<> Ypthima baldus (Fabricius, 1775) <>

the Common Five-ring ผีเสื้อสีตาลจุดตาห้าธรรมดา

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Photo taken at Doi Suthep-Pui N.P., Chiang Mai, Thailand. dsf. c.450m a.s.l.

Ypthima baldus is widely distributed across the whole region and is fairly common in many places. Both sexes are similar in appearance but with the number of eyespots sometimes varying. This can lead to misidentification with other Ypthima species and often does. They fly low amongst grasses and other low vegetation in a slow jerky flight

The species is multivoltine with several generations each year. Eggs are laid singly on the underside of a blade of grass or on the underside of leaves on plants near the host plant. Sometimes eggs may also be laid close to the ground on debris or dead leaves. The larvae eat the eggshell on hatching and pupate on the underside of a grass leaf or stem.

Synonyms and previously used names: Papilio baldus, Ypthima prattii, Ypthima argus, Ypthima marshallii

Taxonomy: Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae - Satyrinae - Ypthima - baldus

Regional subspecies: Ypthima baldus baldus (Nepal, Bhutan, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, N.Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Yunnan-China), Ypthima baldus moerus (Sumatra-Indonesia), Ypthima baldus newboldi (S.Thailand, W.Malaysia, Singapore). Ypthima baldus selinuntius (E.Malaysia, Philippines), Ypthima baldus zodina (Taiwan)

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

Habitat: Ypthima baldus is found in evergreen and deciduous forest, scrubland, and grassland, usually near streams. Seen at most elevations and has been recorded up to 3000m a.s.l. in Nepal.

Flight time: all year depending on location Wingspan: 30-40mm

Life History: egg 5 days instar1 4 days instar2 3 days instar3 4 days instar4 5 days instar5 5-6 days pupa 8-9 days Total egg to adult 34-36 days
All times are approximate and can vary depending on the season and on the host used.

Larval Hosts: Axonopus compressus, Cynodon dactylon, Digitaria radicosa, Echinochloa crus-galli, Elytrigia sp., Isachne globosa, Microstegium fasciculatum, Miscanthus floridulus, Miscanthus sinensis, Oplismenus undulatifolius, Paspalum conjugatum, Poa annua, Pogonatherum crinitum, Setaria palmifolia, Urochloa mutica (Poaceae).
Actual host plant used depends upon location and availabilty of plant species.

Adult Food Sources: Nectar - Ziziphus mauritiana (Rhamnaceae), Eupatorium inulifolium, Mikania micrantha, Spilanthes paniculata, Tridax procumbens (Asteraceae), Celosia argentea (Amaranthaceae), Zanthoxylum avicennae (Rutaceae), Sida cordifolia (Malvaceae), Commelina sp. (Commelinaceae). Other - mud puddling