Butterflies of
Thailand, Malaysia &
Borneo
Striped Ringlet
Ragadia makuta
HORSFIELD, 1829
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
SATYRINAE
Tribe - RAGADIINI
introduction
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habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
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Ragadia makuta,
Robinson Falls, Tanah Rata,
West Malaysia |
Introduction
There are 9 species in the genus Ragadia,
all of which are Oriental in distribution.
The genus is instantly recognisable from the zebra-striped
pattern, and the long series of evenly-sized ocelli on the outer
part of the underside wings. The pattern on the upperside is
similar but considerably paler, and in many species almost
obscured by a heavy suffusion of brown scales.
Only 2 species
occur in West Malaysia - makuta and
crisilda, the latter being more
brightly marked, and having the ocelli on the hindwing set
within a dark band.
Ragadia makuta is found in southern
Thailand, peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo and Java.
Habitats
This species is found at low to moderate elevations, circa
400-1400 metres, in sub-tropical and temperate rainforest or
cloudforest, usually in dark humid forest close to streams and
well away from roads. Its abundance and distribution are both
affected significantly by levels of rainfall, with populations
decimated after high rainfall or periods of drought.
Lifecycle
Corbet & Pendlebury describe the larva as being "highly
abnormal... It has short head horns and tail points, and on each
segment there is a pair of subdorsal conical tubercules, from
which a seta
( hair ) emerges bearing a drop of liquid".
The foodplant is Selaginella (
Selaginnaceae ), a fern-like plant commonly known as spikemoss.
Adult behaviour
The butterflies have a feeble fluttery flight, and rarely fly
more than a couple of metres at a time. They are extremely
localised - typically occuring in clusters of about 10-20 along
a very short stretch of a narrow forest trail, but being
entirely absent elsewhere in the vicinity.
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