#12 – Common Acacia Blue – Surendra quercetorum quercetorum (Moore, 1857)

By: Jatishwor Singh Irungbam

Surendra quercetorum quercetorum, the Common Acacia Blue, is a species of lycaenid or blue butterfly found in Asia. The butterfly is distributed through India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. (Kehimkar, 2008; Inayoshi, 2016). In India, the subspecies is reported from Uttarakhand eastwards upto Northeastern states (Varshney & Smetacek, 2015). The subspecies extends upto Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam (Ek-Amnuay, 2006; Inayoshi, 2016).

Saji (2017) suggest the occurrence of three subspecies in India; (i) Surendra quercetorum quercetorum Moore, 1857; (ii) Surendra quercetorum biplagiata Butler, 1883 and (iii) Surendra quercetorum latimargo Moore, 1879. But the two subspecies biplagiata and latimargo are subspecies of Surendra vivarna (Horsfield, [1829]) as suggested by Varshney & Smetacek (2015) and Savela (2017). Thus, the inclusion of two subspecies biplagiata and latimargo in species Surendra quercetorum need justification from Saji (2017).

Figure 2: Surendra quercetorum quercetorum photographed from Langol RF, Imphal East by Harmenn Huidrom

Taxonomic position

Order:     Lepidoptera

Family:  Lycaenidae

Genus:   Surendra

Species: quercetorum

Subspecies: quercetorum

Description:

The subspecies is about 26-32 mm in wingspan. Male of the butterfly have shining purple-blue upperwing with dark border broad (3.0 mm at tornus). Hindwing purple-blue confined to area between veins 2-5, tornal lobe rounded, deeply excavated between tornal lobe and vein 2, with a tail at vein 2 and a tooth at vein 3, tailed in female. The underwing pale brown with narrow obscure markings, usually ourwardly edged with whitish striae. Hindwing with a few tornal green scales. The females are brown, darker at termen and costal margins (Ek-Amnuay, 2006).

Figure 2: Surendra quercetorum quercetorum photographed from Kongbamaru, Imphal East by Jatishwor Irungbam

Habitat & Habits:

In the Himalayas, the butterfly is common in lower hill forests with fairly heavy rainfall, never seen on plains. It occurs up to 1,200 m and on the wing from February to April, July, September to December. The butterfly is often seen on the nectarines of Acacia leaflets sharing nectar with ants. It has a short burst of strong flight. (Kehimkar, 2008).

Food Plants:

The food plants of the butterfly are Acacia torta, Acacia pennata and Acacia suma (Mimosaceae).

Sightings in Manipur:

The butterfly is uncommon in Manipur. The butterfly has been sighted at Heibok hill and Langol Reserve Forest, Imphal West and Kongbamaru, Imphal East districts of Manipur during May, July, October and November months.

References:

Ek-Amnuay, P. (2006). Butterflies of Thailand, Vol 2. Bangkok: Baan Lae Suan, 867 pp.

Kehimkar, I. (2008). The Book of Indian Butterflies. Bombay Natural History Society, 497 pp.

Inayoshi, Y. (2016). A Check List of Butterflies in Indo-China - Chiefly from Thailand, Laos & Vietnam. http://yutaka.it-n.jp/lyc4/82740001.html [Accessed on 29 January, 2017]

Saji, K. (2017). Surendra quercetorum Moore, 1857 – Common Acacia Blue. Kunte, K., P. Roy, S. Kalesh and U. Kodandaramaiah (eds.). Butterflies of India, v. 2.24. Indian Foundation for Butterflies. http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/sp/482/Surendra-quercetorum [Accessed on 29 January, 2017]

Savela, M. (2017). Lepidoptera and some other life forms.  

http://ftp.funet.fi/index/Tree_of_life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/papilionoidea/lycaenidae/theclinae/surendra/ [Accessed on 29 January, 2017]

Varshney, R. K. & P. Smetacek. (2015). A synoptic Catalogue of the Butterflies of India. Butterfly Research Centre, Bhimtal and Indinov Publishing, New Delhi, ii + 261 pp., 8 pl.

#11 - Bhutya Lineblue - Prosotas bhutea de Nicéville, 1883

By: Jatishwor Singh Irungbam

Prosotas bhutea, the Bhutya lineblue, is a species of blue butterfly (Lycaenidae) found in Asia. The butterfly is distributed through India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Thailand (Kehimkar, 2008; Ek-Amnuay, 2006). In India, the butterfly is found from Alipurduar (West Bengal), Sikkim, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. (Varshney & Smetacek, 2015; http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/sp/688/Prosotas-bhutea)

Taxonomic position

Order:     Lepidoptera

Family:  Lycaenidae

Genus:   Prosotas

Species: P. bhutea de Nicéville, 1883

Description:

The species is 25-28 mm in wingspan. Hindwing tailed. Male of the species has upperside is a dull opaque purplish brown or purplish blue with very narrow dark borders. The underside is pale yellowish-brown in colour, sub-basal and postdiscal bands short and confined to forewing cell, postdiscal spot not in space 1b. Female of the butterfly has pale brown or dark brown, sometimes with a bluish lower discal patch on forewing upperside. There are terminal markings as are on the forewing, but the lunules of the subterminal series are inwardly somewhat hastate (spear shaped), the row of spots beyond them each inwardly conical; a prominent black subterminal spot in interspace two, is inwardly ochraceous, and outwardly speckled with metallic blue scales. Antennae, head, thorax and abdomen are a dull, purplish brown. The thorax is somewhat grizzled. (Kehimkar, 2008; Ek-Amnuay, 2006; Wikipedia)

Figure 1: Bhutya Lineblue, from Litan road, Ukhrul district photograph by Jatishwor Irungbam.

Habitat & Habits:

In Himalaya, the butterfly occurs up to 820 m and seen wing in December. The butterfly has a restless flight and the species tends to appear in relatively large numbers and remains abundant for a few days, after which it disappears without a trace as similar like Prosotas dubiosa (Pers. Comm..). Kunte et al. (2012) observe the species mud-puddling, congregated in small groups near the stream in Gangrot at Garo Hills and uncommon. Sondhi & Kunte (2016) also recorded the species at all locations at Pakke in the pre and post-monsoon seasons, often at moist soil in the company of other lineblues and are locally common. Gogoi (2016) have recorded the species from Malidor at 28m inside the Barail Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam. Singh et al. (2015) also recorded the butterfly from  the semi-evergreen forest of Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam during September and October.

Food Plants:

The food plant of the species is unknown. Needed further investigation.

Figure 2: A pair of Bhutya Lineblue, from Litan road, Ukhrul district photograph by Jatishwor Irungbam.

Sightings in Manipur:

The butterfly seems to be rare in Manipur. The butterfly has been sighted Litan Road, Ukhrul during July and August near the running streams and wet grounds. Mostly seen in groups.

References:

Anonymous. (2017). Prosotas bhutea de Nicéville, 1883 – Bhutia Lineblue. Kunte, K., P. Roy, S. Kalesh and U. Kodandaramaiah (eds.). Butterflies of India, v. 2.24. Indian Foundation for Butterflies. http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/sp/688/Prosotas-bhutea

Ek-Amnuay, P. (2006). Butterflies of Thailand, Vol 2. Bangkok: Baan Lae Suan, 867 pp.

Gogoi, M. J., H.J. Singha & P. Deb (2016). Butterfly (Lepidoptera) Diversity in Barail Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam, India. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 4(4): 547-560.

Kehimkar, I. (2008). The Book of Indian Butterflies. Bombay Natural History Society, 497 pp.

Kunte, K., S. Sondhi, B.M. Sangma, R. Lovalekar, K. Tokekar & G. Agavekar (2012). Butterflies of the Garo Hills of Meghalaya, northeastern India: their diversity and conservation. Journal of Threatened Taxa 4(10): 2933–2992.

Singh, A.P., L. Gogoi & J. Sebastain (2015). The seasonality of butterflies in a semi-evergreen forest: Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam, northeastern India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 7(1): 6774–6787.

Sondhi, S. & K. Kunte (2016). Butterflies (Lepidoptera) of the Kameng Protected Area Complex, western Arunachal Pradesh, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 8(8): 9053–9124.

Varshney, R. K. & P. Smetacek. (2015). A synoptic Catalogue of the Butterflies of India. Butterfly Research Centre, Bhimtal and Indinov Publishing, New Delhi, ii + 261 pp., 8 pl.

#10 - Tailless Lineblue Prosotas dubiosa indica Evans, 1925

#10 - Tailless Lineblue Prosotas dubiosa indica Evans, 1925

Prosotas dubiosa, the Tailless Lineblue is a species of blue butterfly (Lycaenidae) found in Asia. The butterfly occurs in Sri Lanka and peninsular India and the Himalayas from Sikkim to Assam. The range extends onto Myanmar and Yunnan, and, possibly Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Borneo and Java. Possibly Philippines and Sulawesi. Further east the butterfly occurs in Australia, New Guinea and the Solomon islands. In Australia the butterfly occurs from Northern Australia to New South Wales (Coffs Harbour). (Source: Wikipedia)

Taxonomic position

Order:     Lepidoptera

Family:  Lycaenidae

Genus:   Prosotas

Species: dubiosa (Semper, 1879)

Subspecies: indica Evans, 1925

Description:

The Tailless Line-blue, like its close cousin, the Common Line Blue (Prosotas nora superdates) is a small butterfly, with a wingspan of about 22-26 mm. Unlike Common Line Blue, Tailless Line-blue is tailless and they share same range and habits. In the male, the upperside is a dull purple-blue with a very narrow black border on the forewing above and with indistinct small tornal black spot on upper hindwing. The female is blackish brown above with an iridescent pale blue panels on upper forewing, not extending into cell as in female of Common Line blue. The undersides are greyish unlike the ochreous base colour of Prosotas nora. (Kehimkar, 2008)

Fig. 1. Tailless Lineblue photographed from Kongbamaru, Imphal East district during July 2016

Habitat & Habits:

In Himalaya, the butterfly occurs upto 1460 m and seen wing from April to July, September and October  (Kehimkar, 2008). The butterfly has a restless flight, and seldom seems to stop for long. When it occurs, the species tends to appear in relatively large numbers and remains abundant for a few days, after which it disappears without a trace. (http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/showbutterfly/198).

Food Plants:

The larvae of the butterfly feed on the plants of Acacia sp., Mimosa pudica, Leucena sp. of Family Mimosaceae as recorded by Kehimkar (2008).

Fig. 1. Tailless Lineblue photographed from Kongbamaru, Imphal East district during July 2016

Sightings in Manipur:

The butterfly seems to be common in most of the parts of Manipur. The butterfly has been sighted from many places during the survey.  The butterfly was observed from Matai, Imphal East; Lokchao, Chandel; Litan Road, Ukhrul; Nongmaiching RF, Imphal East; Thongam mondum RF, Thoubal during April, May, July, September and October months near the running streams and wet grounds.

Reference:

Kehimkar, I. (2008). The Book of Indian Butterflies. Bombay Natural History Society, 497 pp.

Butterfly Circle Checklist. http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/showbutterfly/198 

#9 – Chestnut Angle Odontoptilum angulata (Felder, 1862)

#9 – Chestnut Angle Odontoptilum angulata Felder, 1862)

Odontoptilum angulata, the Chestnut Angle or Banded angle, is a butterfly belonging to the family Hesperiidae and is found in Asia. In India, the butterfly is distributed in South India (Tamil Nadu, Kerala) up to Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh to Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and West Bengal. (Kehimkar, 2008; Sondhi et al., 2013; Varshney & Smetacek, 2015; Saji & Chandrashekharan, 2016). In Manipur, the species is represented by subspecies Odontoptilum angulata angulata Felder, 1862.

Taxonomic position

Class:                     Insecta

Order:                     Lepidoptera

Family:                  Hesperiidae

Subfamily:            Pyrginae

Tribe:                     Tagiadini

Genus:                   Odontoptilum de Nicéville, 1890

Species:                 angulata (Felder, 1862)

An adult Chestnut Angle butterfly from Kongbamaru, Imphal East district near stream. (Photo by: Jatishwor Irungbam)

Description:

Male and female vinaceous-brown, palest on the hindwing. Male, forewing dull chestnut-brown along exterior margin, with a black transverse band one-third from the base; a geminated semi-transparent spot on costa before the apex, surrounded by suffused black; a semi-transparent lunule and a small spot on the lower part of the disc, bordered without by a black band: hindwing with a transverse subbasal, an elbowed discal, and a lower submarginal purplish-white line; apex of wing with suffused black patch and lower marginal blackish pale-bordered spots. Underside brown, forewing suffused with greyish-white at the base; markings as above: hindwing greyish-white, the transverse lines less denned, marginal spots blacker, and a blackish spot near base of wing. Palpi above black. Palpi and body beneath and legs greyish-white. Female paler, marked on upper-and undersides as in male (Watson, 1891).

An adult Chestnut Angle butterfly from Litan, Ukhrul district. (Photo by: Jatishwor Irungbam)

Food Plants:

The larvae of the butterfly feed on the plants of Ceiba sp. (Bombacaceae), Hibiscus tiliaceus, Urena lobata (Malvaceae) and Allophylus cobbe (Sapindaceae) (Kehimkar, 2008). In Singapore, the larva feeds on Commersonia bartramia, Talipariti tiliaceum (Tan, 2008).

An adult Chestnut Angle butterfly from Kongbamaru, Imphal East district. (Photo by: Jatishwor Irungbam)

Habits:

The adults are usually found near its larval food plants, or when feeding along a muddy track or on bird droppings (Tan, 2008). In Himalaya, the adults were seen in the forested hills as well as lowland forest tracts visiting damp patches, partial to animal and bird droppings and comes to flowers too. Not very fond of open sunshine, but usually comes to bask. Flies upto 2000 m in the Himalaya and hills in the northeast India during March, May, August and October (Kehimkar, 2008).

Sightings in Manipur:

The butterfly seems to be common in most of the parts of Manipur. The butterfly has been sighted from many places during the survey.  The butterfly was observed from Singda, Imphal West district; Sadu Chiru, Senapati district; Litan, Ukhrul district; Kongbamaru, Matai, Nongmaiching Reserve Forest, Imphal East district; Yaingangpokpi Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandel district and Keibul Lamjao National Park, Bishnupur district during March, April, July, August and September.

Reference:

Kehimkar, I. (2008). The Book of Indian Butterflies. Bombay Natural History Society, 497 pp.

Saji, K. and V.K.Chandrashekharan. (2016). Odontoptilum angulata Felder, 1862 – Chestnut Angle. Kunte, K., P. Roy, S. Kalesh and U. Kodandaramaiah (eds.). Butterflies of India, v. 2.24. Indian Foundation for Butterflies. http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/sp/483/Odontoptilum-angulata

Sondhi, S., K. Kunte, G. Agavekar, R. Lovelekar & K. Tokekar. (2013). Butterflies of the Garo Hills. Samrakshan Trust (New Delhi), Titli Trust (Dehradun) and Indian Foundation of Butterflies (Bangaluru). xvi+200 pp.

Tan, H. (2008). Life History of the Chestnut Angle (Odontoptilum angulatum angulatum). Butterflies of Singapore. http://butterflycircle.blogspot.cz/2008/03/life-history-of-chestnut-angle_09.html

Varshney, R. K. & P. Smetacek. (2015). A synoptic Catalogue of the Butterflies of India. Butterfly Research Centre, Bhimtal and Indinov Publishing, New Delhi, ii + 261 pp., 8 pl.

Watson, E. Y. (1891). Hesperiidae Indicae. Vest & Co., Madras.

#8 – Tabby Pseudergolis wedah (Kollar, 1848)

#8 – Tabby Pseudergolis wedah (Kollar, 1848)

The Tabby Pseudergolis wedah is a species of Nymphalid butterfly found in Asia. In India, it is found along the Himalayas where it is somewhat uncommon and extends into Southeast Asia east to Vietnam. The species is represented by two subspecies. In India, the species is represented by Pseudergolis wedah wedah Kollar, 1844. The butterfly is recorded in India from Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Sikkim to Arunachal Pradesh (Kehimkar, 2008; Gogoi, 2012; Sondhi & Kunte 2016). Varshney & Smetacek (2015) mentions that the butterfly is present in NE India but surprisingly there are no confirm records on the presence of these butterfly in the states of NE India (Assam, Manipur and Tripura) (Gogoi, 2013; Sondhi et al., 2013; Lodh & Agarwala, 2015). Karmakar & Sarkar (2016) in the website Butterflies of India by Indian Foundation for Butterflies displayed the photograph of the butterfly from Alipurduar (West Bengal), Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram.

Taxonomic position

Class:                     Insecta

Order:                     Lepidoptera

Family:                  Nymphalidae

Genus:                   Pseudergolis

Species:                 P. wedah

Description:

The sexes of this butterfly are similar. Golden brown in colour and four dark bar in cell of both wings on upperside. Three dark vertical lines beyond cell on upperside of both wings and a row of black spots between the outer two lines. The underside of the wing is light chocolate brown with violet gloss in colour. Forewing apex has square cut.  (Kehimkar, 2008).

Pseudergolis wedah from Kongbamaru, Imphal East district (Photo by: Jatishwor Irungbam)

Food Plants:

The larvae of these butterfly feed on the leaves of Debregeasia bicolor (Urticaceae) (Kehimkar, 2008).

Habits:

Very active butterfly during the day. Often seen settles on the ground or stones or leaves with open wings near the stream or wet ground.  Flies along the streams in hilly areas. Mostly seen in the Himalayas between 400 and 2000 m from April to December (Kehimkar, 2008).

Pseudergolis wedah in group (Photo by: Baleshwor Soibam) 

Sightings in Manipur:

The butterfly seems to be common in most of the parts of Manipur. The butterfly has been sighted from many places during the study.  The butterfly was observed from Kamjong village, Shirui Hills, Ukhrul district; Kongbamaru, Imphal East district; Sadu Chiru, Ereng, Senapati district; Leimaram, Bishnupur district and  Yaingangpokpi Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandel district.

Reference:

Gogoi, M.J. (2012). Butterflies (Lepidoptera) of Dibang Valley, Mishmi Hills, Arunachal Pradesh, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 4(12): 3137–3160.

Gogoi, M.J. (2013). A preliminary checklist of butterflies recorded from Jeypore-Dehing forest, eastern Assam, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 5(2): 3684–3696; doi:10.11609/JoTT.o3022.3684-96.

Karmakar, T.  & V.  Sarkar. (2016). Pseudergolis wedah Kollar, 1844 – Tabby. Kunte, K., P. Roy, S. Kalesh and U. Kodandaramaiah (eds.). Butterflies of India, v. 2.24. Indian Foundation for Butterflies. http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/sp/741/Pseudergolis-wedah [Accessed on December 16, 2016]
Kehimkar, I. (2008). The Book of Indian Butterflies. Bombay Natural History Society, 497 pp.

Lodh, R. & B. K. Agarwala (2015). Inventory of butterfly fauna (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) of Tripura, India, in the Indo-Myanmar biogeographical zone, with records of threatened taxa. Check List 11(2): 1-37. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.15560/11.2.1591

Sondhi, S. & K. Kunte (2016). Butterflies (Lepidoptera) of the Kameng Protected Area Complex, western Arunachal Pradesh, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 8(8): 9053–9124; http://dx.doi.org/10.11609/jott.2984.8.8.9053-9124

Sondhi, S., K. Kunte, G. Agavekar, R. Lovelekar & K. Tokekar. (2013). Butterflies of the Garo Hills. Samrakshan Trust (New Delhi), Titli Trust (Dehradun) and Indian Foundation of Butterflies (Bangaluru). xvi+200 pp.

Varshney, R. K. & P. Smetacek. (2015). A synoptic Catalogue of the Butterflies of India. Butterfly Research Centre, Bhimtal and Indinov Publishing, New Delhi, ii + 261 pp., 8 pl.

#7 - Yellow Pansy Junonia hierta magna (Evans, 1926)

#7 - Yellow Pansy Junonia hierta magna (Evans, 1926)

Junonia hierta, the yellow pansy, is a species of Nymphalid butterfly found in the Palaeotropics. It is usually seen in open scrub and grassland habitats. The species have a very wide distribution from Africa to India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Cambodia, China, Thailand (Savela 2016).

The species is represented by four subspecies throughout the world. Two subspecies represent in India. In Manipur, Yellow Pansy is represented by subspecies Junonia hierta magna (Evans, 1926).

• Junonia hierta hierta (Fabricius, 1798) (Throughout India except NE states and Andaman Is., S. Yunnan)
• Junonia hierta cebrene Trimen, 1870 (Africa-drier parts, Arabia)
• Junonia hierta paris Trimen, 1887 (Madagascar)
• Junonia hierta magna (Evans, 1926) (Sikkim to NE India; Andaman Is.)

Taxonomic position

Class:      Insecta
Order:     Lepidoptera
Suborder: Rhopalocera
Family:  Nymphalidae

Subfamily: Nymphalinae

Tribe:     Junoniini
Genus:   Junonia
Species: hierta 

Subspecies: magna (Evans, 1926)

Description

The butterfly is about 45-60 mm in wingspan and its common throughout its distribution range. Upper forewing and hindwing is yellow with black apex. Upper hindwing bright blue spot at the base. On Upper forewing, large blue-pupilled eyespots in spaces 2 and 5 prominent in female, often absent in male. Hindwing costal and basal areas broadly black. Prominent oval shining blue patch on upper hindwing, larger in the male. Female duller yellow, has two small discal eyespot in spaces 2 and 5 on upper hindwing. Underwing greyish buff finely marked with brown bands and lines. (Kehimkar 2008; Sondhi et al. 2013).

Figure 1. Junonia hierta magna (Evans, 1926) from Shirui Hills, Ukhrul. (Photo by: J.S. Irungbam)

Biology

The larvae of the butterfly feeds on Barleria spp. Hygrophila auriculata and Ruellia prostrata of family Acanthaceae.

Habits

A very active butterfly, flies very close to the ground. Mostly seen during the bright sunny days visiting the flowers in gardens, forest tracks, dry stony riverbeds, uncultivated agricultural fields, scrub forest in the plains and foothills up to 2000m. (Kehimkar 2008; Sondhi et al. 2013).

Figure 2. Junonia hierta magna (Evans, 1926) Photo by: Soibam Baleshwor

Sightings in Manipur

The butterfly has been photographed from Shirui Hills in the Ukhrul district during July 2016. The butterfly has been recorded from the other parts of the Manipur. Some of the locations where butterfly was photographed are from Langol RF, Imphal West; Chalou village, Matai village and Nongmaiching RF, Imphal East; Thongam mondum RF, Thoubal; KLNP and Leimaram, Bishnupur; YLWLS, Chandel and Shirui village and Somsai riverbed, Ukhrul district. The butterfly was seen in Manipur throughout the year.

References

• Evans, W.H. (1932). The Identification of Indian Butterflies (2nd ed.). Mumbai, India: Bombay Natural History Society.
• Kehimkar, I. (2008). The Book of Indian Butterflies. Bombay Natural History Society, 497 pp.
• Savela, M. (2016). Lepidoptera and some other life forms. http://ftp.funet.fi/index/Tree_of_life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/papilionoidea/nymphalidae/nymphalinae/junonia/
• Sondhi, S., K. Kunte, G. Agavekar, R. Lovelekar & K. Tokekar. (2013). Butterflies of the Garo Hills. Samrakshan Trust (New Delhi), Titli Trust (Dehradun) and Indian Foundation of Butterflies (Bangaluru). xvi+200 pp.
• Wynter-Blyth, M. A. (1957). Butterflies of the Indian Region. BNHS, Bombay. 523pp.

#6 - Mixed Punch Dodona ouida Hewitson, 1865

#6 - Mixed Punch Dodona ouida Hewitson, 1865

Dodona ouida, the Mixed Punch, is a small but striking butterfly found in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and central Vietnam that belongs to the Punches and Judies, that is, the family Riodinidae.

Taxonomic position

Class: Insecta
Order:     Lepidoptera
Suborder: Rhopalocera
Family:  Riodinidae
Genus:   Dodona
Species: ouida Hewitson, 1865

 Figure 1. Dodona ouida from Shirui Hills Photographed by: Jatishwor Singh Irungbam

Description

The butterfly is about 40-55 mm in wingspan. Hindwing Tailless, but produced into a broad lobe. In Males, upperside of the wing brown with three oblique orange bands on forewing, hindwing with two postdiscal orange bands and a narrow sub-marginal line. Female is slightly brown and with a dark submarginal line inside. 

Biology

The larvae of the butterfly feeds on Wild Berry Maesa  chisia (Myrsinaceae). 

Habits

A fast flying butterfly, very active during the day, mostly seen basking in the sun with open wing. Males usually visits hill tops. Mostly seen in the wing during April to December between the 1200 to 2400 m altitude. In Nepal D. ouida seen perched in the ridges, especially on the summits and maximum activities during 1100 to 1200 hrs. Mmales rested with wings together on dorsal leaf surfaces from 1 to 3 meters high, but never on the highest branches.

Figure 2. Same individual (Fig 1) Dodona ouida from Shirui Hills Photographed by: Jatishwor Singh Irungbam

Sightings in Manipur
The butterfly has been photographed from Shirui Hills in the Ukhrul district during July 2016. The butterfly was seen sitting on the leaves of plum tree which grows on the backyard of Shirui Guest House.

References

• Bingham, C. T. (1905). The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma Butterflies. 1 (1st ed.). London: Taylor and Francis, Ltd.

• Callaghan, C. J. (1997). A Study of the Riodinid Butterflies of the Genus Dodona in Nepal (Riodinidae). Journal of Research on Lepidoptera. 36:1-15.
• 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.

• Inayoshi, Y. (2016). A Check List of Butterflies in Indo-China. Chiefly from Thailand, Laos & Vietnam. http://yutaka.it-n.jp/rio/8a030001.html [Access on December 4, 2016]