Butterflies of
the Indian
subcontinent
Wanderer
Pareronia hippia
FABRICIUS, 1787
Family - PIERIDAE
subfamily -
PIERINAE
Tribe - COLOTINI
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Pareronia hippia,
© Piet van der Poel |
Introduction
There are 13 species in the genus
Pareronia, 9 of which occur in the Oriental region, and 4
east of the Wallace Line on New Guinea and surrounding islands.
There has been
a great deal of confusion in the past regarding the taxonomy of
this genus, due to the similarities between the males of
valeria,
ceylanica and hippia, all of
which are dark brown, with beautiful translucent pale blue
markings.
The only
species occuring in Sri Lanka is the endemic
ceylanica. There is a degree of
overlap in the ranges of the other 2 species -
hippia ( formerly known as
anais ) being distributed from
India to south China; and valeria
being found from Burma to the Philippines, and south through
peninsular Malaysia to Sumatra and Borneo.
The females of
hippia and
valeria are both are similar in pattern to the males, but
the dark brown areas are more extensive. In the female of
hippia the translucent blue
markings are replaced by a chalky greyish-white. In contrast the
female of valeria has a flush of
bright yellow at the base of the wings, and is considered to be
a Batesian mimic of the toxic Parantica
aspasia ( Danainae ) which flies in the same area.
Habitats
This species occurs in a wide range of habitats including
beach hinterlands, forest edge habitats, parks and gardens, at
altitudes between sea level and about 500m.
Lifecycle
The larval foodplant is Capparis (
Capparidaceae ).
Adult behaviour
The butterflies are usually seen singly, and are nomadic in
behaviour, covering long distances in search of foodplants and
nectar sources. Both sexes visit a wide range of flowering
bushes. They tend to stay at each bloom for several seconds, and
hold their wings half open while feeding.
In hazy
sunshine, or when temperatures are cool
in early morning or late afternoon, both sexes like to bask on
low foliage, with their wings fully outspread.
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