Butterflies of
Africa
Brown Pansy
Junonia stygia
AURIVILLIUS, 1894
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
NYMPHALINAE
Tribe - JUNONIINI
Junonia stygia,
Likpe Hills, Ghana / Togo border
Introduction
The genus
Junonia comprises about 33 species which are found variously
in North America, South America, Africa, Asia and Australia.
There are 17 species found in
mainland Africa - hadrope,
westermanni, artaxia,
stygia, gregorii,
terea, natalica,
chorimene, touhilimasa,
ansorgei, cymodoce,
africana, schmiedeli,
sophia, orithya, hierta
and oenone. The latter 3 species also occur
on Madagascar. Additionally there are 2 species endemic to Madagascar -
rhadama and goudoti.
Junonia
stygia is found from Senegal to the Congo.
A very similar species gregorii ( which some
writers consider to be a subspecies of stygia ) is
found from eastern Nigeria to western Kenya.
Habitats
This species is found in degraded forest habitats, usually in shady areas.
Lifecycle
The larval foodplants include
Asystasia, Barleria,
Justicia, Paulowilhelmia
and Phaulopsis.
Adult behaviour
The adult butterflies are usually found in two's or three's,
either nectaring, or - if conditions are a little cloudy, basking
or resting, in the vicinity of flowers.
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