<> Neptis hylas (Linnaeus,1758) <>
the Common Sailer ผีเสื้อกะลาสีธรรมดา
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Photo taken at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai. Thailand. 460m a.s.l.
Very common and distributed throughout the whole region, probably helped by its acceptance of a large range of different larval host plants. The species as a whole is quite variable but there is no visual difference between the sexes other than the females being slightly larger. It has a characteristic sailing flight that sees them take a couple of wing-beats, and then glide for some distance, until they need to take a couple more wing beats. Like others of this genus they are quite nervous and easily disturbed.
Neptis hylas is a very active butterfly and is seen throughout the day except for first thing in the morning and late afternoon. It is multivoltine with several broods per annum. The first meal of newly-hatched larvae is the eggshell and then they move on to feed on the mature leaves of the host plant.
Synonyms and previously used names: Neptis varmona, Neptis eurynome, Neptis adara, Neptis meetana, Neptis mamaja
Taxonomy: Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae - Limenitidinae - Neptis - hylas
Regional subspecies: N.h.hylas (China), N.h.kamarupa (Myanmar, N.Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, S.China), N.h.luculenta (Taiwan), N.h.matuta (Indonesia), N.h.papaja (S.Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia), N.h.sopatra (Borneo, Malaysia/Indonesia), N.h.varmona (India). There are a number of other subspecies scattered throughout the islands of Indonesia.
Regional Distribution: India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines
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| Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand 450m a.s.l. |
Habitat: Neptis hylas can be found in a wide variety of habitats including forests, scrubland, grassland, wasteland, agricultural lands, and urban areas, often near water. It has been recorded at elevations of up to 3000m a.s.l. in the eastern Himalayas.
Flight time: all year round, depending on location Wingspan: 40-50mm
Life History: egg 3 days instar 1 2-3 days instar 2 2-3 days instar 3 3-4 days instar 4 3-4 days instar 5 4-6 days pupa 6-7 days Total egg to adult 23-29 days
All times are approximate and can vary depending on the season and on the host used.
Larval Hosts: Elaeocarpus angustifolius, Elaeocarpus lanceifolius (Elaeocarpaceae), Abrus precatorius, Aeschynomene americana, Bauhinia purpurea, Cajanus cajan, Calopogonium mucunoides, Canavalia cathartica, Canavalia ensiformis, Canavalia gladiata, Canavalia rosea, Cassia fistula, Centrosema molle, Centrosema pubescens, Clitoria ternatea, Codariocalyx motorius, Crotalaria pallida, Dalbergia rostrata, Dalbergia sissoo, Dalbergia stipulacea, Entada phaseoloides, Erythrina fusca, Flemingia macrophylla, Galactia striata, Glycine max, Grona heterocarpos, Grona heterophylla, Grona reticulata, Lespedeza bicolor, Mucuna macrocarpa, Mucuna pruriens, Neustanthus phaseoloides, Ohwia caudata, Paracalyx scariosus, Phaseolus vulgaris, Phyllodium pulchellum, Pleurolobus gangeticus, Pleurolobus pryonii, Pseudarthria viscida, Psophocarpus tetragonolobus, Pueraria montana, Puhuaea sequax, Senna alata, Tadehagi triquetrum, Vigna hosei, Vigna radiata, Vigna reflexopilosa, Vigna unguiculata, Vigna vexillata, Wisteria sinensis, Wisteriopsis reticulata, Xylia xylocarpa (Fabaceae), Mappia nimmoniana (Icacinaceae), Berrya cordifolia, Bombax ceiba, Ceiba pentandra, Gouania microcarpa, Grewia bracteata, Grewia helicterifolia, Grewia orientalis, Grewia sapida, Grewia tiliifolia, Helicteres isora, Microcos paniculata, Thespesia populnea, Triumfetta pentandra, Triumfetta rhomboidea, Urena lobata (Malvaceae), Salix tetrasperma (Salicaceae), Celtis boninensis, Celtis philippensis, Celtis timorensis, Trema cannabina, Trema orientale (Cannabaceae), Ventilago madraspatana, Zizyphus sp., (Rhamnaceae), Wendlandia bicuspidata (Rubiaceae), Hevea brasiliensis (Euphorbiaceae), Broussonetia papyrifera (Moraceae), Eriocapitella vitifolia (Ranunculaceae), Zelkova serrata (Ulmaceae). Actual host plant used depends upon location and availabilty of plant species.
Adult Food Sources: Nectar - Ageratina adenophora, Bidens pilosa, Chromolaena odorata, Crassocephalum cerpidioides, Gynura nitida, Parthenium hysterophorus, Taraxacum javanicum, Tridax procumbens, Xerochrysum bracteatum, Youngia japonica (Asteraceae), Duranta erecta, Lantana camara, Verbena rigida (Verbenaceae), Cestrum aurantiacum, Solanum mauritianum (Solanaceae), Hypericum japonicum, Hypericum mysurense (Hypericaceae), Rostellularia procumbens (Acanthaceae), Sida acuta (Malvaceae), Oplismenus undulatifolius (Poaceae), Oxalis latifolia (Oxalidaceae), Coleus barbatus, Leucas lamiifolia, Rotheca serrata (Lamiaceae), Cytisus scoparius (Fabaceae), Verbascum thapsus (Scrophulariaceae), Heynea trijuga (Meliaceae), Mappia nimmoniana (Icacinaceae), Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Myrtaceae), Oenothera rosea (Onagraceae), Prinsepia utilis, Rubus ellipticus (Rosaceae), Rhamnus wightii (Rhamnaceae), Euphorbia milii, Euphorbia rothiana (Euphorbiaceae), Brassica rapa (Brassicaceae), Coelogyne corymbosa, Pleione hookeriana, Vanda cristata (Orchidaceae), Osbeckia nepalensis (Melastomataceae), Gentiana capitata (Gentianaceae), Terminalia pallida (Combretaceae), Alternanthera sessilis, Gomphrena globosa (Amaranthaceae). Other - mud puddling, over-ripe fruit
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| Lamnamkok National Park, Chiang Rai, Thailand |
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| Lamnamkok National Park, Chiang Rai, Thailand |
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| Doi Inthanon National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand |
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| Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand |
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| Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand |
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| Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand |
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| Chromolaena odorata, a nectar source |
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| Pleione hookeriana, another nectar source |
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| Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary, Chiang Mai, Thailand |
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| Mappia nimmoniana, a larval host |
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| Pongamia pinnata, another larval host |
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| Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand |
Links to other pages in this series for species in the same subfamily
Athyma perius
Auzakia danava
Euthalia alpheda
Euthalia lubentina
Lasippa viraja
Limenitis asura
Neptis cartica
Neptis miah
Pantoporia hordonia
Sumalia daraxa
Athyma pravara
Bhagadatta austenia
Euthalia anosia
Euthalia monina
Lebadea martha
Limenitis dudu
Neptis clinia
Neptis nashona
Pantoporia paraka
Sumalia zulema
Athyma ranga
Cynitia cocytus
Euthalia evelina
Euthalia patala
Lexias dirtea
Moduza procris
Neptis hylas
Neptis nata
Parthenos sylvia
Tanaecia jahnu
Athyma selenophora
Euthalia aconthea
Euthalia franciae
Euthalia phemius
Lexias pardalis
Neptis ananta
Neptis magadha
Neptis soma
Phaedyma columella
Tanaecia julii
