FACTS ABOUT DANAID EGGFLY BUTTERFLY

                      Danaid eggfly butterfly

 Description : 

1. Scientific name : Hypolimnas misippus

2. Common name: Danaid Eggfly

                           ( male – Dorsal view )      

3.Identification marks : It is very easy to identify this butterfly . Male butterfly is easily identified . Male is blackish with white spots on wings which reflect a deep purple in bright sunlight.Females are not easy to identify. Because female butterflies similar with Danus chrysippus (plain tiger butterfly) which is orange in colour which is totally different from male . The picture of female butterfly also given.

4. Food plants: Portulaca oleracea, Asystasia lawiana.

                           ( male : ventral view )

                                                       

5. Habitat: Danaid Eggflies prefer wetlands, woodlands and open areas. They also found in desert, savannah, acacia scrub, well vegetated beaches, tropical rainforest, and botanical gardens. Males bask on the ground, or perch with wings half-open on bushes, to await passing females.

  ( Female : ventral view )

6. Life cycle : Eggs are light or dark green and white in color. The color of Caterpillar is brownish black, and the color of pupa is light brown with grayish appearance.

Female sits over her batch of eggs, protecting them from attack by parasitoid wasps. She remains in position until the eggs hatch, and usually dies in situ.

The full grown larva had a light orange coloured head with a pair of black long horns and bearing numerous orange coloured spots, eyes were prominent. Body surface was purplish black, and covered with long glossy black spines.

The larva hatched in 2-3 days, and passed through five instars over a period of 13-18 days. The entire life cycle was completed in 23-30 days.

7. Conservation status : this species is legally protected in india under schedule I as well as Schedule II of the wild life protection act , 1972.

8. Location: Sarav , Navsari , Gujarat

9. Photograph and details : by Mohit Patel ( student of Msc in Zoology)

Referances :

1. https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/sp/581/Hypolimnas-misippus

2. http://natureconservation.in/description-of-danaid-eggfly-hypolimnas-misippus/

3. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypolimnas_misippus