Butterflies of the Indian
subcontinent
Large Silverstripe
Childrena
childreni
GRAY, 1831
Family -
NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
HELICONIINAE
Tribe - ARGYNNINI
Childrena childreni
Darjeeling, India
© Haraprasan Nayak
Introduction
The subfamily Heliconiinae is distributed
worldwide. It includes the Heliconius,
Dryas, Philaethria and
Dione Longwings of the neotropics; the
Acraea
butterflies of Africa; the
Phalanta Leopards, Cethosia
Lacewings and Vindula
Cruisers of the Indo-Australian region; and Holarctic Fritillaries in the
genera Argynnis, Boloria,
Brenthis, Yramea,
Euptoieta and Childrena,
all members of the tribe Argynnini.
There are 2 species in the
genus Childrena, i.e. zenobia which is restricted
to China, Tibet and Ussuri; and childreni which is
found in northern India, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, Thailand and south-western China.
Habitats
This species is found in sub-tropical valleys and temperate
forests in the foothills of the Himalaya and the mountains of Burma, Thailand
and western China.
Lifecycle
The larval foodplant is Viola ( Violaceae ).
Adult behaviour
Males
bask on rocks, landslips and bare ground to imbibe mineralised moisture. If
disturbed they immediately close their wings, and rely on the camouflage of
their silver-striped undersides to protect them. Females do not mud-puddle, but
can be seen nectaring at flowers.
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