Butterflies of
Thailand, Malaysia &
Borneo
Godart's Jungle Glory
Thaumantis odana
GODART, 1824
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
MORPHINAE
Tribe - AMATHUSIINI
Thaumantis
odana, Poring hot springs, Sabah, Borneo
Introduction
The
deep purple-blue sheen on the upperside wings, and the combination of a large
ocellus and a prominent lunule on the underside hindwings are visible
characteristics that demonstrate the close relationship this genus has with the
Brassolini ( Owl butterflies ) of South America.
The
26 species of Amathusiini occurring on peninsular Malaysia include 3 Thaumantis
species - klugius, noureddin
and odana.
All have a similar pattern on the underside, but differ in the extent of the
blue colouration on the upperside. In odana
this is confined to a diagonal band of sapphire blue on the forewings; in klugius
almost the entire upper surface has a purple-blue iridescence; and noureddin
is distinguished by it's more angular apex and the row of suffused orange
submarginal lunules on it's forewings.
Thaumantis odana is
found in peninsular Malaya, Borneo and Java.
Habitats
This species is found in wet rainforest habitats, usually in association with
bamboo thickets, at altitudes between about 100-1600m.
Lifecycle
There does not appear to be any published data regarding the
early stages of this species, but the following generalisations apply to the
tribe Amathusiini, and are probably applicable :
The
eggs are laid in clusters on the foodplants, which according to species may be
palms, banana, sugar cane, ginger or other monocotyledons. In the case of odana
the regularity with which the species is found in bamboo thickets would appear
to indicate that bamboo is the probable foodplant.
The
caterpillars are typically cylindrical and covered in fine dense hairs ( setae
). There are tufts of longer hair along the back, and on the thorax. The tail
end bears a pair of prominent caudal forks, used to flick droppings away from
the feeding site. When young the caterpillars feed gregariously, and if alarmed
raise their foreparts to expose a gland from which noxious anti-predator
pheromones are disseminated.
The
chrysalis of a typical Amathusiine is smooth textured, shaped like a plump banana,
and is suspended by the
cremaster from woody stems.
Adult behaviour
Jungle Glories are crepuscular
in nature, and spend the major part of the day at rest, hiding
amongst dead leaves and woody stems beneath bushes in the depths
of the rainforest. There they are extremely difficult to spot, as
the disruptive pattern and mixture of brown, cream and bluish
tones on the underside is the perfect camouflage against the wet
leaf litter. If disturbed they suddenly appear before the eyes as
a flash of intense deep purplish-blue zig-zagging rapidly just
above the surface of the ground, and then just as suddenly
disappear again.
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