<> Junonia orithya (Linnaeus,1758) <>

the Blue Pansy ผีเสื้อแพนซีฟ้า

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

Junonia orithya is widely distributed across the region and can be common in some locations while rather rare in others. The species is stronly dimorphic and the sexes look very different. The adults love nectar and when feeding hold their wings widespread. When puddling however they tend to keep them closed. It is a strong flier.

The species can be seen throughout the year and is multivoltine with several broods per annum. Eggs are laid singly on the underside (near the edge) or upperside (near to the petiole) of young or mature leaves on the host plant. Up to 10 eggs are laid at a time but on different leaves. The emerging larvae eat the egg shell.

Synonyms and previously used names: Papilio orithya, Precis orithya, Precis phycites, Precis patenas, Junonia ocyale, Junonia alleni, Junonia wallacei, Junonia swinhoei, Vanessa orthosia, Junonia orbitola, Junonia albicincta, Junonia booepis, Junonia adamana

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

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

Habitat: Junonia orithya is found in open forest, grassland, and urban areas. It has been recorded at elevations up to 2400m a.s.l.

Flight time: all year, depending on location Wingspan: 45-55mm

Life History: egg 3 days instar 1 2-3 days instar 2 2-3 days instar 3 2 days instar 4 3 days instar 5 3 days pupa 7-8 days Total egg to adult 26-30 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 mysorensis, Barleria prionitis, Hygrophila auriculata, Hypoestes floribunda, Justicia micrantha, Justicia neesiana, Lepidagathis incurva, Lepidagathis keralensis, Lepidagathis formosensis, Lepidagathis prostrata, Nelsonia canescens, Pseuderanthemum variabile, Rostellularia procumbens, Ruellia tuberosa, Rungia repens, Thunbergia alata (Acanthaceae), Centranthera indica, Striga asiatica, Striga lutea (Orobanchaceae), Evolvulus alsinoides, Ipomoea batatas (Convolvulaceae), Phyla nodiflora (Verbenaceae), Angelonia salicariifolia, Antirrhinum majus, Misopates orontium, Plantago amplexicaulis (Plantaginaceae), Mentha longifolia (Lamiaceae), Viola odorata (Violaceae), Medicago polymorpha, Mimosa pudica (Fabaceae), Sida cordifolia (Malvaceae), Heliotropium bacciferum (Boraginaceae), Antirrhinum majus (Scrophulariaceae).
Actual host plant used depends upon location and availabilty of plant species.

Adult Food Sources: Nectar - Duranta erecta, Lantana camara, Phyla nodiflora, Stachytarpheta indica, Verbena rigida (Verbenaceae), Ageratina adenophora, Bidens alba, Bidens pilosa, Crassocephalum cerpidioides, Chromolaena odorata, Gynura nitida, Helichrysum bracteatum, Parthenium hysterophorus, Sphagneticola trilobata, Taraxacum javanicum, Tridax procumbens, Vernonia conyzoides, Youngia japonica (Asteraceae), Leucas lamiifolia, Platostoma axillaris, Plectranthus barbatus, Premna serratifolia, Rotheca serrata, Vitex negundo, Vitex trifolia (Lamiaceae), Cordia cylindrostachya (Boraginaceae), Celosia argentea (Amaranthaceae), Cytisus scoparius, Trichodesma indicum (Fabaceae), Cestrum aurantiacum, Solanum mauritianum (Solanaceae), Hypericum japonicum, Hypericum mysorense (Hypericaceae), Asystasia gangetica, 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, Jatropha curcas (Euphorbiaceae), Antigonon leptopus (Polygonaceae), Spermacocoe hispida (Rubiaceae). Other - mud puddling