Tanaecia julii

 

<> Tanaecia julii  Lesson, 1837 <>

the Common Earl     ผีเสื้อไวส์เคาท์ขอบฟ้า

 

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Tanaecia julii
Photo taken at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand. ♂ 460m a.s.l.

Distributed across a large part of the region and is relatively common. The species is sexually dimorphic with differences in appearance and the female being significantly larger than the male. It is predominantly a forest species, preferring shade, but can be seen regularly basking in patches of sunlight. Flies close to the ground. When at rest it usually opens its wings but is easily disturbed. Multivoltine with several broods per annum.

Synonyms and previously used names:   Euthalia julii, Adolias parvata

Taxonomy:  Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae - Limenitidinae - Tanaecia - julii

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

Habitat:  rainforest and deciduous montane forest, up to 1800m a.s.l.                         Wingspan:  60-80mm

Flight time:  most of the year, depending on location

Larval Hosts:  Diploknema butyracea (Sapotaceae), Melastoma malabathricum (Melastomataceae).  There may be other hosts that have not been recorded and hosts used depends upon location and availability of plant species.

Adult Food Sources:  Nectar - not known if this species visits flowers.  Other - mud puddling (occasional), over-ripe fruit

Neptis soma
Chiang Mai, Thailand ♂

Neptis soma
Chiang Mai, Thailand ♂

Celtis tetrandra
Chiang Mai, Thailand ♀

Diploknema butyracea
Diploknema butyracea, a larval host

Diploknema butyracea
Diploknema butyracea, close-up of leaves

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

 

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