<> Sephisa chandra Moore, [1858] <>
the Eastern Courtier ผีเสื้อจันทรา
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Photo taken at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand ♂ 460m a.s.l.
Fairly widespread across mostly the northern parts of the region where it can be locally quite common. Sexually dimorphic and colours of the female (not illustrated here) are predominantly blue. Unusually for butterflies in this subfamily, the larvae feed on oak. Rapid fliers.
Synonyms and previously used names: Sephisa rex
Taxonomy: Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae - Apaturinae - Sephisa - chandra
Regional subspecies: S.c.androdamas (Taiwan), S.c.chandra (most other locations)
Regional Distribution: India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Malaysia
Habitat: rainforest and humid deciduous forest up to 1600m a.s.l. Wingspan: 70-85mm
Flight time: most of the year depending on location
Larval Hosts: Lithocarpus glaber, Quercus gilva, Quercus glauca, Quercus helferiana, Quercus leucotrichophora, Quercus morii (Fagaceae)
Adult Food Sources: Nectar - not known to visit flowers. Other - mud puddling
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| Chiang Mai, Thailand |
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| Chiang Mai, Thailand |
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| Chiang Mai, Thailand |
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| Quercus glauca, a larval host |
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| Quercus morii, another larval host |
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