BugsAlive
Junonia iphita - the Chocolate Pansy
Chiang Dao NS, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Family : Nymphalidae
Sub-Family : Nymphalinae
Species : Junonia iphita iphita
This the least colourful of the Junonia genus butterflies and the upper wing pattern seen on the fresh individual above soon fades. The underside looks a little like a dead leaf. They can be quite difficult to photograph as they usually land and close their wings. Only when they feel safe, for example when they are well camouflaged amongst the leaf litter on the forest floor, do they open their wings. The species is widely distributed from Sri Lanka, through India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, and Singapore, to parts of Indonesia and China. In places it is quite common but in Thailand it is not so common. It is a medium size butterfly with a wingspan of 50-60mm and both sexes are similar in appearance.
It is found in a wide range of habitats from primary rainforest to roadsides and riverbanks up to an elevation of around 1500m. The females lay their eggs singly, often on the ground near the larval food plant which in Thailand tends to be Strobilanthus dyeriana, although other plants in the Acanthaceae family are also used in other locations. After hatching the larvae find their own way to the food plant.
All my insect pics are single, handheld shots of live insects.
Junonia iphita - the Chocolate Pansy
Chiang Dao NS, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Family : Nymphalidae
Sub-Family : Nymphalinae
Species : Junonia iphita iphita
This the least colourful of the Junonia genus butterflies and the upper wing pattern seen on the fresh individual above soon fades. The underside looks a little like a dead leaf. They can be quite difficult to photograph as they usually land and close their wings. Only when they feel safe, for example when they are well camouflaged amongst the leaf litter on the forest floor, do they open their wings. The species is widely distributed from Sri Lanka, through India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, and Singapore, to parts of Indonesia and China. In places it is quite common but in Thailand it is not so common. It is a medium size butterfly with a wingspan of 50-60mm and both sexes are similar in appearance.
It is found in a wide range of habitats from primary rainforest to roadsides and riverbanks up to an elevation of around 1500m. The females lay their eggs singly, often on the ground near the larval food plant which in Thailand tends to be Strobilanthus dyeriana, although other plants in the Acanthaceae family are also used in other locations. After hatching the larvae find their own way to the food plant.
All my insect pics are single, handheld shots of live insects.