Butterflies of
Thailand, Malaysia &
Borneo
Commander
Moduza procris
CRAMER, 1777
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
LIMENITIDINAE
Tribe - LIMENITIDINI
introduction
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habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
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 |
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Moduza
procris,
Taman Negara,
West Malaysia |
Introduction
There are 9 species in the genus Moduza,
all found in the Oriental region. They are closely related to
the genera Limenitis and
Athyma.
Moduza procris is the commonest and
most widespread species in the genus, being found in India, Sri
Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, the Philippines, West Malaysia,
Sumatra, Sarawak, Brunei, Sabah, Kalimantan and Java.
Habitats
This species is found in heavily forested areas which receive
high levels of rainfall, at elevations between sea level and
about 400 metres.
Lifecycle
The eggs are dome-shaped, and covered in a coarse network of
hexagonal ridges from which arise numerous short spines. They
are greenish in colour and could be compared in appearance with
an unripe strawberry or a green sea urchin. They are laid on the
undersurface of a leaf of the food-plant, near the tip.
The fully grown
caterpillar, which is illustrated below feeds on various members
of the Rubiaceae including
Uncaria,
Mussaenda, Wendlandia,
Nauclea, Sarcolephalus,
Stephegyne and Timonias. It
rests near the tip of a leaf, on the midrib, behind a barrier it
has constructed from a chain of its droppings. Studies have
demonstrated that these barriers are an effective deterrent to
ants and other predatory insects, which appear to be dissuaded
from crossing by toxins in the droppings.
Moduza procris,
Singapore
( photo
©
Gan
Cheong Weei )
The chrysalis is suspended by the cremaster from a twig or
among dried leaves, and looks almost exactly like a small twisted dead leaf. It
is coloured in various shades of brown, is broad across the thoracic area,
and the abdomen is curved into an S shape. The
light brown wing cases are marked with dark lines resembling
the veins of a leaf. The abdomen is curved into an S shape, the back is covered
in large bumps, and the palpi look like mop-heads. A most peculiar and
fascinating object.
Adult behaviour
Commanders have
a swift and skittish flight with rapid wing beats alternating
with spurts of smooth gliding. They are powerful on the wing,
but usually only fly for short distances at a time.
Both sexes will
visit herbaceous flowers, bushes and flowering trees for nectar.
Males often
bask on river beaches, stream beds, road surfaces and boulders.
They are strongly attracted to urine soaked ground, where they
will sometimes spend an entire day, with bouts of feeding broken
by periods of resting or basking.
Moduza
procris,
Taman Negara,
West Malaysia
Moduza
procris,
Nepal ( photo ©
Gail Hampshire )
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