Oriental Great Eggfly

August 22, 2023

Hypolimnas bolina jacintha (Drury, 1773)

Male

SPECIES DETAILS

Malayalam Name: വൻചൊട്ട ശലഭം
Tamil Name:

Scientific Name: Hypolimnas bolina jacintha

Sub Family: Nymphalinae
Family: Nymphalidae( Brush footed butterflies)
Super family: Papilionoidae (Butterflies)
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)

DISTRIBUTION:

H. bolina is found from Madagascar to South and Southeast Asia. The subspecies H bolina jacintha found in Western Ghats

STATUS:

Common

HABITAT:

All most all habitat of Tropical and Subtropical region.

HABIT:

.Males are notably territorial and individuals are known to return to defend the same location for up to 54 days, with site fidelity increasing with age.Territories that enhance the visual detection of adult females are preferred.Females are usually found gliding close to the ground. Females mimics other species

SIMILAR SPECIES:

Male resembles Danid Eggfly. Females of this species mimics Common Crow and Double Banded Crow.

TYPICAL IDENTIFICATION FEATURES

black-bodied butterfly with a wingspan of about 70–85 millimetres (2.8–3.3 in). The species has a high degree of sexual dimorphism. Male black with large white circular single spot on dorsal side of hindwing and large Triangular white spot at the cenre and a small white spot on tip of dorsal side of forewing. The white spots show blue,violet irridiscent colouration. Male resemble Danaid eggfly but can easily identified with ventral view. The female is mimic with multiple morphs.

Male

The female is mimic with multiple morphs and often mimic common crow or double banded crow but can be easily distinguished by bluish irridiscant spots on forewing and the white patterns underneath the wings .Female have reddishbrown colouration underneath.

Female

comparison

HOST PLANTS:

Shrubs of Acanthaceae, Malvaceae, Asteraceae, Amaranthaceae etc.

Sida rhombifolia, Portulaca oleracea, Laportea crenulata ,Triumfetta pentandra, Ipomoea batatas, Alternanthera denticulata, and Synedrella nodiflora etc

LIFE CYCLE:

1. Egg:

Female H. bolina most often lay one or two eggs at a time. These are typically laid on the leaf underside.The eggs are a pale, glassy green with longitudinal ridges except on the top.