<> Hestinalis nama Doubleday, 1845 <>

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Photo taken at Chiang Dao Nature Sanctuary, Chiang Mai, Thailand. 540m a.s.l.

Hestinalis nama mimics the unpalatable danaid genus Parantica. Unusually for a member of the Apaturinae subfamily, this species regularly visits flowers for nectar. It rests with folded wings in shaded areas on rocks or leaves and basks with wings half open. Is is very wary of close approach by humans. It is multivoltine with several broods per annum. Although this species is not uncommon there seems to be very little information about it and more research needs to be done.

Synonyms and previously used names: Hestina nama, Diadema nama

Taxonomy: Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae - Apaturinae - Hestinalis - nama

Regional subspecies: Hestinalis nama nama (NE India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Yunnan-China), Hestinalis nama namida (Indonesia), Hestinalis nama ruvanella (S.Thailand, W.Malaysia)

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

Habitat: Hestinalis nama is found in open montane forest and forest edges. It has been recorded at elevations up to 2200m a.s.l.

Flight time: most of the year except the very coldest months Wingspan: 75-90mm

Life History: not known

Larval Hosts: not fully known but includes Celtis sp. (Cannabaceae) and some species in Ulmaceae

Adult Food Sources: Nectar - Thunbergia coccinea (Acanthaceae), Dahlia pinnata (Asteraceae), Cyananthus incanus (Campanulaceae), Coelogyne corymbosa (Orchidaceae), Wendlandia coriacea (Rubiaceae), Fragaria nubicola (Rosaceae). Other - mud puddling, animal dung, tree sap, rotting fruit