Athyma selenophora

 

<> Athyma selenophora  (Kollar,1844) <>

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Athyma selenophora
Photo taken at Doi Inthanon National Park, Chiang Mai. Thailand ♂ 400m a.s.l.

Common and very widely distributed throughout the region. Often seen around forest margins. The species is dimorphic and the sexes look very different, with the female only rarely seen. Like most species in this genus it is a strong flier. Multivoltine with several broods per annum.

Synonyms and previously used names:   Pantoporia selenophora, Pantoporia bahula, Pantoporia batilda

Taxonomy:  Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae - Limenitidinae - Athyma - selenophora

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

Habitat:  montane evergreen forest, up to 2500m a.s.l.                                        Wingspan:  50-60mm

Flight time:  all year round, depending on location

Life History:       egg   4 days      instar 1   2 days      instar 2    2 days      instar 3    3 days     instar 4    4 days     instar 5   7 days    pupa   8 days     Total egg to adult   31-32 days.    All times approximate.

Larval Hosts:  Adina cordifolia, Adina pilulifera, Cephalanthus tetrandrus, Greenea corymbosa, Mussaenda erosa, Mussaenda frondosa, Mussaenda parviflora, Mussaenda philippica, Mussaenda pubescens, Pavetta indica, Uncaria hirsuta, Uncaria rhynchophylla, Wendlandia formosana, Wendlandia thyrsoidea, Wendlandia uvariifolia (Rubiaceae), Glochidion rubrum (Phyllanthaceae).  Actual host plant used depends upon location and availabilty of plant species.

Adult Food Sources:  Nectar - Zanthoxylum avicennae (Rutaceae), Woodfordia fruticosa (Lythraceae). There may be other nectar sources yet to be recorded.   Other - mud puddling.

Athyma selenophora
Chiang Mai, Thailand ♂

Athyma selenophora
Chiang Mai, Thailand ♂

Zanthoxylum avicennae
Zanthoxylum avicennae, a nectar source

Athyma selenophora female
Chiang Mai, Thailand ♀

Athyma selenophora
Chiang Mai, Thailand ♂

Woodfordia fruticosa
Woodfordia fruticosa, another nectar source

Adina cordifolia
Adina cordifolia, a larval host

Mussaenda frondosa
Mussaenda frondosa, 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 27th January 2023