<> Hypolimnas bolina (Linnaeus, 1758) <>

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Photo taken at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand ♂ 1150m a.s.l.

Hypolimnas bolina is widely distributed across the whole of the region and is very common. The species is dimorphic and the sexes look quite different, especially the upperwings. The female also has a few different forms. It is found in a wide range of habitats and the larvae are polyphagous, developing on a range of different host plants. It is a strong and fast flier. The males are very territorial, chasing away any intruders that encroach on their domain.

Unusually mud puddling is carried out regularly by females as well as males. This species flies all year round and is multivoltine with several broods per annum. The female is known to watch over the leaves where her eggs have been laid, presumably to protect them.

Synonyms and previously used names: Papilio bolina, Papilio avia, Papilio liria, Hypolimnas parva, Hypolimnas charybdis, Hypolimnas incommoda, Hypolimnas curiosa, Nymphalis jacintha

Taxonomy: Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae - Nymphalinae - Hypolimnas - bolina

Regional subspecies: H.bolina bolina (Singapore, Indonesia), H.b.celebensis (Indonesia), H.b.kezia (China, Taiwan), H.b.jacintha (India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, W.Malaysia, Singapore), H.b.lisianassa (Indonesia), H.b.philippensis (Philippines). There is a very large number of other subspecies listed but there doesn't seem to be a concensus on what is legitimate and what is not. The whole taxonomy for this species is very confusing.

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

Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand ♀ 450m a.s.l.

Habitat: Hypolimnas bolina is found in a wide variety of habitats including evergreen and deciduous forest, scrubland, grassland, urban parks, and city gardens. Almost anywhere, up to 1600m a.s.l.

Flight time: all year depending on location Wingspan: 50-85mm

Life History: egg 4 days instar 1 2 days instar 2 2 days instar 3 2-3 days instar 4 3-4 days instar 5 3-4 days instar 6 6-7 days pupa 6-7 days Total egg to adult 28-33 days. All times approximate.

Larval Hosts: Ageratum conyzoides, Eclipta prostrata, Synedrella nodiflora (Asteraceae), Elatostema cuneatum, Laportea aestuans, Laportea interrupta, Pipturus argenteus, Urtica dioica (Urticaceae), Achyranthes aspera, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Alternanthera sessilis (Amaranthaceae), Asystasia gangetica, Barleria prionitis, Leptosiphonium aruense, Pseuderanthemum bicolor, Pseudantherum variabile, Ruellia aruensis, (Acanthaceae), Commelina diffusa (Commelinaceae), Ficus microcarpa, Ficus retusa, Ficus pumila (Moraceae), Ipomoea aquatica, Ipomoea batatas, Ipomoea littoralis, Ipomoea nil, Ipomoea indica, Ipomoea pes-caprae, Ipomoea triloba, Merremia hederacea (Convolvulaceae), Abutilon indicum, Hibiscus spp., Malvastrum coromandelianum, Sida acuta, Sida cordata, Sida javensis, Sida rhombifolia, Triumfetta pentandra, Triumfetta rhomboidea, Urena lobata (Malvaceae), Perilla frutescens (Lamiaceae), Polygonum plebeium (Polygonaceae), Portulaca oleracea (Portulacaceae), Richardia brasiliensis (Rubiaceae), Erythrina variegata, Vigna umbellata (Fabaceae), Solanum torvum (Solanaceae). Hosts used depends upon location and availability of plant species.

Adult Food Sources: Nectar - Ziziphus mauritiana (Rhamnaceae), Celosia argentea (Amaranthaceae), Duranta erecta, Lantana camara, Stachytarpheta indica, Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, Verbena rigida (Verbenaceae), Bauhinia purpurea, Cheniella glauca, Cytisus scoparius, Phanera championii (Fabaceae), Ageratina adenophora, Austroeupatorium inulifolium, Bidens pilosa, Chromoleana odorata, Clibadium surinamensis, Cosmos sulphureus, Crassocephalum cerpidioides, Cyanthillium conyzoides, Gynura nitida, Parthenium hysterophorus, Mikania micrantha, Sphagneticola trilobata, Taraxacum javanicum, Tridax procumbens, Xerochrysum bracteatum, Youngia japonica, Zinnia elegans (Asteraceae), Ehretia aspera, Heliotropium arboreum (Boraginaceae), Coleus barbatus, Leucas lamiifolia, Premna serratifolia, Rotheca serrata, Vitex negundo (Lamiaceae), Ixora coccinea (Rubiaceae), Cestrum aurantiacum, Solanum mauritianum (Solanaceae), Hypericum japonicum, Hypericum mysurense (Hypericaceae), Asystasia gangetica, Rostellularia procumbens (Acanthaceae), Sida acuta, Sida rhombifolia (Malvaceae), Oxalis latifolia (Oxalidaceae), Verbascum thapsus (Scrophulariaceae), Heynea trijuga, Mappia nimmoniana (Icacinaceae), Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, Syzygium aqueum, Syzygium cumini (Myrtaceae), Oenothera rosea (Onagraceae), Prinsepia utilis, Rubus ellipticus (Rosaceae), Rhamnus wightii (Rhamnaceae), Euphorbia milii, Euphorbia rothiana (Euphorbiaceae), Antigonon leptopus (Polygonaceae), Santalum album (Santalaceae), Persea americana (Lauraceae), Murraya paniculata, Zanthoxylum avicennae (Rutaceae), Terminalia pallida (Combretaceae). Other - mud puddling, over-ripe fruit, animal dung, carrion