Butterflies of
the Indian subcontinent
Peacock Pansy
Junonia almana
LINNAEUS, 1758
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
NYMPHALINAE
Tribe - JUNONIINI
Junonia almana,
Hambantota, Sri Lanka
Introduction
The genus
Junonia comprises about 33 species, 11 of which occur in
the Oriental region including 6 on the Indian subcontinent -
lemonias, orithya,
hierta,
iphita, atlites and
almana.
Junonia almana is distributed from
India and Sri Lanka to the Philippines, and ranges south through
the Malay archipelago to Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi and Java.
Habitats
This is a common
species found in a wide variety of habitats including forest
clearings, Acacia thorn scrub,
palm-fringed beaches, savannah, dry woodlands, arable farmland and
botanical gardens. It is primarily a lowland species found at
altitudes between sea level and about 500m, although it can be
found as high as 1000m.
Lifecycle
The larval
foodplants include Asteracantha,
Hygrophila,
Barleria, Osbeckia,
Alternanthera,
Mimosa, Vandellia,
Antirrhinum and
Plantago.
Adult behaviour
The butterflies
are usually seen in two's and three's. They often bask for several
minutes at a time on the ground or on low foliage, especially if
the weather is cloudy. They are quite nervous, and if approached
they flit rapidly into the air and circle around, before settling
again, typically well out of reach amidst a tangle of thorny
Acacia growth.
Junonia almana,
Hambantota, Sri Lanka
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