<> Polyura athamas (Drury,1773) <>

the Common Nawab ผีเสื้อม้าเขียวธรรมดา (เหลืองหนามธรรมดา)

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

As the name suggests this is a common and widespread species. It is the male that is most often seen as the females spend most of their time in the canopy. Strong and rapid flight. This species is multivoltine with several broods per annum.

Synonyms: Charaxes samatha, Charaxes bharata, Eriboea athamas

Taxonomy: Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae - Charaxinae - Polyura - athamas

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

Habitat: scrubland, montane forest up to 2500m a.s.l. Usually seen near streams. Wingspan: 45-65mm

Flight time: all year depending on location

Life History: egg 5 days instar 1 5 days instar 2 5 days instar 3 6 days instar 4 6-7 days instar 5 8 days pupa 10-11 days Total egg to adult 45-46 days. All times approximate.

Larval Hosts: Adenanthera pavonina, Albizia chinensis, Albizia corniculata, Albizia julibrissin, Albizia lebbeck, Archidendron clypearia, Biancaea sappan, Calliandra surinamensis, Delonix regia, Guilandina bonduc, Guilandina major, Hultholia mimosoides, Leucaena leucocephala, Peltophorum dasyrhachis, Peltophorum pterocarpum, Pithecellobium dulce, Senegalia caesia, Senegalia catechu, Senegalia pennata, Senegalia rugata, Tamarindus indica, Vachellia farnesiana (Fabaceae), Grewia sp. (Malvaceae), Ventilago madraspatana (Rhamnaceae), Helicteres isora (Malvaceae). Actual host plant used depends upon location and availabilty of plant species.