Butterflies of the Indian
subcontinent
Chestnut-streaked Sailor
Neptis jumbah
MOORE, 1857
Family -
NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
LIMENITIDINAE
Tribe - NEPTINI
Neptis jumbah
Orissa, India
© Haraprasan Nayak
Introduction
There are about
170
Neptis species, of which about 65
occur in Africa, 40+ in the Palaearctic region, 6 in Australia / New Guinea, and
about 50 in the Oriental region.
Members of this
genus share a common theme of white spots and bars on a blackish
ground colour. Distinguishing between the species involves
careful study of the configuration of the spots, bars and
submarginal lines on both wing surfaces.
Neptis jumbah is known from Sri
Lanka, southern and eastern India, Bangladesh and Burma; and
probably also occurs in Thailand.
Habitats
This species is found in forested habitats at elevations between
sea level and about 800 metres. It is found in both primary and
secondary forest, frequenting sunlit glades and forest edge
habitats.
Lifecycle
The pale green globular egg is covered with a network of
hexagonal ridges, from which arise minute spikes, and is reminiscent of a sea
urchin.
The caterpillar spends it's early instars hiding in a curled
up dead leaf from which it periodically emerges to feed. The larval foodplants
include
Fabaceae, Malvaceae and Tiliaceae.
The chrysalis resembles a withered leaf, and is be suspended by
the cremaster from a leaf or stem on or near the foodplant.
Adult behaviour
Like all
Neptis species, this butterfly is
best appreciated when on the wing, as it sails gently, riding on
thermals, with periods of gliding punctuated by occasional sharp
wing beats. It flies with great precision,
weaving it's way in and out through the
foliage and branches.
Both sexes
periodically alight to bask on the foliage of trees and bushes. Males sometimes imbibe moisture from damp
ground, but like the females they are more often seen nectaring
at flowers.
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