<> Junonia hierta (Fabricius,1798) <>

the Yellow Pansy ผีเสื้อแพนซีเหลือง

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Photo taken at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand. ♀ 460m a.s.l.

Junonia hierta is a beautiful species that is fairly widespread across the region but is not common. It is sexually dimorphic and there is an obvious difference in appearance. It seems to like sunshine and is usually found basking near rivers and streams. It is a fast flier but quite timid and can be difficult to approach.

This species is multivoltine with several broods per annum. Eggs are laid singly on the underside of leaves on the host plant. Around 4-12 eggs are laid at a time, each on different leaves. The larva eats its eggshell after hatching.

Synonyms and previously used names: Precis hierta, Precis oenone, Papilio hierta, Papilio lintingensis, Junonia cebrene, Junonia oenone, Junonia paris

Taxonomy: Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae - Nymphalinae - Junonia - hierta

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

Habitat: Junonia hierta is usually found in secondary forest, hillsides, and grassland. It has been recorded at elevations up to 2200m a.s.l.

Flight time: all year, depending on location Wingspan: 50-60mm

Life History: egg 3 days instar 1 1-3 days instar 2 2-3 days instar 3 3 days instar 4 3 days instar 5 3-4 days pupa 5-7 days Total egg to adult 20-26 days.
All times are approximate and can vary depending on the season and on the host used.

Larval Hosts: Asystasia gangetica, Barleria cristata, Barleria cuspidata, Barleria lupulina, Barleria montana, Barleria prionitis, Dyschoriste madurensis, Hygrophila auriculata, Hygrophila erecta, Justicia micrantha, Nelsonia canescens, Rostellularia procumbens, Ruellia prostrata, Ruellina tuberosa (Acanthaceae), Mimosa pudica (Fabaceae), Corchorus capsularis, Sida cordifolia, Sida rhombifolia (Malvaceae), Phyla nodiflora (Verbenaceae).
Actual host plant used depends upon location and availabilty of plant species.

Adult Food Sources: Nectar - Celosia argentea (Amaranthaceae), Duranta repens, Lantana camara, Verbena rigida (Verbenaceae), Bauhinia purpurea, Caesalpinia coriaria, Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Cassia fistula, Cytisus scoparius, Pterocarpus santalinus, Tephrosia purpurea, Trichodesma indicum (Fabaceae), Ageratina adenophora, Bidens pilosa, Chromolaena odorata, Crassocephalum cerpidioides, Gynura nitida, Helichrysum bracteatum, Parthenium hysterophorus, Spilanthes paniculata, Taraxacum javanicum, Tridax procumbens, Vernonia conyzoides, Youngia japonica (Asteraceae), Leucas lamiifolia, Platostoma axillaris, Plectranthus barbatus, Premna serratifolia, Rotheca serrata, Vitex negundo (Lamiaceae), Cestrum aurantiacum, Solanum mauritianum (Solanaceae), Hypericum japonicum, Hypericum mysorense (Hypericaceae), Justicia japonica, Ruellia sp. (Acanthaceae), Sida acuta (Malvaceae), Oplismenus undulatifolius (Poaceae), Oxalis latifolia (Oxalidaceae), Verbascum thapsus (Scrophulariaceae), Trichilia connaroides (Meliaceae), Nothapodytes nimmoniana (Icacinaceae), Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Myrtaceae), Oenothera rosea (Onagraceae), Prinsepia utilis, Rubus ellipticus (Rosaceae), Rhamnus wightii (Rhamnaceae), Euphorbia milii, Euphorbia rothiana (Euphorbiaceae), Antigonon letptopus (Polygonaceae), Santalum album (Santalaceae). Other - mud puddling (occasional), animal dung, , rotting fruit