<> Phalanta phalantha (Drury, [1773]) <>

the Common Leopard ผีเสื้อเสือดาวใหญ่

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Photo taken at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand. 460m a.s.l.

A sun-loving species that is common and widespread across most of S.E.Asia. Strong jerky flier and rarely stops for long. Sexes are very similar in appearance. Males show strong territorial behaviour. Usually found at low to moderate elevations but has been recorded up to 3500m in the Himalayas. Multivoltine with several broods per annum.

Synonyms: Papilio phalantha, Papilio columbina, Atella phalanta, Atella araca

Taxonomy: Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae - Heliconiinae - Phalanta - phalantha

Regional subspecies: P.p.phalantha (most locations in the region), P.p.columbina (S.China), P.p.luzonica (Luzon, Philippines)

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

Habitat: disturbed forest, parks, gardens, up to 3500m a.s.l. Wingspan: 50-60mm

Flight time: all year depending on location

Life History: egg 2 days instar 1 2 days instar 2 1-2 days instar 3 2 days instar 4 2 days instar 5 2-3 days pupa 10-15 days Total egg to adult 20-28 days. All times approximate.

Larval Hosts: Dovyalis hebecarpa, Flacourtia indica, Flacourtia inermis, Flacourtia jangomas, Flacourtia montana, Flacourtia ramontchi, Flacourtia rukam, Populus alba, Populus ciliata, Salix babylonica, Salix kusanoi, Salix tetrasperma, Scolopia acuminata, Scolopia chinensis, Scolopia oldhamii, Scolopia pusilla, Xylosma congesta, Xylosma longifolia (Salicaceae), Hydnocarpus venenatus (Achariaceae), Barleria prionitis (Acanthaceae), Canthium coromandelicum, Coffea arabica (Rubiaceae), Mangifera indica (Anacardiaceae), Melaleuca leucadendra (Myrtaceae), Tridax procumbens (Asteraceae). Actual host plant used depends upon location and availabilty of plant species.

Adult Food Sources: Nectar - Duranta erecta, Lantana camara, Stachytarpheta indica, Verbena rigida (Verbenaceae), Ageratina adenophora, Bidens pilosa, Chromolaena odorata, Cosmos caudatus, Cosmos bipinnatus, Crassocephalum cerpidioides, Gaillardia picta, Gynura nitida, Helichrysum bracteatum, Lagasca mollis, Mikania micrantha, Parthenium hysterophorus, Taraxacum javanicum, Tridax procumbens, Vernonia conyzoides, Xanthium indicum, Youngia japonica (Asteraceae), Rhamnus wightii, Ziziphus mauritiana (Rhamnaceae), Alternanthera pungens, Celosia argentea (Amaranthaceae), Cnidosculus chayamansa, Euphorbia milii, Euphorbia rothiana (Euphorbiaceae), Cestrum aurantiacum, Solanum mauritianum (Solanaceae), Hypericum japonicum, Hypericum mysorense (Hypericaceae), Justicia japonica (Acanthaceae), Sida acuta, Waltheria indica (Malvaceae), Oplismenus undulatifolius (Poaceae), Oxalis latifolia (Oxalidaceae), Leucas lamiifolia, Plectranthus barbatus, Premna serratifolia, Rotheca serrata, Tectona grandis, Vitex negundo (Lamiaceae), Caesalpinia coriaria, Cytisus scoparius (Fabaceae), Verbascum thapsus (Scrophulariaceae), Trichilia connaroides (Meliaceae), Nothapodytes nimmoniana (Icacinaceae), Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Myrtaceae), Oenothera rosea (Onagraceae), Prinsepia utilis, Rubus ellipticus (Rosaceae), Antigonon leptopus (Polygonaceae), Carissa carandas (Apocynaceae), Santalum album (Santalaceae), Sapindus emarginatus (Sapindaceae), Terminalia pallida (Combretaceae). Other: mud puddling.