<> Junonia iphita (Cramer,[1779]) <>

the Chocolate Pansy ผีเสื้อแพนซีตาลไหม้

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Photo taken at Chiang Dao Nature Sanctuary, Chiang Mai, Thailand. 540m a.s.l.

Distributed widely across the region and although generally found at low to medium elevations it has been recorded at 4000m altitude in Bhutan. Depth of colour on the wings varies but there is little difference visually between the sexes. It is primarily a forest species and unlike others of this genus rarely visits gardens. It basks, with wings widespread, on low foliage or amongst the leaf litter where it is difficult to spot. It is a strong flier. Multivoltine with several generations per annum.

Synonyms and previously used names: Precis iphita, Precis hopfferi

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

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

Habitat: primary and secondary forest, riverbanks, up to 4000m a.s.l. Wingspan: 40-60mm

Flight time: all year, depending on location

Life History: egg 3 days instar 1 3 days instar 2 3 days instar 3 2 days instar 4 2 days instar 5 3 days instar 6 4 days pupa 7 days Total egg to adult 24-28 days. All times approximate.

Larval Hosts: Barleria cristata, Barleria prionitis, Eranthemum capense, Hygrophila auriculata, Justicia micrantha, Lepidagathis formosensis, Rostellularia procumbens, Ruellia patula, Ruellia prostrata, Ruellia simplex, Ruellia tuberosa, Strobilanthes auriculata, Strobilanthes callosa, Strobilanthes ciliata, Strobilanthes diandra, Strobilanthes formosana, Strobilanthes pavala, Strobilanthes tomentosa (Acanthaceae), Sida cordifolia (Malvaceae). Hosts used depends upon location and availability of plant species.

Adult Food Sources: Nectar - Duranta erecta, Duranta repens, Lantana camara, Verbena rigida (Verbenaceae), Leucas lamiifolia, Plectranthus barbatus, Premna serratifolia, Rotheca serrata (Lamiaceae), Ageratina adenophora, Ageratum conyzoides, Bidens pilosa, Chromolaena odorata, Crassocephalum cerpidioides, Eupatorium inulifolium, Gynura nitida, Helichrysum bracteatum, Mikania micrantha, Parthenium hysterophorus, Sphagneticola trilobata, Synedrella nodiflora, Taraxacum javanicum, Vernonia conyzoides, Youngia japonica (Asteraceae), Cordia cylindrostachya (Boraginaceae), Cytisus scoparius, Tephrosia purpurea (Fabaceae), Cestrum aurantiacum, Solanum mauritianum (Solanaceae), Hypericum japonicum, Hypericum mysorense (Hypericaceae), Justicia japonica (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), Catheranthus roseus (Apocynaceae), Antigonon leptopus (Polygonaceae), Anacardium occidentale (Anacardiaceae), Santalum album (Santalaceae), Zanthoxylum avicennae (Rutaceae), Berberis chitria, Berberis lycium (Berberidaceae). Other - over-ripe fruit, animal dung