<> Argynnis hyperbius (Linnaeus, 1763) <>

the Indian Fritillary ผีเสื้อลายเขาสูง

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Photo taken at Sri Lanna National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand ♀ 420m a.s.l.

A fairly widespread species but not that common. The sexes are different in appearance as can be seen in the photos below. It sometimes basks with wings only 3/4 open. Fast flier. Multivoltine with several broods per annum.

Synonyms: Papilio hyperbius, Argyreus hyperbius, Papilio niphe, Papilio argyrius, Papilio argynnis, Papilio tigris, Argynnis tephnia, Argynnis aruna, Argynnis hybrida, Argynnis montorum, Argynnis castetsoides, Argynnis coomani, Argynnis castetsi, Argynnis niphe, Argynnis inconstans

Taxonomy: Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae - Heliconiinae - Argynnis - hyperbius

Regional Distribution: India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines

Habitat: open montane forests and open grassland up to 3500m a.s.l. Wingspan: 65-80mm

Flight time: all year depending on location

Life History: egg 13 days instar 1 4 days instar 2 5 days instar 3 6 days instar 4 5 days instar 5 5 days pupa 15-17 days Total egg to adult 23-47 days. All times approximate.

Larval Hosts: Antirrhinum majus (Scrophulariaceae), Viola betonicifolia, Viola diffusa, Viola formosana, Viola grypoceras, Viola hamiltoniana, Viola inconspicua, Viola keiskei, Viola mandshurica, Viola nagasawae, Viola odorata, Viola patrinii, Viola philippica, Viola pilosa, Viola selkirkii, Viola tricolor (Violaceae). Actual host plant used depends upon location and availabilty of plant species.

Adult Food Sources: Nectar - Mimosa diplotricha (Mimosaceae), Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (Verbenaceae), Zanthoxylum avicennae (Rutaceae), Tagetes erecta (Asteraceae), Vaccinium retusum (Vaccinaceae), Fragaria nubicola (Rosaceae), Coelogyne corymbosa (Orchidaceae), Rhododendron grande (Ericaceae), Cyananthus incanus (Campanulaceae), Cuphea hyssopifolia (Lythraceae). Other - mud puddling.