#5 - Green Dragontail Lamproptera meges, Zinken,1831

#5 - Green Dragontail Lamproptera meges, Zinken,1831

Lamproptera meges, the Green Dragontail, is a species of swallowtail butterfly (family Papilionidae) found in parts of South Asia and Southeast Asia.  The butterfly is found in northeastern India, in the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Nagaland. It is also found in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, southern China (including Hainan), Cambodia, peninsular and eastern Malaysia, the Indonesian archipelago, Brunei, and the Philippines. In Indonesia, it is found on the islands of Sulawesi, Kalimantan, Nias, Bangka and Java. In 2006, it was reported from Zhangjiajie of Hunan Province. There are ten subspecies. A specimen from Java is the type species of the genus.

Green Dragontail, Kamjong, Ukhrul Dist. Sept. 2014.
Photo by: Ng. Aomoa

Taxonomic position

Class:     Insecta

Order:     Lepidoptera

Family:  Papilionidae

Genus:   Lamproptera Gray

Species: meges (Zinken, 1831)

Description:

The wingspan of an adult is about 28-38 mm. The butterfly have slightly broader HW then White Dragontail (L. curius), with greenish discal band on both wings, however, the green band usually faded away and turned to be white afterwards in dead specimens. The male of the species is without the scent fold (Ek-Amnuay 2006). Both the sexes are similar (Kehimkar 2008). 

Green Dragontail, Churachandpur dist. Nov. 2015
Photo by: Harmenn H.

Status

The Green Dragontail is not known to be threatened in most of its range but is considered vulnerable in IUCN and in need of protection in peninsular Malaysia. (Collins & Collins 1985)

Habits

Among the smallest of swallowtails in India, the Green Dragontail is usually found singly along open sunlit patches, almost always near streams and water courses. It may also be seen in small groups, usually twos or threes. It flies in an altitude range of 100 to 1,520 metres (330 to 4,990 ft). It flies from April to October. Having much smaller wing size to body length ratio, the butterflies have a whirring flight, rapidly beat their wings and dart back and forth in a manner reminiscent of dragonflies, their long tails acting as rudders. Male dragontails suck up a lot of water from which the dissolved minerals are filtered and the water squirted from the anus. While feeding they vibrate their wings rapidly but pause from time to time. Occasionally, they rest on leaves of bushes with wings outspread and stationary.

Life cycle

The eggs are pale green, spherical, smooth, and almost transparent and resemble the eggs of other swallowtails. The caterpillar is dark green in colour and is spotted with black. The chrysalis is attached to the upper surface of a leaf by the cremaster.

Green Dragontail, Kamjong, Ukhrul Dist. Sept. 2014.
Photo by: Ng. Aomoa

Green Dragontail, Kongbamaru, Imphal East Dist. July 2016
Photo by: Jatishwor Irungbam

Food plants

Illigera burmanica King (Family Hernandiaceae). In the Philippines, the butterfly has also been recorded from Zanthoxylum species (Rutaceae).

Sightings in Manipur

The Green Dragontail is usually found singly along open sunlit patches, almost always near streams and water courses. It may also be seen in small groups, usually twos or threes. In the past few years, the butterfly has been observed very frequently in the lower altitudes of valley and hills of Manipur. The butterfly was observed from Leimatak (Churachandpur district); Kongbamaru (Imphal East district); Leimaram (Imphal West district) and Kamjong (Ukhrul district) during the month of June, September, October and November. So, the species not rare but uncommon in Manipur.

Comparision of Green Dragontail (Photo: Jatishwor I.) and White Dragontail butterfly (Photo: Atanu Bora)

References

• Collins, N. Mark; Collins, Michael G. (1985). Threatened Swallowtails of the World: the IUCN red data book (401 pp & 8 plates). IUCN Protected Area Programme Series. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, U.K.: IUCN. p. 52. ISBN 978-2-88032-603-6.
• Kehimkar, I. (2008). The Book of Indian Butterflies. Bombay Natural History Society, 497 pp.
• Ek-Amnuay, P. (2006). Butterflies of Thailand, Vol 2. Bangkok: Baan Lae Suan, 867 pp.
• Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamproptera_meges

#4 - Blue Admiral Kaniska canace Linnaeus, 1763

Blue Admiral Kaniska canace Linnaeus, 1763

Kaniska canace, the blue admiral, is the only species of the genus, Kaniska, a nymphalid butterfly. This very widespread species can be found as far north as southeastern Siberia, west to Japan and Korea, east to India and Taiwan, south to Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and parts of Indonesia with a number of well-marked geographic races. In India the butterfly is distributed from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, Northeastern states and hills of South India.

Systematic position

Class:               Insecta

Order :             Lepidoptera

Suborder:         Rhopalocera

Family:            Nymphalidae

Subfamily:       Nymphalinae

Genus:             Kaniska  (Moore, 1899)

Species:           canace Linnaeus, 1763

Description

Kaniska canace has a wingspan of about 60–70 mm (2.4–2.8 in). The upperside of forewings and hindwings is black, while the underside is black and brown. Also, the body is completely black. Forewings have a blue band at the wavy outer edge, a blue or white spot at the wing leading edge and a little white spot in the wing tip. Hindwings show a wide blue transversal band, with a row small black spots and a narrow blue band at the outer very wavy edge.

An adult basking at Shirui Hills, Ukhrul district. Photo: Jatishwor Irungbam

Biology

Larvae grow on various Smilacaceae species (Smilax aspericaulis, Smilax bracteata, Smilax china, Smilax lanceifolia, Smilax perfoliata, Smilax riparia, Smilax sebeana, Smilax sieboldii, Heterosmilax japonica) and Convallariaceae species (Streptopus amplexifolius, Tricyrtis hirta) and Liliaceae (Lilium lancifolium).

Habits

This species is highly territorial and will chase butterflies that move into its territory. It uses well-defined perches and will bask with wings open but often sits with half-open wings. They prefers forested hilly regions. Flies in the vicinity of water, frequently settles on roads and damp patches. Attracted to overripe fruits and tree sap. On the wing from March to December and seen in the Himalaya between 1000 and 3000 m  and in the south Indian Hills between 1000 and 1200 m. Males are territorial.

Underside of Blue Admiral. Photo by: Soibam Baleshwor

Sightings in Manipur

The butterfly is sighted throughout the hills and valley of Manipur. The butterfly is a sun-loving butterfly always seen basking on the sun during bright sunny days. They prefer to visit flowers of varied kinds and also seen on damp grounds. The butterfly was observed from many locations during the survey. Some of the places to be mentioned here are Shiroi Village, Shirui Guest House, Sihai (Ukhrul district); Dzhuko valley, (Senapati district); Lamdeng, Langol RF  (Imphal West); Lokchao WS (Chandel district); Matai, Nongmaiching RF (Imphal East district); Imphal West; Thongam Mondum RF (Thoubal district), Keibul Lamjao NP (Bishenpur district).

References

• Kehimkar, I. (2008). The Book of Indian Butterflies. Bombay Natural History Society, 497 pp.
• Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaniska_canace

#3 - Bronze Duke Euthalia nara Moore, 1859

Bronze Duke Euthalia nara Moore, 1859

Bronze Duke, Euthalia nara Moore, 1859, is a rare nymphalid butterfly distributed in India (Sikkim to Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India), Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Thailand. The butterfly prefers heavily forested region. A very local butterfly. The butterfly is seen on the wing from June to August around 1000 - 1920 m asl.

Systematic position

Class:               Insecta

Order :             Lepidoptera

Suborder:         Rhopalocera

Family:            Nymphalidae

Subfamily:       Limenitidinae

Genus:             Euthalia Hübner, [1819]

Species:           nara Moore, 1859

An adult male Bronze Duke, Shirui Guest House, Ukhrul district

Description

The wingspan of the adult is about 60-80 mm. Both sexes bronzy olive green on UP and without apical white spots. The Male has prominent dusky pale spots in space 2 and 3 on UPF; UPH has a prominent yellow area in space 6 and 7. The Male has no white discal band, while the female has continuous white discal band narrowing towards above tornus on UPF. In females spot in space 4 on UPF narrow, elongate, pointed and separated from the other spots. 

An adult male Bronze Duke, Shirui Guest House, Ukhrul district during July 2016

Sightings in Manipur

The butterfly is rare in Manipur. They prefer densely forested region. Sometimes the butterfly is seen basking in the sun with fully open wings and they are attracted to rotten fruits. The butterfly was seen during my Lepidoptera survey in Shirui Hills during July 2016. It was observed on the roadside bush near Shirui Guest House. The butterfly is rare in all the distribution range. It is on the wing from June to August at around 1000 - 1920 m asl.

An adult Bronze duke on the ground. Photo: Jatishwor Irungbam

References

• Kehimkar, I. (2008). The Book of Indian Butterflies. Bombay Natural History Society, 497 pp.
• Ek-Amnuay, P. (2006). Butterflies of Thailand, Vol 2. Bangkok: Baan Lae Suan, 867 pp.

#2 - Lemon Pansy Junonia lemonias Linnaeus, 1758

Lemon Pansy Junonia lemonias Linnaeus, 1758

Junonia lemonias, the lemon pansy, 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 wing beats and often returns to settle back in the same spots.

An adult Lemon Pansy basking in the sun.

Food plants
Caterpillars feed on plants from the families Acanthaceae,  Amaranthaceae,  Malvaceae,  Rubiaceae, Tiliaceae and Verbenaceae. Recorded species include Alternanthera sessilis, Barleria cristata, Barleria prionitis, Blechum pyramidatum, Cannabis sativa, Corchorus capsularis, Dyschoriste repens, Eranthemum pulchellum, Hemigraphis schomburgkii, Hygrophila auriculata, Hygrophila costata, Hygrophila lancea, Lepidagathis formosensis, Lepidagathis incurva, Nelsonia canescens, Ophiorrhiza japonica, Phyla nodiflora, Ruellia tuberosa, Sida rhombifolia, and Strobilanthes formosanus.

Sightings in Manipur

The butterfly is sighted throughout the hills and valley of Manipur. The butterfly is a sun-loving butterfly always seen basking on the sun during bright sunny days. They prefer to visit flowers of varied kinds and also seen on damp grounds. The butterfly was observed from many locations during the survey. Some of the places to be mentioned here are Shiroi Village, Shirui Guest House, Sihai (Ukhrul district); Khundrakpam village, Marjing Reserve Forest, Kongbamaru, (Imphal East district); Langol Reserve Forest (Imphal West); Nambol, Keibul Lamjao National Park, Leimaram (Bishnupur district). They are observed during the months of February, March, June, July, August, September, October, November and December. 

References

• Evans, W.H. (1932). The Identification of Indian Butterflies (2nd ed.). Mumbai, India: Bombay Natural History Society.
• Gay, Thomas; Kehimkar, Isaac David; Punetha, Jagdish Chandra (1992). Common Butterflies of India. Nature Guides. Bombay, India: World Wide Fund for Nature-India by Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195631647.
• Haribal, Meena (1992). The Butterflies of Sikkim Himalaya and Their Natural History. Gangtok, Sikkim, India: Sikkim Nature Conservation Foundation.
• Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junonia_lemonias

#1 - Blue Pansy Junonia orithya (Linnaeus, 1758)

Blue Pansy Junonia orithya (Linnaeus, 1758)

Junonia orithya is a nymphalid butterfly with many subspecies occurring from Africa, through southern and south-eastern Asia, and in Australia. In India, its common English name is the Blue Pansy. Five subspecies occur in India and in the south-east Asia. 

• Junonia orithya ocyale Hübner, [1819] (India to southern Burma and southern Yunnan)
• Junonia orithya orithya (Oriental region)
• Junonia orithya patenas (Fruhstorfer, 1912) (Sri Lanka)
• Junonia orithya swinhoei Butler, 1885 (Burma)
• Junonia orithya wallacei Distant, 1883 (Thailand, Peninsular Malaya, Singapore)

Description

Male upperside: somewhat more than half the forewing from base velvety black, apical half dull fuliginous; cell-area with or without two short transverse orange bars; a blue patch above, the tornus; the outer margin of the basal black area obliquely zigzag in a line from the middle of costa to apex of vein 2, including a large discal, generally obscure ocellus, which, however, in some specimens is prominently ringed with orange-yellow. Beyond this a broad while irregularly oblique discal band followed by a short oblique preapical bar frm costa; a small black orange-ringed ocellus beneath the bar, a subterminal continuous line of white spots in the interspaces and a terminal jet-black slender line; cilia alternately dusky black and white. Hindwing blue shaded with velvety black towards base; a postdiscal black white-centred orange and black-ringed ocellus in interspace 2, a round minutely white-centred velvety black spot (sometimes entirely absent) in interspace 5; the termen narrowly white, traversed by an inner and an outer subterminal and a terminal black line; cilia white.

A male Blue Pansy (upperside), Shirui Guest House, Ukhrul district, Manipur

Underside forewing: basal half with three black-edged, sinuous, broad, ochraceous-orange transverse bands, followed by the pale discal baud; ocelli, preapical short bar, subterminal and terminal markings much as on the upperside; the discal band margined inwardly by a broad black angulated line which follows the outline of the black area of the upperside. Hindwing irrorated with dusky scales and transversely crossed by subbasal and discal slender zigzag brown lines and a postdiscal dark shade, on which are placed the two ocelli as on the upperside; sub terminal and terminal faint brown lines, and a brownish short streak tipped black at the tornal angle below the lower ocellus.

A male Blue Pansy (underside), Shirui Guest House, Ukhrul district, Manipur

Female. Similar, with similar but larger and more clearly defined ocelli and markings; the basal half of the forewings and hindwings on the upperside fuliginous brown, scarcely any trace of blue on the hindwing. Antennae brown, head reddish brown, thorax and abdomen above brownish black: palpi, thorax and abdomen beneath dull white.

Food plants

Larval host plants are recorded from the families Acanthaceae,  Annonaceae,  Convolvulaceae,  Labiatae, Plantaginaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Verbenaceae, Violaceae and specific plants are Angelonia salicariifolia, Annona senegalensis, Antirrhinum majus, Asystasia gangetica, Asystasia scandens, Buchnera linearis, Englerastrum scandens, Hygrophila salicifolia, Hygrophila senegalensis, Ipomoea batatas, Justicia micrantha, Justicia procumbens, Lepidagathis formosensis, Lepidagathis prostrata, Misopates orontium, Phyla nodiflora, Plantago amplexicaulis, Plectranthus scandens, Pseuderanthemum variabile, Striga asiatica, Striga hermonthica, Thunbergia alata, Viola odorata.

Sightings in Manipur

Blue Pansy (Upperside), Kongbamaru, Imphal East, Manipur

The butterfly is sighted throughout the hills and valley of Manipur. The butterfly is a sun-loving butterfly always seen basking on the sun during bright sunny days. They prefer to visit flowers of varied kinds and also seen on damp grounds. The butterfly was observed from many locations during the survey. Some of the places to be mentioned here are Kangkhui, Shiroi Village, Shirui Guest House, Sihai (Ukhrul district); Nongmaiching Reserve Forest, Kongbamaru, (Imphal East district); Langol Reserve Forest (Imphal West); Thongam mondum Reserve Forest (Thoubal district); Keibul Lamjao National Park, Leimaram (Bishnupur district); Yaingangpokpi - Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary (Chandel district). They are observed during the months of April, May, June, July, August, September, October, and November.

Reference:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junonia_orithya