Neptis soma

 

<> Neptis soma  Linnaeus,1758 <>

the Cream-spotted Sailer     ผีเสื้อกะลาสีจุดครีม

 
 

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

Neptis soma is distributed across a large part of the region but not in the southern islands. There is little difference between the sexes and they look very similar to each other. Their flight is rather weak in the usual 'sailer' technique. Usually found in sunlit glades and along forest edges. The species is multivoltine with several broods per annum.

Synonyms and previously used names:   Neptis butleri, Neptis sikkima, Neptis yerburii


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

Regional subspecies:    Neptis soma pendleburyi (W.Malaysia), Neptis soma shania (Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, S.China), Neptis soma tayalina (Taiwan)

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

Habitat:  Neptis soma is found in humid deciduous montane forest. It has been recorded at elevations up to 2800m a.s.l.

Flight time:  most of the year, depending on location                        Wingspan:  50-60mm

Life History:   not known

Larval Hosts:  Aphananthe aspera, Celtis boninensis, Celtis tetrandra, Celtis sinensis, Trema orientale (Cannabaceae), Ulmus uyematsui, Zelkova serrata (Ulmaceae), Pueraria montana, Wisteria floribunda, Wisteria sinensis (Fabaceae), Rubus corchorifolius, Rubus formosensis, Rubus lambertianus, Rubus mesogaeus (Rosaceae), Sterculia villosa (Malvaceae), Combretum indicum (Combretaceae), Rhamnus formosana, Sageretia thea (Rhamnaceae), Acer serrulatum (Sapindaceae), Boehmeria densiflora, Debregeasia orientalis, Pouzolzia sanguinea (Urticaceae), Deutzia pulchra (Hydrangeaceae), Sabia transarisanensis (Sabiaceae).  Hosts used depends upon location and availability of plant species.

Adult Food Sources:  Nectar - not known if it visits flowers.  Other - mud puddling, honeydew on citrus trees

Neptis soma
Chiang Dao N.R., Chiang Mai, Thailand

Celtis tetrandra
Celtis tetrandra, a 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 20th April 2026