Butterflies of the Indian
subcontinent
Baronet
Euthalia nais
FORSTER, 1771
Family -
NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
LIMENITIDINAE
Tribe -
ADOLIADINI
Euthalia (
Symphaedra ) nais,
male,
Orissa, India
© Haraprasan Nayak
Introduction
There are about 55 species in the genus
Euthalia, divided into several sub-groups with
differing adult characteristics.
The aconthea
group are sexually dimorphic - their males are typically dark brown, and several
of them have a wide
band of blue or green across the outer half of the hindwings. Their
females are larger, paler, and in some species are beautifully patterned with greyish steaks and chevrons. The lubentina
group are also sexually dimorphic, the males being chocolate brown
above, with a deep metallic green sheen, and a series of red spots
near the apex of the hindwing. Their females are similar, but have
broad white bands and spots on the forewings.
The nais group
consists of a single species- nais, which differs
considerably in appearance from any member of the other groups, and is not
sexually dimorphic. For these reasons some taxonomists place it in a separate
genus Symphaedra. In this treatment I include it as
a "subgenus" of Euthalia.
The butterfly is found only in India, Sri
Lanka and Bangladesh.
Habitats
This species is found in disturbed areas within forested
habitats, at altitudes between sea level and about 800m.
Lifecycle
The larval foodplants include Diospyros ( Ebenaceae
) and Shorea ( Dipterocarpaceae ).
Adult behaviour
Males commonly settle on the ground to imbibe mineralised
moisture from the soil, or from fallen branches, dead leaves and other
decomposing vegetation. When feeding they hold their wings either outspread,
half open, or erect, depending on ambient temperatures.
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