Butterflies of
Thailand, Malaysia &
Borneo
Chocolate Soldier
Junonia iphita
CRAMER, 1779
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
NYMPHALINAE
Tribe - JUNONIINI
introduction
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habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
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Junonia iphita horsfieldi,
Gopeng, West Malaysia |
Introduction
There is a great deal of confusion among entomologists regarding
the genera Junonia and
Precis. The two genera are very
similar, but the genitalia differ consistently, as do the larval
foodplants, which are chiefly Lamiaceae in the solely African
genus Precis, and Acanthaceae in
Junonia, which are more widely
distributed, and includes the Pansy butterflies of Africa, the
Buckeyes of Central America and the USA, and the Soldiers and
Commodores of the Oriental and Australian regions.
Using the above
definitions, Junonia comprises
about 33 species, of which 11 occur in the Oriental region. Of
these, 7 are found in West Malaysia and Borneo -
iphita,
hedonia, atlites,
orithya,
hierta, almana and
lemonias.
Junonia iphita the most sombrely
coloured of these species, and also one of the commonest and
most widespread. It is found from Sri Lanka and India to China,
and through the Malay archipelago to Bali and the Lesser Sunda
Isles.
Both sexes are
very similar in appearance, but the female has slightly broader
and more rounded wings. On the underside the wings are pale
brown with a dark stripe, and look like a dead leaf.
This species is
very similar to its close relative hedonia
but the latter has a richer chocolate brown ground colour.
Habitats
Junonia iphita is found mainly in degraded and disturbed forest
habitats including palm plantations, small clearings, and along
roadsides and riverbanks at elevations between sea level and at
least 1200 metres. It also occurs in primary rainforest and
temperate evergreen and deciduous forests.
Lifecycle
The eggs are pale green with 14 prominent vertical ribs, and are
laid singly either on the foodplant or on nearby twigs or dead
leaves.
The larva when
fully grown is dull dark brown, and adorned with rows of
multi-branched spikes along the back and sides. It feeds on a
wide range of plants in the Acanthaceae including
Justicia,
Hygrophila, Lepidagathis,
Asteracantha, Goldfussia and
Strobilanthes.
The chrysalis
is dull brown with rows of tubercules along the back and sides.
It is suspended by the cremaster from a leaf or twig.
Adult behaviour
Both sexes are
low flying, and spend long periods basking on herbage or on the
ground. They are relatively easy to approach, and rarely fly far
if disturbed. When not basking they tend to sit on the leaves of
bushes or saplings, where they often remain motionless for
several minutes even in hot sunny weather.
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