upper and under sides ; the discal and subterminal transverse fasciae more pronounced; the ocelli on the underside of the hind wing minute or absent

Wing expanse of 40-44 mm.

Distribution

Throughout peninsular India, Assam and Burma

The Common Leopard Phalanta phalantha is a sun-loving butterfly of the Nymphalid or Brush-footed Butterfly family.

The Common Leopard is a medium sized butterfly with a wingspan of 50-55 mm with a tawny colour and marked with black spots. The underside of the butterfly is more glossy than the upper and both the male and female are similar looking. A more prominent purple gloss on the underside is found in the dry season form of this butterfly.

Distribution

The butterfly is found in Sub-saharan Africa and Southern Asia (including Sri Lanka and Burma).

Status

Widely distributed and abundant. To the tops of hills in Sri Lanka and southern India and up to 3,000 m in the Himalaya. The whole of Sub-saharan Africa

Habits

Sun loving and avoids shade. Seen in the plains, gardens and edges of clearings. Has active and sharp flight movements. Visits flowers regularly especially Lantana, Duranta, Meyenia laxiflora, Gymnosporia montana and thistles. Often seen mudpuddling from damp patches in the ground, either alone or in groups. A regular basker with wings spread wide open. It is commonest in dry areas and dry weather and absent from the wetter parts of India during the monsoon. It often perches on edges of clearing with wings half open and has the habit of chasing away other butterflies and guarding its territory

Larval host plants

Foodplants are species of family Bixaceae. It has been recorded breeding on Flacourtia ramontchi and Flacourtia montana

The Lemon Pansy Junonia lemonias is a common nymphalid butterfly found in South Asia. It is found in gardens, fallow land, and open wooded areas.

Description

It is brown with numerous eye-spots as well as black and lemon-yellow spots and lines on the upperside of the wings. The underside is a dull brown, with a number of wavy lines and spots in varying shades of brown and black. There is also an eyespot on the lower side of the forewing. The wet and dry season forms differ considerably in coloration and even shape. In the wet season form the markings are distinct and vivid and the wing shape is a little more rounded. In the dry season form the markings are obscure and pale especially on the underside and the wing margin is more angular and jagged. This helps it camouflage in the dried leaf-litter. The Lemon pansy is a very active butterfly and can be seen basking with its wings open facing the sun. It sits very low to the ground and can be approached easily. It feeds with its wings half open. It is a fairly strong flier and flies close to the ground with rapid wingbeats and often returns to settle back in the same spots.

Eggs

Eggs are laid singly on the underside of leaves. The egg is green and barrel-shaped with longitudinal ridges.

Caterpillar

The caterpillar is cylindrical, uniformly thick and covered with rows of spines which are branched at the tip. It is dull black with a faint blue sheen and has dorsal stripe of a darker color. There is a distinct orange ring behind the head. The caterpillar stays on the underside of the leaf and if disturbed, rolls up and drops to the ground.

Pupa

Pupation takes place in dense foliage close to the ground. The pupa is compact, with small conical processes on its rough surface. The pupa is well camouflaged with varying shades of brown with fine streaks and lines