<> Discophora sondaica Boisduval,1836 <>

the Common Duffer ผีเสื้อไผ่ลายธรรมดา

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

Widely distributed across almost the whole of the region and is quite common. There are minor differences visually between the sexes and the female is slightly larger. Basically a forest species that prefers the shade. It is a fairly weak flier. Multivoltine with several broods per annum and the early instar larvae are gregarious.

Synonyms and previously used names: Discophora tullia, Papilio tullia, Discophora spiloptera, Discophora muscina

Taxonomy: Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae - Morphinae - Discophora - sondaica

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

Habitat: bamboo and broadleaf montane forest, up to 1200m a.s.l. Wingspan: 70-90mm

Flight time: all year depending on location

Life History: egg 7-9 days total larval stage 46 days pupa 10-12 days Total egg to adult 63-67 days. All times approximate.

Larval Hosts: Bambusa multiplex, Bambusa oldhamii, Bambusa spinosa, Bambusa tuldoides, Bambusa ventricosa, Bambusa vulgaris, Dendrocalamus asper, Dendrocalamus latiflorus, Imperata cylindrica, Oligostachyum shiuyingianum, Phyllostachys makinoi, Pogonatherum crinitum, Pseudosasa hindsii, Saccharum sp., Schizostachyum dumetorum, Schizostachyum grande (Poaceae). Hosts used depends upon location and availability of plant species.

Adult Food Sources: Nectar - not known to be a regular nectar feeder but has been recorded on Lantana camara (Verbenaceae). Other - mud puddling, animal dung, over-ripe fruit