Caterpillars of the
World - Singapore
Commander
Moduza procris
CRAMER, 1777
Family -
NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
LIMENITIDINAE
Tribe - LIMENITIDINI
introduction
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habitats |
lifecycle |
adult
|
 |
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Moduza procris,
Singapore
( photo
courtesy Gan
Cheong Weei
©
2008 ) |
Introduction
There are 9 species in the genus Moduza,
all found in the Oriental region. They are closely related to
the genera Limenitis and
Athyma.
Moduza procris is the commonest and
most widespread species in the genus, being found in India, Sri
Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, the Philippines, West Malaysia,
Sumatra, Sarawak, Brunei, Sabah, Kalimantan and Java.
Habitats
This species is found in heavily forested areas which receive
high levels of rainfall, at elevations between sea level and
about 400 metres.
Lifecycle
The larval
foodplants are various members
of the Rubiaceae including
Uncaria,
Mussaenda, Wendlandia,
Nauclea, Sarcolephalus,
Stephegyne and Timonias.
The larva
rests near the tip of a leaf, on the midrib, behind a barrier it
has constructed from a chain of its droppings. Studies have
demonstrated that these "frass chains" are an effective deterrent
to ants, which appear to be dissuaded from crossing by toxins in
the droppings.
Adult
Commanders have
a swift and skittish flight with rapid wing beats alternating
with spurts of smooth gliding. They are powerful on the wing,
but usually only fly for short distances at a time.
Both sexes will
visit herbaceous flowers, bushes and flowering trees for nectar.
Males often
bask on river beaches, stream beds, road surfaces and boulders.
They are strongly attracted to urine soaked ground, where they
will sometimes spend an entire day, with bouts of feeding broken
by periods of resting or basking.
Moduza
procris,
Taman Negara,
West Malaysia
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