<> Hypolimnas misippus (Linnaeus,1764) <>

the Danaid Eggfly ผีเสื้อปีกไข่เมียเลียน

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Photo taken at Lamnamkok National Park, Chiang Rai, Thailand. ♂ 450m a.s.l.

Hypolimnas misippus is found around the globe and is widely distributed across the SE Asia region. The species is dimorphic and the sexes are visually very different. The female mimics Danaus chrysippus, a distasteful species, presumably to deter predators. It also has different forms. It is a very adaptable species and is found in a wide range of different habitats. It is a strong flier and is active from dawn to dusk, characteristically flying close to the ground and usually in a straight line. Mud puddling is carried out by both males and females.

The species is multivoltine with several broods per annum. The adult female lays her eggs on the underside of a leaf on the host plant. Up to twelve eggs are laid at one time but usually singly and on different leaves. As the species uses a wide range of host plants the development times of the resulting larvae can vary according to the host used.

Synonyms and previously used names: Papilio misippus, Papilio diocippus, Papilio inaria, Hypolimnas alcippoides, Diadema misippus, Hypolimnas luculentus, Hypolimnas maria, Hypolimnas pallens, Hypolimnas versicoloris

Taxonomy: Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae - Nymphalinae - Hypolimnas - misippus

Regional subspecies: there are no subspecies

Regional Distribution: India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines

Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand ♀ 700m a.s.l.

Habitat: Hypolimnas misippus can be found in a variety of habitats including evergreen and deciduous forest, scrubland, and wetlands. It has been recorded at elevations up to 1600m a.s.l.

Flight time: all year depending on location Wingspan: 50-65mm

Life History: egg 3 days instar 1 2-3 days instar 2 2-3 days instar 3 2-3 days instar 4 3-4 days instar 5 4-5 days pupa 8-9 days Total egg to adult 24-30 days. All times are approximate.

Larval Hosts: Asystasia gangetica, Asystasia lawiana, Barleria cristata, Barleria prionitis, Blepharis integrifolia, Blepharis maderaspatensis, Mackaya macrocarpa, Nicoteba betonica, Pseudantherum variabile, Ruellia prostrata, Ruellia tuberosa (Acanthaceae), Portulaca grandiflora, Portulaca oleracea, Portulaca pilosa, Portulaca quadrifida (Portulacaceae), Abelmoschus moschatus, Abutilon indicum, Hibiscus esculentus, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Sida cordifolia (Malvaceae), Amaranthus caudatus (Amaranthaceae), Elaeis guineensis (Arecaceae), Elatostema cuneatum (Urticaceae), Plantago asiatica, Plantago major (Plantaginaceae), Prunus armeniaca (Rosaceae), Vigna radiata (Fabaceae), Oplismenus compositus (Poaceae), Ipomoea carnea (Convolvulaceae). Hosts used depends upon location and availability of plant species.

Adult Food Sources: Nectar - Celosia argentea (Amaranthaceae), Lantana camara, Verbena rigida (Verbenaceae), Asclepias curassavica (Apocynaceae), Ageratina adenophora, Bidens pilosa, Crassocephalum cerpidioides, Gynura nitida, Parthenium hysterophorus, Tagetes erecta, Taraxacum javanicum, Xerochrysum bracteatum, Youngia japonica, Zinnia elegans (Asteraceae), Coleus barbatus, Leucas lamiifolia, Mesosphaerum suaveolens, Premna serratifolia, Rotheca serrata, Vitex negundo (Lamiaceae), Ehretia aspera (Boraginaceae), Cestrum aurantiacum, Solanum mauritianum (Solanaceae), Hypericum japonicum, Hypericum mysurense (Hypericaceae), Rostellularia procumbens, Thunbergia coccinea (Acanthaceae), Sida acuta (Malvaceae), Oplismenus undulatifolius (Poaceae), Oxalis latifolia (Oxalidaceae), Cytisus scoparius (Fabaceae), Verbascum thapsus (Scrophulariaceae), Heynea trijuga (Meliaceae), Mappia nimmoniana (Icacinaceae), Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Myrtaceae), Oenothera rosea (Onagraceae), Prinsepia utilis, Rubus ellipticus (Rosaceae), Rhamnus wightii ( Rhamnaceae), Euphorbia milii, Euphorbia rothiana (Euphorbiaceae), Anacardium occidentale (Anacardiaceae), Antigonon leptopus (Polygonaceae), Santalum album (Santalaceae), Cyananthus incanus (Campanulaceae), Osbeckia nepalensis, Osbeckia stellata (Melastomataceae), Dendrobium moniliforme (Orchidaceae). Other - mud puddling