<> Polyura eudamippus (Doubleday,1843) <>

the Great Nawab ผีเสื้อม้าขาวโคนปีกดำ

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

A common and widespread species. Both sexes are similar in appearance but the female is considerably larger. An avid puddler with a fast and powerful flight. Multivoltine with several broods per annum.

Synonyms: Charaxes eudamippus, Eriboea eudamippus, Eriboea celetis, Eulepis eudamippus

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

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

Habitat: evergreen and deciduous forest up to 2500m a.s.l. Wingspan: 75-90mm

Flight time: most of the year, depending on location

Life History: egg 3-5 days instar 1 7 days instar 2 7 days instar 3 4 days instar 4 9 days instar 5 not known pupa not known Total egg to adult not known. All times approximate.

NOTE: what appears to be the only study determined a period of 30 days for the 5th instar but this was at a time when the colder months were coming and the pupa was expected to overwinter. Further study is needed on the latter stages of the lifecycle in this species.

Larval Hosts: Rhamnella franguloides (Rhamnaceae), Celtis boninensis (Cannabaceae), Archidendron lucidum, Caesalpinia crista, Cassia bakeriana, Delonix regia, Wisteria floribunda, Wisteriopsis reticulata (Fabaceae), Filicium decipiens (Sapindaceae). Actual host plant used depends upon location and availabilty of plant species.

Adult Food Sources: Nectar - not known to visit flowers. Other - mud puddling, carrion, tree & plant sap, animal dung, rotting fruit