<> Polyura eudamippus (Doubleday,1843) <>

the Great Nawab ผีเสื้อม้าขาวโคนปีกดำ

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

Polyura eudamippus is a common and widespread species throughout the SE Asia region. Both sexes are similar in appearance but the female is considerably larger. The species are avid puddlers with a fast and powerful flight. Males are almost oblivious to humans when feeding. It is multivoltine with several broods per annum. Eggs are laid singly on the upper surface of leaves on the host plant. The first instar larva emerges with horns, unlike most other species. This makes it very distinctive being bright green in colour with 4 'horns' on its head, making it look rather dragon-like, and a studded pale yellow 'saddle' on its thorax.

Synonyms: Charaxes eudamippus, Eriboea eudamippus, Eriboea celetis, Eulepis eudamippus

Taxonomy: Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae - Charaxinae - Polyura - eudamippus

Regional subspecies: Polyura eudamippus celetis (S.Vietnam), Polyura eudamippus eudamippus (Nepal, NE India), Polyura eudamippus formosanus (Taiwan), Polyura eudamippus jamblichus (S.Myanmar), Polyura eudamippus nigrobasalis (Myanmar, N.Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, N.Vietnam), Polyura eudamippus peninsularis (S.Thailand, W.Malaysia)

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

Habitat: Polyura eudamippus is found in evergreen and deciduous montane forest. It has been recorded at elevations up to 2500m a.s.l.

Flight time: most of the year, depending on location Wingspan: 75-90mm

Life History: egg 3-5 days instar 1 7 days instar 2 7 days instar 3 4 days instar 4 9 days instar 5 not known pupa not known Total egg to adult not known. All times approximate. NOTE: what appears to be the only study determined a period of 30 days for the 5th instar but this was at a time when the colder months were coming and the pupa was expected to overwinter. Further study is needed on the latter stages in the lifecycle of this species.

Larval Hosts: Rhamnella franguloides (Rhamnaceae), Celtis boninensis (Cannabaceae), Archidendron lucidum, Caesalpinia crista, Cassia bakeriana, Delonix regia, Wisteria floribunda, Wisteriopsis reticulata (Fabaceae), Filicium decipiens (Sapindaceae). Actual host plant used depends upon location and availabilty of plant species.