Junonia atlites DATASHEET

 

<> Junonia atlites  (Linnaeus,1763) <>

the Grey Pansy     ผีเสื้อแพนซีเทา

 
 
 

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

Junonia atlites is quite common and found throughout the SE Asia region. It is often seen near streams and rivers but usually as individuals, rarely in numbers. There is very little visual difference between the sexes but the female is slightly larger and a little darker. It is an active and alert butterfly and is very easily disturbed. It likes sunshine and is usually seen at forest edges and in sunny glades within the forest. It basks on low foliage with wings widespread but when it lands on the ground it tends to keep them closed. It can be difficult to approach and is quite timid. Like other members of the Junonia genus it has a slow, rather lazy flight.

The species is multivoltine with several broods per annum. The adult female lays her eggs singly on the leaves or shoots of the host plant. When the young larva emerges it eats the eggshell as its first meal. The larva is initially yellowish in colour with a black head capsule but darkens as it progresses through the instars. The full life cycle takes around a month to complete.

Synonyms and previously used names:   Papilio atlites, Papilio laomedia, Precis atlites, Precis laomedia, Junonia laomedia

 

Taxonomy:  Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae - Nymphalinae - Junonia - atlites

Regional  subspecies: Junonia atlites acera (Indonesia), Junonia atlites atlites (most locations)

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

 

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

Habitat:  Junonia atlites is found in open and secondary forest, hillsides, grassland, and urban parks and gardens. It is often found near streams. It has been recorded at all elevations up to ~1000m a.s.l.

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

Life History:           egg   5 days      instar 1   2-3 days      instar 2    2-3 days      instar 3    2-3 days    instar 4    2-3 days       instar 5   3-4 days   pupa   8-10 days     Total egg to adult   29-33 days
All times are approximate and can vary depending on the season and on the host used.

Larval Hosts:  Barleria cristata, Barleria prionitis, Blechum pyramidatum, Hygrophila auriculata, Hygrophila erecta, Hygrophila ringens, Nelsonia canescens, Ruellia blechum, Ruellia tuberosa, Strobilanthes schomburgkii (Acanthaceae), Bonnaya antipoda, Lindernia procumbens, Torenia crustacea (Linderniaceae), Alternanthera philoxeroides, Alternanthera sessilis (Amarathaceae), Oryza sativa (Poaceae), Phyla nodiflora (Verbenaceae), Pluchea indica (Asteraceae), Limnophila indica, Limnophila repens, Limnophila villosa (Plantaginaceae)Hosts used depends upon location and availability of plant species.

Adult Food Sources:  Nectar - Varronia cylindristachya (Boraginaceae), Ziziphus mauritiana (Rhamnaceae), Celosia argentea, Gomphrena globosa (Amaranthaceae), Austroeupatorium inulifolium, Bidens pilosa, Chromolaena odorata, Cosmos bipinnatus, Cosmos sulphureus, Emilia sonchifolia, Mikania micrantha, Tagetes erecta, Tridax procumbens (Asteraceae), Lantana camara, Stachytarpheta indica, Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (Verbenaceae), Urena lobata (Malvaceae), Mimosa diplotricha (Mimosaceae), Stephanotis volubilis (Apocynaceae), Terminalia arjuna (Combretaceae), Bergera koenigii (Rutaceae), Pseuderanthemum reticulatum (Acanthaceae), Vitex negundo (Lamiaceae).  Other - mud puddling (occasional), animal dung

Junonia atlites
Urban area, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Chromolaena odorata
Chromolaena odorata, a nectar source

Tagetes erecta
Tagetes erecta, another nectar source

Junonia atlites
Lamnamkok National Park, Chiang Rai, Thailand

Junonia atlites
Lamnamkok National Park, Chiang Rai, Thailand

Junonia atlites
pupa

Junonia atlites
Lamnamkok National Park, Chiang Rai, Thailand

Alternanthera philoxeroides
Alternanthera philoxeroides, a larval host

Hygrophila ringens
Hygrophila ringens, another larval host


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 26th October 2024