#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