Neptis hylas DATASHEET

 

<> Neptis hylas  (Linnaeus,1758) <>

the Common Sailer     ผีเสื้อกะลาสีธรรมดา

 
 

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Neptis hylas
Photo taken at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai. Thailand. 460m a.s.l.

Very common and distributed throughout the whole region, probably helped by its acceptance of a large range of different larval host plants. The species as a whole is quite variable but there is no visual difference between the sexes other than the females being slightly larger. It has a characteristic sailing flight that sees them take a couple of wing-beats, and then glide for some distance, until they need to take a couple more wing beats. Like others of this genus they are quite nervous and easily disturbed.

Neptis hylas is a very active butterfly and is seen throughout the day except for first thing in the morning and late afternoon. It is multivoltine with several broods per annum. The first meal of newly-hatched larvae is the eggshell and then they move on to feed on the mature leaves of the host plant.

Synonyms and previously used names:   Neptis varmona, Neptis eurynome, Neptis adara, Neptis meetana, Neptis mamaja

 

Taxonomy:  Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae - Limenitidinae - Neptis - hylas

Regional subspecies:   N.h.hylas (China), N.h.kamarupa (Myanmar, N.Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, S.China), N.h.luculenta (Taiwan), N.h.matuta (Indonesia), N.h.papaja (S.Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia), N.h.sopatra (Borneo, Malaysia/Indonesia), N.h.varmona (India). There are a number of other subspecies scattered throughout the islands of Indonesia.

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

 

Neptis hylas
Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand  450m a.s.l.

Habitat:  Neptis hylas can be found in a wide  variety of habitats including forests, scrubland, grassland, wasteland, agricultural lands, and urban areas, often near water. It has been recorded at elevations of up to 3000m a.s.l. in the eastern Himalayas.

Flight time:  all year round, depending on location                                    Wingspan:  40-50mm

Life History:       egg   3 days       instar 1   2-3 days        instar 2    2-3 days        instar 3    3-4 days    instar 4    3-4 days     instar 5   4-6 days    pupa   6-7 days     Total egg to adult   23-29 days.    All times are approximate.

Larval Hosts:  Elaeocarpus angustifolius, Elaeocarpus lanceifolius (Elaeocarpaceae), Abrus precatorius, Aeschynomene americana, Bauhinia purpurea, Cajanus cajan, Calopogonium mucunoides, Canavalia cathartica, Canavalia ensiformis, Canavalia gladiata, Canavalia rosea, Cassia fistula, Centrosema molle, Centrosema pubescens, Clitoria ternatea, Codariocalyx motorius, Crotalaria pallida, Dalbergia rostrata, Dalbergia sissoo, Dalbergia stipulacea, Entada phaseoloides, Erythrina fusca, Flemingia macrophylla, Galactia striata, Glycine max, Grona heterocarpos, Grona heterophylla, Grona reticulata, Lespedeza bicolor, Mucuna macrocarpa, Mucuna pruriens, Neustanthus phaseoloides, Ohwia caudata, Paracalyx scariosus, Phaseolus vulgaris, Phyllodium pulchellum, Pleurolobus gangeticus, Pleurolobus pryonii, Pseudarthria viscida, Psophocarpus tetragonolobus, Pueraria montana, Puhuaea sequax, Senna alata, Tadehagi triquetrum, Vigna hosei, Vigna radiata, Vigna reflexopilosa, Vigna unguiculata, Vigna vexillata, Wisteria sinensis, Wisteriopsis reticulata, Xylia xylocarpa (Fabaceae), Mappia nimmoniana (Icacinaceae), Berrya cordifolia, Bombax ceiba, Ceiba pentandra, Gouania microcarpa, Grewia bracteata, Grewia helicterifolia, Grewia orientalis, Grewia sapida, Grewia tiliifolia, Helicteres isora, Microcos paniculata, Thespesia populnea, Triumfetta pentandra, Triumfetta rhomboidea, Urena lobata (Malvaceae), Salix tetrasperma (Salicaceae), Celtis boninensis, Celtis philippensis, Celtis timorensis, Trema cannabina, Trema orientale (Cannabaceae), Ventilago madraspatana, Zizyphus sp., (Rhamnaceae), Wendlandia bicuspidata (Rubiaceae), Hevea brasiliensis (Euphorbiaceae), Broussonetia papyrifera (Moraceae), Eriocapitella vitifolia (Ranunculaceae), Zelkova serrata (Ulmaceae).  Actual host plant used depends upon location and availabilty of plant species.

Adult Food Sources:  Nectar - Ageratina adenophora, Bidens pilosa, Chromolaena odorata, Crassocephalum cerpidioides, Gynura nitida, Parthenium hysterophorus, Taraxacum javanicum, Tridax procumbens, Xerochrysum bracteatum, Youngia japonica (Asteraceae), Duranta erecta, Lantana camara, Verbena rigida (Verbenaceae), Cestrum aurantiacum, Solanum mauritianum (Solanaceae), Hypericum japonicum, Hypericum mysurense (Hypericaceae), Rostellularia procumbens (Acanthaceae), Sida acuta (Malvaceae), Oplismenus undulatifolius (Poaceae), Oxalis latifolia (Oxalidaceae), Coleus barbatus, Leucas lamiifolia, Rotheca serrata (Lamiaceae), 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), Brassica rapa (Brassicaceae), Coelogyne corymbosa, Pleione hookeriana, Vanda cristata (Orchidaceae), Osbeckia nepalensis (Melastomataceae), Gentiana capitata (Gentianaceae), Terminalia pallida (Combretaceae), Alternanthera sessilis, Gomphrena globosa (Amaranthaceae).   Other - mud puddling, over-ripe fruit

Neptis hylas
Lamnamkok National Park, Chiang Rai, Thailand

Neptis hylas
Lamnamkok National Park, Chiang Rai, Thailand

Neptis hylas
Doi Inthanon National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Neptis hylas
Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Neptis hylas
Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Neptis hylas
Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chromolaena odorata
Chromolaena odorata, a nectar source

Pleione hookeriana
Pleione hookeriana, another nectar source

Neptis hylas
Chiang Dao Nature Sanctuary, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Mappia nimmoniana
Mappia nimmoniana, a larval host

Pongamia pinnata
Pongamia pinnata, another larval host

Neptis hylas
Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand


Butterflies of Thailand and SE Asia  -  BugsAlive Species Information Sheet
© All images are the copyright of Tim Stratford

 

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               This page updated 30th May 2023