Phaedyma columella

 

<> Phaedyma columella  (Cramer,1780) <>

the Short-banded Sailer     ผีเสื้อกะลาสีเทาแถบสั้น

 
  

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Phaedyma columella
Photo taken at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand. 460m a.s.l.

Phaedyma columella is widely distributed and common across the whole of the region except Taiwan. This species is visually similar to the Neptis genus but is larger. Male and female look alike but the species is variable, especially in relation to the seasons. It is multivoltine with several broods per annum. Usually found near rivers and streams.

Synonyms and previously used names:   Neptis columella, Neptis tonkiniana


Taxonomy:  Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae - Limenitidinae - Phaedyma - columella

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

Habitat:  Phaedyma columella is usually found around evergreen and deciduous forest margins. It has been recorded at elevations up to 1500m a.s.l.

Flight time:  all year, depending on location                                   Wingspan:  55-65mm

Life History:   egg   3-4 days   instar 1   4 days    instar 2    3-4 days    instar 3    3-4 days    instar 4    5-7 days     instar 5   8-9 days    pupa   6-7 days     Total egg to adult   32-39 days.
All times are approximate and can vary depending on the season and on the host used.

Larval Hosts:  Gmelina arborea (Lamiaceae), Cratoxylum cochinchinense (Hypericaceae), Dalbergia spp., Grona reticulata, Pterocarpus indicus, Pueraria tuberosa, Tadehagi triquetrum (Fabaceae), Ceiba speciosa, Hibiscus mutabilis, Reevesia pubescens, Reevesia thyrsoidea, Sterculia foetida, Sterculia lanceolata, Sterculia urens, Hibiscus tiliaceus (Malvaceae), Sageretia thea (Rhamnaceae), Erythroxylum cuneatum (Erythroxylaceae)
Actual host plant used depends upon location and availabilty of plant species.

Adult Food Sources:  Nectar - Cuphea hyssopifolia (Lythraceae), Ichnocarpus frutescens (Apocynaceae), Euphorbia hypericifolia (Euphorbiaceae), Ixora  sp. (Rubiaceae), Zanthoxylum avicennae (Rutaceae), Leea alata (Vitaceae). There may be other nectar sources that have not been recorded.  Other - mud puddling

Phaedyma columella
Chiang Mai, Thailand

Phaedyma columella
Chiang Rai, Thailand

Phaedyma columella
Chiang Mai, Thailand

Phaedyma columella
Chiang Mai, Thailand

Phaedyma columella
Chiang Mai, Thailand

Cuphea hyssopifolia
Cuphea hyssopifolia, a nectar source

Gmelina arborea
Gmelina arborea, a larval host

Cratoxylum cochinchinense
Cratoxylum cochinchinense, 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 25th March 2026