Butterflies of the Indian
subcontinent
Himalayan Five-Ring
Ypthima sakra
MOORE, 1857
Family -
NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
SATYRINAE
Tribe - SATYRINI
subtribe - SATYRINA
Ypthima
sakra
Darjeeling, India
© Haraprasan Nayak
Introduction
The genus Ypthima comprises of 108
known species. 16 of these are restricted to the
Afrotropical region. One is found only in Australia and Papua
New Guinea. Most of the remainder are found in various parts
of the Oriental region. The species with the widest distribution
is asterope, which is found in
sub-Saharan Africa, Arabia, Turkey, Lebanon, and on the Indian
sub-continent.
Ypthima
are instantly recognisable as a group. All are marked with fine
striations on the underside, and possess a submarginal
series of yellow-ringed black ocelli.
Ypthima sakra is found in northern
India, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet ad s.w. China.
Habitats
This species is found in grassy forest edge habitats and
secondary growth, at elevations between about 500-2000 metres.
Lifecycle
The larvae feed nocturnally on grasses.
Adult behaviour
Both sexes
prefer flying in overcast weather, and are not averse to flying
in light rain. They can be found basking on leaf litter or low
herbage, but are quite nervous in behaviour; and if disturbed
tend to spend a considerable time fluttering about close to the
ground before eventually settling.
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