Butterflies of
New Guinea
Cramer's Cruiser
Vindula arsinoe
CRAMER, 1777
Family -
NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
Tribe -
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Vindula arsinoe,
female, Meni, Arfak, Irian
Jaya © G.Zakine |
Introduction
The genus
Vindula comprises of 4 species which are variously
distributed from India to Australia.
Vindula
arsinoe is found on the Moluccas, Irian Jaya, Papua New Guinea, the
Solomon islands, New Britain and New Ireland.
Habitats
This species occurs in primary and disturbed rainforest
habitats at altitudes between sea level and about 1000m.
Lifecycle
The larval foodplants include Passiflora,
Adenia and Hollrungia.
Adult behaviour
The orange males are commonly observed
mud-puddling for mineralised moisture, and are usually
encountered as singletons amidst aggregations of Pieridae and Papilionidae. They
fan their wings slowly or keep them fully outspread when feeding in semi-shaded
conditions, but hold them erect in hot sunny conditions. Females are seen much
less commonly, and are usually encountered when nectaring at
Lantana or other flowering bushes.
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