Neptis nata

 

<> Neptis nata  Moore,1857 <>

the Sullied Brown or Clear Sailer     ผีเสื้อกะลาสีตาลใต้เรียบ

 
 

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Neptis nata
Photo taken at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand. 620m a.s.l.

Although Neptis nata is distributed across a large part of the region, the species is not common. There is little difference between the sexes and they look similar to each other. There is not much information available but they are almost certain to be multivoltine with several broods per annum.

Synonyms and previously used names:   Neptis nandina, Neptis egestas


Taxonomy:  Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae - Limenitidinae - Neptis - nata

Regional subspecies: Neptis nata adipala (India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China), Neptis nata gononata (S.Thailand, W.Malaysia), Neptis nata lutatia (Taiwan), Neptis nata nata (Borneo-E.Malaysia/Indonesia). There are a number of subspecies listed amongst the Indonesian islands but it is uncertain how many of them are valid.

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

Habitat:  Neptis nata is usually found in deciduous forest, grassland, and hillsides. It has been recorded at elevations up to up to 2000m a.s.l.

Flight time:  most of the year, depending on location                        Wingspan:  40-50mm

Life History:   not known

Larval Hosts:  Aphananthe aspera, Celtis sinensis, Celtis tetrandra, Trema orientale (Cannabaceae), Dalbergia sissoo, Mucuna macrocarpa, Phanera championii, Pongamia pinnata, Pterocarpus vidalianus, Pueraria montana, Puhuaea sequax (Fabaceae), Sterculia lanceolata (Malvaceae), Boehmeria nivea (Urticaceae), Bridelia balansae (Phyllanthaceae), Combretum indicum (Combretaceae), Callicarpa formosana (Lamiaceae), Zelkova serrata (Ulmaceae).  Hosts used depends upon location and availability of plant species.

Adult Food Sources:  Nectar - Lantana camara (Verbenaceae). There are undoutedly other flowers visited but as yet have not been recorded.  Other - mud puddling, honeydew on citrus trees

Neptis nata
Doi Suthep-Pui N.P., Chiang Mai, Thailand

Lantana camara
Lantana camara, a nectar source

Celtis tetrandra
Celtis tetrandra, a regular larval host

Trema orientale
Trema orientale, another larval host

Butterflies of Thailand and SE Asia  -  BugsAlive Species Information Sheet
© All images are the copyright of Tim Stratford

 

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               This page updated 19th April 2026