Amathusia phidippus

 

<> Amathusia phidippus  (Linnaeus,1763) <>

the Common Palmking     ผีเสื้อหนอนมะพร้าวขนปุย

 
 
 

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Amathusia phidippus
Photo taken at Sabang, Palawan, Philippines. 50m a.s.l.

Quite widely distributed across the region except in the colder countries of the north. It can be locally common. It is a large species and the sexes are similar in appearance with just a few minor differences. It is shade-loving and timid flying very late in the afternoon and roosting during the rest of the day with its wings tightly closed. The cryptic colouration of the underside of its wings is excellent camouflage and enables it to hide on the trunks of trees while it rests. It has a strong and erratic flight but does not usually fly very far.

Amathusia phidippus is multivoltine with several broods per annum. The adult female lays her eggs in a row on the underside of a leaf on the host plant. The larvae are gregarious, meaning that they feed together in groups. They are voracious feeders, usually staying on the underside of the leaf.

Synonyms and previously used names:   Papilio phidippus, Amathusia patalena, Amathusia gunneryi 

 

Taxonomy:  Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae - Morphinae - Amathusia - phidippus

Regional subspecies:   A.phidippus cebuensis (Philippines), A.phidippus celebensis (Sulawesi-Indonesia), A.phidippus negrosensis (Philippines), A.phidippus phidippus (S.Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines), A.phidippus pollicaris (Philippines), A.phidippus palawana (Philippines). There are a number of other subspecies reported amongst the islands of Indonesia but it is not known how many of these are valid.

Regional Distribution:  Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines

 

Amathusia phidippus
Than Bok Khorani National Park, Krabi, Thailand  60m a.s.l.

Habitat:  Amathusia phidippus is most often seen near agricultural land, particularly coconut plantations at quite low elevations.  It has been recorded in locations up to 300m a.s.l.

Flight time:  all year, depending on location                                                    Wingspan:  90-100mm

Life History:            egg   6-7 days        instar 1   4 days        instar 2    4 days        instar 3    4 days    instar 4    6-7 days     instar 5   10-11 days    pupa   10-12 days     Total egg to adult   44-47 days
All times are approximate and can vary depending on the season and on the host used.

Larval Hosts:  Areca catechu, Borassus flabellifer, Calamus thwaitesii, Cocos nucifera, Corypha utan, Cyrtostachys renda, Elaeis guineensis, Metroxylon sagu, Nypa fruticans (Arecaceae), Musa x paradisiaca (Musaceae), Etlingera elatior (Zingiberaceae).
Actual host plant used depends upon location and availabilty of plant species.

Adult Food Sources:  Nectar - not known to feed on nectar.  Other - over-ripe fruit, decomposing organic matter

Amathusia phidippus
Than Bok Khorani National Park, Krabi, Thailand

Amathusia phidippus
Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines

Amathusia phidippus
Than Bok Khorani National Park, Krabi, Thailand

Calamus thwaitesii
Calamus thwaitesii, a larval host

Nypa fruticans
Nypa fruticans, another larval host

Amathusia phidippus
Than Bok Khorani National Park, Krabi, Thailand

Etlingera elatior
Etlingera elatior, a larval host

Cyrtostachys renda
Cyrtostachys renda, another larval host


Butterflies of Thailand and SE Asia  -  BugsAlive Species Information Sheet
© All images are the copyright of Tim Stratford

 

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               This page updated 20th July 2024