Butterflies of
Thailand, Malaysia &
Borneo
White-banded Judy
Abisara neophron chelina
FRUHSTORFER, 1904
Family - RIODINIDAE
subfamily -
RIODININAE
Tribe -
introduction
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habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
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Abisara neophron chelina, Ringlet, West Malaysia |
Introduction
The genus Abisara
comprises of 13 recognised species found variously in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka,
Myanmar, Bhutan, Thailand, West Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, southern China, Laos,
Vietnam, the Philippines, Sulawesi and Java. Additionally there are 11 species
found in tropical Africa, and also 3 members of a very closely related genus
Saribia found in Madagascar.
Most
Abisara species have a distinctive stubby or pointed tail on the
hindwings, and possess 2 or more prominent ocelli near the apex of the
hindwings. The majority have an earthy brown ground colour, although some such
as burnii and saturata
have a maroon or plum hue which has given rise to the popular name Plum Judy
which is often applied to the group as a whole.
Both sexes of
neophron are similar in appearance, but the female
is slightly paler and has longer tails.
Abisara
neophron occurs from northern India to southern China, with the
subspecies chelina being found in Myanmar,
Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, south China and peninsular Malaysia.
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Abisara neophron chelina, Ringlet, West Malaysia |
Habitats
In common with most
Abisara species neophron is found in shady
forest habitats, but sometimes ventures into open areas when the weather is
overcast. This species appears to be restricted to temperate hill forest and
cloudforest habitats at altitudes above 500m, unlike most other members of the
genus which are generally found in the lowlands.
Lifecycle
The eggs are pale green, dome-shaped and
very shiny. They are laid singly on the upper surface of leaves of the
foodplants Myrsinaceae.
The larvae are cylindrical, tapering
sharply toward the tail and towards the small yellow head. In the early instars
they are yellowish-green and have a slightly translucent skin. When mature they
are an opaque pale green colour, plump, and have the body segments clearly
defined. At all stages they are sparsely covered with tufts of short white
hairs.
The pupa is pale green and
slug-like, flattened, and with a pointed tail
and a blunt head which has a pair of flattened ear-like protrusions. It is
formed on the upper surface of a leaf, and has the appearance of a small gall or
blister.
Adult behaviour
This
delightful little butterfly is almost always encountered singly, with females
being seen more often than males, which suggests that the males spend much of
their time high up in trees.
Both sexes are timid in
behaviour, flitting nervously from leaf to leaf if approached. Females like to
settle high up on bushes, or on the lower branches of trees, where they bask on
foliage with their wings held half open. When perched on leaves they tend to
constantly twist and turn using a series of jerky movements.
Abisara
do not nectar at flowers or imbibe moisture from the ground - from my
observations they appear to obtain most if not all of their sustenance from
aphid and psyllid secretions ( honeydew ) on the upper surface of leaves.
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