<> Doleschallia bisaltide Cramer,[1777] <>

the Autumn Leaf ผีเสื้อใบไม้เล็ก

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Photo taken at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand. ♂ 420m a.s.l.

One of the group known as the 'dead leaf' butterflies because when their wings are closed they resemble a dead leaf. Widely distributed across most of the region and can be locally common. There are minor differences visually between the sexes and generally the female is lighter in colour. The underwing of both sexes is quite variable. Usually seen at forest edges and in sunny glades within the forest. It is a strong flier and when settling on a wall or tree trunk to rest it assumes a downward-facing posture. Multivoltine with several broods per annum.

Synonyms and previously used names: Doleschallia continentalis

Taxonomy: Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae - Nymphalinae - Doleschallia - bisaltide

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

Habitat: evergreen montane forest, up to 1400m a.s.l. Wingspan: 50-65mm

Flight time: all year, depending on location

Life History: egg 4 days instar 1 3-4 days instar 2 3 days instar 3 2-3 days instar 4 2-3 days instar 5 5-6 days pupa 8-9 days Total egg to adult 29-32 days. All times approximate.

Larval Hosts: Asystasia chelonoides, Asystasia gangetica, Eranthemum pulchellum, Graptophyllum insularum, Graptophyllum pictum, Pseuderanthemum album, Pseuderanthemum bicolor, Pseuderanthemum crenulatum, Pseuderanthemum graciliflorum, Pseuderanthemum latifolium, Pseuderanthemum laxiflorum, Pseuderanthemum maculatum, Pseuderanthemum variabile, Ruellia blechum, Ruttya fruticosa, Strobilanthes anisophylla, Strobilanthes auriculata (Acanthaceae), Artocarpus altilis, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Artocarpus integer (Moraceae), Erythrina variegata (Fabaceae), Girardinia diversifolia (Urticaceae). Hosts used depends upon location and availability of plant species.

Adult Food Sources: Nectar - Cordia cylindrostachya (Boraginaceae), Eupatorium inulifolium, Mikania micrantha, Zinnia sp. (Asteraceae), Ligustrum glomeratum, Pseuderanthemum album (Oleaceae), Syzygium sp. (Myrtaceae), Asystasia gangetica (Acanthaceae), Premna serratifolia (Lamiaceae). Other - mud puddling