<> Dryas iulia (Fabricius,1775) <>

the Julia Heliconian ไม่มีชื่อไทย

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Photo taken at Khao Phanom Bencha National Park, Krabi, Thailand. 100m a.s.l.

Originally from the Americas and not native to the SE Asia region. This species is believed to have been imported by a butterfly house in Phuket, Thailand and released during weddings and other ceremonies. A wild population was established, spreading down through the Malay peninsular to Singapore, and have now become too numerous to eradicate.

Synonyms: Colaenis iulia, Alcionea iulia

Taxonomy: Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae - Heliconiinae - Dryas - iulia

Regional Distribution: Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore

Habitat: open subtropical and tropical forests Wingspan: 82-92mm

Flight time: all year, depending on location

Life History: egg 4 days instar 1 2-3 days instar 2 2 days instar 3 2 days instar 4 2 days instar 5 3-4 days pupa 6-7 days Total egg to adult 21-25 days. All times approximate.

Larval Hosts: There are many host plants known from its native region, all in the Passifloraceae family. Those known to be used in the SE Asia region include Passiflora foetida and Passiflora suberosa.

Adult Food Sources: Nectar - Leea indica (Vitaceae), Lantana sp. (Verbenaceae), Scandix pecten-veneris (Apiaceae), Bidens pilosa (Asteraceae), Ixora javanica (Rubiaceae). There are almost certainly other flowers that are also visited for nectar. Other - mud puddling.