Junonia hedonia

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Junonia hedonia
Junonia-20070224-065.jpg

Junonia hedonia

Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Family : Noble butterfly (Nymphalidae)
Subfamily : Spotted butterfly (Nymphalinae)
Genre : Junonia
Type : Junonia hedonia
Scientific name
Junonia hedonia
( Linnaeus , 1764)
Junonia hedonia , underside of the wing

Junonia hedonia is a butterfly ( butterflies ) from the noble butterfly family(Nymphalidae) that occurs in Southeast Asia and Australia.

description

butterfly

The wingspan of the moth is 50 to 60 millimeters. There is no sexual dimorphism . The basic color of the wing tops shows different shades of brown. Depending on the seasonal, climatic or regional conditions, specimens appear with a yellow-brown, red-brown, nut-brown, chocolate-brown or black-brown basic color. The fringes around the apex area of the forewings shimmer whitish. On the forewings, a series of reddish eye-spots extends in the submarginal region , which continues even more clearly on the hind wings. The distinctive coloring and drawing of the butterflies lead to several trivial names in English usage, for example the species is referred to as Chocolate Pansy , Brown Soldier or Chocolate Argus (with the meanings: "Chocolate-colored handsome", "Brown soldier" or "Chocolate colored Argos ") . In the discoid cell of the forewings, two elongated, brownish, black-edged blemishes stand out. On the gray-brown to dark-brown, slightly streaked underside of the wing, the eye spots on the upper side shimmer more or less clearly. In addition, a white spot can often be seen on the underside of the hind wing.

egg

The greenish, spherical egg is covered with light longitudinal ribs, slightly flattened at the base and the micropyle and is deposited individually or in small groups on the food plant.

Caterpillar

Freshly hatched caterpillars are initially glassy green-yellow and hairy. In the course of further development, they take on a brownish color and the hair is transformed into thorns. When fully grown, they are black-brown in color and each segment has black, slightly branched thorns. The belly feet are yellowish in color. The head capsule is orange and has two black spots.

Doll

The doll is designed as a falling doll and hangs on a silk cushion on twigs or petioles. It is initially gray-brown in color, 18 to 19 millimeters long, and has a series of dorsolateral pairs of short and pointed processes on each segment. The back is strongly extended at the mesothorax . After about five days of development, the skin of the mature pupa becomes translucent, with a dark brown inside. The next day the butterfly hatches.

Similar species

Due to the great variability in color, Junonia hedonia is similar to other species of the genus Junonia . Junonia iphita differs both on the upper and on the underside by the light brown colored row of eye spots on the hind wings. Since the similar Junonia stygia occurs exclusively in Africa, there is no geographical overlap and risk of confusion with Junonia hedonia in this case .

  • Junonia hedonia
    with reddish eye spots

  • Junonia iphita
    with light brown eye spots

  • Junonia stygia ,
    native to Africa only

  • Junonia hedonia ,
    black-brown form

distribution and habitat

Ruellia tuberosa , a food plant of caterpillars

The distribution area of Junonia hedonia extends through large parts of Southeast Asia and Australia. 14 subspecies are currently listed in the various regions . The species prefers to colonize field and meadow landscapes as well as light forests.

Way of life

The moths fly in several generations throughout the year, mainly in October. They like to visit flowers to take in nectar. The caterpillars live individually. Among other things, they feed on the leaves of the acanthus family of plants, Hygrophila salicifolia , Hygrophila angustifolia , Hemigraphis alternata or Ruellia tuberosa .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Information from James Cook University
  2. ↑ a b Butterflyhouse
  3. ↑ a b c Development stages of the Chocolate Pansy
  4. ↑ a b Markku Savela: Junonia Hübner, [1819] - distribution. In: Lepidoptera and some other life forms. Retrieved June 27, 2019 .
  5. ↑ flight times

Web links

Commons : Junonia hedonia  - Collection of images, videos and audio files