Chocolate Pansy

Chocolate Pansy - Precis iphita Cramer

chocolate brown butterfly with dark markings. A very active butterfly.

Chocolate Pansy Butterfly

Chocolate Pansy Butterfly

Chocolate Pansy Butterfly

Commander

Commander - Moduza procris Cramer


Wingspan: 60-75mm

A very colorful butterfly. It is also a common species.

Commander Butterfly

Caterpillar is dark brown in color.

Caterpillar of Commander Butterfly

Caterpillar of Commander Butterfly

Commander Butterfly Pupa

Pupa of commander butterfly

Pupa looks similar to a dry leaf and is difficult to spot.

Larva Host Plants

Neolamarckia cadamba and cinchona, Cadaba fruticosa, hedyotis orixense, Mitragyna parvifolia, Mussaenda frondosa, Ochreinauclea missionis, Wendlandia exserta and Wendlandia thyrsoidea (Capparaceae and Rubiaceae)

Striped Tiger

Striped or Common Tiger - Danaus genutia Cramer


Wingspan: 72-100mm.

Striped Tiger Butterfly

Egss are laid on the underside of the leaf of plants belonging to the family Asclepiadaceae.

Caterpillar is velvet black and has bluish white and yellow lines.

Pupa is green with golden spots.

Striped Tiger Butterfly

Larva Host Plants

Asclepias curassavica, Ceropegia intermedia, Stephanotis sp. and Tylophora tenuis (Asclepiadaceae).

Blue Tiger Tirumala limniace Cramer

Blue Tiger Butterflies

Wingspan: 90-100mm.

Blue Tiger Butterfly

Blue tiger is a large butterfly with broad wings. dark brown or black stripes filled with pale blue.

Blue Tiger Butterfly

Is a very common butterfly found in all habitats. Is very fond of nectar and is a frequent visitor to gardens. Fond of mudpuddling.

Blue Tiger Butterfly

Blue Tiger Butterfly

Caterpillar of Blue Tiger Butterfly

Caterpillar lives on the underside of the leaves.

Pupa is green and shiny.

Larval Host Plants

 Wattakaka volubilis, Asclepias curassavica, Calotropis gigantea, Hoya sp. and Tylophora indiaca.

Common Indian Crow

Common Indian Crow Euploea core Cramer

Common Indian Crow Butterfly

Wingspan: 85-95mm.

Common Indian Crow Butterfly

Dark brown butterfly found in all types of habitats. Very common species and is active throughout the year.

Common Indian Crow Butterfly

It is very fond of mud puddling.

Eggs are laid on the underside of the leaves

Caterpillar is very colorful.

Caterpillar of Common Indian Crow Butterfly

Larval Host Plants

Ficus racemosa, Nerium odorum, Nerium oleander and Cryptolepis buchanani. Ficus benghalensis, Ficus religiosa, hemidesmus indicus, Holarrhena pubescens, Ichnocarpus frutescence and Tylophora indica.

Blue Mormon

Blue Mormon Papilio polymnestor Cramer.

Life Cycle of Blue Mormon Butterfly

 

Wingspan:120 - 150 mm.

A large black and blue butterfly with red spots at the base of its wing. One of the second largest butterflies in South India. Very common in forests, midland and coastal area. 

 Blue Mormon Butterfly

Regular visitor of flowers of Clearodendron sp, Mussanda sp. and Ixora etc which have long corolla tubes.. Male likes sunshine and females are shadow dwellers. 

Blue Mormon Butterfly Mudpuddling

Males like mud puddling along with other butterflies. It also basks in shady pathways with its wings spread flat. A common butterfly in cities also because of the abundance of the larva host plants and flowers for nectar.

Blue Mormon Butterfly Egg - ready to hatch

The eggs are laid on the upper surface of the leaves or on tender shoots. The eggs are spherical and light green when in fresh, later turning orange yellow.

Caterpillar of Blue Mormon Butterfly

 The caterpillars are very similar to the Common Mormon.

Pupa of Blue Mormon Butterfly 

Larva host plants: Citrus sp., Atalantia racemosa, A. wightii, Glycosmis arborea etc.

Southern Birdwing - Troides minos Cramer

Southern birdwing butterfly with a wingspan of 140 – 190 mm is the largest of southern Indian butterflies. Female of this species is larger than male but is less beautiful; a series of large triangular spots on the yellow areas of the hind-wings which lack in the male helps distinguish males and females. Males are bright black and golden yellow.

 

Southern Birdwing Butterfly

A regular visitor of home gardens; fond of nectar from Mussanda, Lantana and Ixora sp. Etc. Usually common in monsoon and post monsoon seasons and sharing a varied of habitats from forests to coastal areas.

Southen Birdwing Female

 Eggs are dark orange in color and are laid on the leaves and tender shoots of the Aristolochia plants.  Aristolochia indica, A. tagla and Thottea siliquosa.

Southern birdwing butterfly egg

 

Egg of Southern Birdwing Butterfly

Flight

Southern birdwing butterfly is a strong flier and it flies high above tree tops in the forests. It flies in a leisurely manner, circling and sailing over the plants.

Habits

It starts flying very early in the morning. Is very fond of nectar and readily visits Mussanda, Lantana and Ixora sp. Etc.

Caterpillar

Southern birdwing caterpillar is similar to that of Common Rose and is velvety maroon – red with a shiny black head.

 

Caterpillar of Southern Birdwing Butterfly

Pupa

Pupa of southern birdwing is also similar to that of common rose butterfly. It is pale brown or green and is marked with fine brown striations and minute markings.

Pupa of Southern Birdwing Butterfly

Larval Host Plants

Aristolochia indica, Aristolochia tagala, Thottea siliquosa.