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Great Eggfly
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| Photo Information |
Copyright: vijeesh babu (vijeeshbabu)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 56 W: 0 N: 122]](//i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif) (661) |
| Genre: Animals |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2011-05-20 |
| Categories: Insects |
| Camera: sony DSC W110 |
| Exposure: f/2.8, 1/200 seconds |
| More Photo Info: [view] |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2011-07-22 0:59 |
| Viewed: 2500 |
| Points: 10 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Hypolimnas bolina
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Hypolimnas
Species: H. bolina
H. bolina is a black-bodied butterfly with a wingspan of about 70–85 millimetres (2.8–3.3 in). The species has a high degree of sexual dimorphism. The female is mimetic with multiple morphs.
Male
The upper side of the wings are jet black, offset with three pairs of white spots &two on the forewing and one on the hind. These white spots are surrounded by purple iridescence. In addition, the upper side of the hind wing bears a series of small white dots.
Female
The upper side of the wings of the female is a brownish black and does not have any spots like those of the male. The edges bear white markings which are similar to those of the Common Indian Crow.
Distribution
H. bolina is found in Madagascar in the west, through to South and Southeast Asia, South Pacific islands (French Polynesia, Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu), and occurs in parts of Australia, Japan, and New Zealand.
Habitat
H. bolina is a fairly common butterfly found in lightly wooded country, deciduous forests, thick and moist scrub and the greener parts of human habitation.
Mimicry
To the west the female is monomorphic, mimicking species of the oriental and Australasian danaid genus Euploea. Eastwards H. bolina is frequently polymorphic and most forms are then non-mimetic. In areas where it resembles Euploea the butterfly has usually been designated a Batesian mimic.
Life cycle and ecology
H. bolina is known for maternal care, with the females guarding leaves where eggs have been laid. Males are also very territorial and site fidelity increases with age.[3] Territories that enhance the detection of females are preferred. The female hovers over a plant to check for ants which will eat her eggs. After selecting a plant which has no ants on it, she lays at least one but often two to five eggs on the undersides of the leaves.
Host plants
Race bolina breeds on Fleuria interrupta, Sida rhombifolia,Elatostemma cuneatum, Portulaca oleracea, Laportea interrupta, Triumfetta pentandra, and Asystasia species.
Other hosts include Elatostema cuneatum, Fleurya interrupta, Pseuderanthemum variabile, and Synedrella nodiflora. They are also known to feed on Urtica dioica and Malva sp.
Eggs
The eggs are a pale, glassy green with longitudinal ridges except on the top.
Caterpillar
After about four days the eggs hatch. The caterpillars immediately disperse. They are black with an orange head. The last segment is also orange. The head bears a pair of long branched black horns. The body surface is also covered with long, branched, orangish black spines. These spines look whitish and transparent immediately after moulting, but soon become the usual orange. In later instars the spiracles are surrounded by thin, dirty orange rings. Infection by Wolbachia bacteria is known to exclusively kill male specimens.
Pupa
The pupa is suspended by just one point. It is brown with a grey tinge on the wings. The abdominal segments have distinct tubercles. The surface of the pupa is rough. The butterfly emerges after seven to eight days as pupae (female development is always a bit longer). |
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- PeterZ
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121]](//i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(49139) - [2011-07-22 1:06]
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Hello Vijeesh,
Excellent photo in great sharp details and beautiful colours. Maybe the BG could have been a bit more blurred. Taken from a very good POV.
Regards,
Peter
Ciao Vijeesh, great macro of fantastic butterfly, beautiful blurry BG, fine details, wonderful natural colors and splendid sharpness, very well done, my friend, have a good week end, ciao Silvio
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- lousat
(65489)
- [2011-07-22 2:16]
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Magnificent big butterfly and fantastic choice of point of view as i like.Great sharpness,colors and light balance,a very professional work.Thanks for share,have a nice day,Luciano.
Hello Vijeesh,
fine capture of this lovely butterfly with good sharpness and nice details. I like your well chosen POV and the beautiful colours. Thanks for sharing this beauty.
Best wishes,
Helmut
Hallo Vijeesh,
a superb macro shot of the Hypolimnas bolina taken from a very good point of view with fine details and very beautiful colours, very well composed
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 56 W: 0 N: 122]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif){kind=small}
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