Sahyadri Commander

August 22, 2023

Moduza procris undifragus Fruhstorfer, 1906 വെള്ളിലത്തോഴൻ

Malayalam Name	:	വെള്ളിലത്തോഴൻ
Order	:	Lepidoptera
Super Family	:	Papilionoidae (Butterflies)
Family	:	Nympalidae
Sub Family	:	Nymphalinae

DISTRIBUTION : Species found in South Asia and South East Asia and the sub species seen in South India

STATUS: Not Common

HABITAT :

The commander is generally found in forested regions having moderate to heavy rainfall. It usually keeps to low elevations, that is, up to 900 metres (3,000 ft) into the hills.It is also found close to villages or wherever its larval host plant Mussaenda frondosa is found.

HABITS :

It is fond of open glades, roadsides and clearings in forests. It is abundant along watercourses in dry and moist deciduous forests. It is most common in the post-monsoon months and winter.
The commander can often be spotted basking with its wings pressed flat on exposed stones in streambeds. At this time it can be seen defending its territory and driving intruding butterflies away.
This butterfly has a swift flight with rapid wingbeats and alternate spurts of smooth gliding. A powerful flier, it nevertheless flies for short distances at a time.Though this is a mud-puddling species adults do not visit carrion or old fruit to drink liquids
It is notable for the mode of concealment employed by its caterpillar and the cryptic camouflage of its pupa

IDENTIFICATION FEATURES:

The commander has a wingspan of about 60 to 7.5mm. The upperside of its wings are a bright reddish brown. Towards the centre of the wing are broad white spots. In flight, one can see a bright red brown butterfly with a white band forming a V shape. There are also a few white spots scattered on the wings. Its hindwings have crenulated margins. The undersides of the wings are a whitish grey toward the base and have a row of dull reddish brown and a row of black spots along the margins. The male and female are similar in appearance

SIMILAR SPECIES :

LARVAL HOST PLANTS

Cadaba fruticosa (Capparaceae), Grewia nervosa (Malvaceae), Prunus dulcis (Rosaceae), Cinchona spp., Mitragyna parvifolia, Mussaenda frondosa, M. philippica, Neolamarckia cadamba, Ochreinauclea missionis, Wendlandia spp., W. heynei, W. thyrsoidea (Rubiaceae), Hedyotis orixense (Rubiaceae).

LIFE CYCLE