Idea malabarica, the Malabar tree nymph,[2] is a large butterfly found in peninsular India.[2] that belongs to the danaid group of the family Nymphalidae.[3] It is found in forest clearings and above the forest canopy.
The Malabar tree nymph has a wingspan of 120–154 mm. It appears as a mostly white butterfly with black markings. Upperside semitransparent white, sometimes slightly infuscate with a powdering of black scales. Forewing with the following black marks: narrow margins on both sides of the veins, a dusky streak along dorsum, large sub-basal spots in interspaces 1 and 2 (produced inwardly in former), a large oval spot crossing three streaks in discoidal cell, a spot above it in interspace 11, a broad margin to the discocellulars and three rows of spots on outer half of wing, the discal series outwardly conical and curved sharply inwards opposite apex, the subterminal series in pairs coalescent on the veins, the terminal series elongate on veins and in interspaces; costa with a black streak at base, beyond black and white alternately. Hindwing with similar markings; cell with two streaks, the upper forked towards apex; costa white, two spots not touching the vein below in interspace 8; paired spots on veins 5, 8, and 7 not coalescent but one behind the other, black. Underside similar. Antennae black; head and thorax streaked and spotted with black; abdomen white, with broad dusky black streak above. [4][5]
Chrysalis
A variety kanarensis, Moore, has been noted to be identical in markings but always smaller. It was recorded from the Konkan and North Kanara.[4]
Their flight is slow, weak and fluttery. They glide a lot, giving members of this genus the other name of paperkite. They often glide above the tree canopy but every now and then move lower down in forest openings. They are unpalatable like other members of the Danainae.
Food plant
The larvae are known to feed on plants of the species Aganosma cymosa (Apocynaceae).[6] Another species of Apocynaceae, Parsonsia spiralis (now recognised as a synonym of Parsonsia alboflavescens)[7] has also been noted as a larval host plant and it is believed that many more species in the family may be discovered.[8]
^Lepidoptera Specialist Group (1996). "Idea malabarica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996: e.T10783A3215742. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T10783A3215742.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
^ abcVarshney, R.K.; Smetacek, Peter (2015). A Synoptic Catalogue of the Butterflies of India. New Delhi: Butterfly Research Centre, Bhimtal & Indinov Publishing, New Delhi. p. 151. doi:10.13140/RG.2.1.3966.2164. ISBN978-81-929826-4-9.
^Savela, Markku. "Idea malabarica (Moore, 1877)". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
^ abc One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain:Bingham, Charles Thomas (1905). Fauna of British India. Butterflies Vol. 1. p. 4.
^ One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain:Moore, Frederic (1890–1892). Lepidoptera Indica. Vol. I. Vol. 1. London: Lovell Reeve and Co. pp. 18–22.
^Gaden S. Robinson, Phillip R. Ackery, Ian J. Kitching, George W. Beccaloni AND Luis M. Hernández HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants [1] Accessed October 2006
^Susanth, C. 2005 Parsonsia spiralis new larval host plant of endemic butterfly Malabar Tree Nymph Idea malabarica Moore. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 102(3):354-355
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January 15, 2023
idea, malabarica, malabar, tree, nymph, large, butterfly, found, peninsular, india, that, belongs, danaid, group, family, nymphalidae, found, forest, clearings, above, forest, canopy, malabar, tree, nymphconservation, statusnear, threatened, iucn, scientific, . Idea malabarica the Malabar tree nymph 2 is a large butterfly found in peninsular India 2 that belongs to the danaid group of the family Nymphalidae 3 It is found in forest clearings and above the forest canopy Malabar tree nymphConservation statusNear Threatened IUCN 2 3 1 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass InsectaOrder LepidopteraFamily NymphalidaeGenus IdeaSpecies I malabaricaBinomial nameIdea malabaricaMoore 1877 Contents 1 Description 2 Range 3 Habits 4 Food plant 5 Cited references 6 Other sources 7 See also 8 External linksDescription Edit Caterpillar The Malabar tree nymph has a wingspan of 120 154 mm It appears as a mostly white butterfly with black markings Upperside semitransparent white sometimes slightly infuscate with a powdering of black scales Forewing with the following black marks narrow margins on both sides of the veins a dusky streak along dorsum large sub basal spots in interspaces 1 and 2 produced inwardly in former a large oval spot crossing three streaks in discoidal cell a spot above it in interspace 11 a broad margin to the discocellulars and three rows of spots on outer half of wing the discal series outwardly conical and curved sharply inwards opposite apex the subterminal series in pairs coalescent on the veins the terminal series elongate on veins and in interspaces costa with a black streak at base beyond black and white alternately Hindwing with similar markings cell with two streaks the upper forked towards apex costa white two spots not touching the vein below in interspace 8 paired spots on veins 5 8 and 7 not coalescent but one behind the other black Underside similar Antennae black head and thorax streaked and spotted with black abdomen white with broad dusky black streak above 4 5 Chrysalis A variety kanarensis Moore has been noted to be identical in markings but always smaller It was recorded from the Konkan and North Kanara 4 Adult dorsal view from IndiaRange EditWithin India the species is found in South India especially in the Western Ghats 4 2 Habits EditTheir flight is slow weak and fluttery They glide a lot giving members of this genus the other name of paperkite They often glide above the tree canopy but every now and then move lower down in forest openings They are unpalatable like other members of the Danainae Food plant EditThe larvae are known to feed on plants of the species Aganosma cymosa Apocynaceae 6 Another species of Apocynaceae Parsonsia spiralis now recognised as a synonym of Parsonsia alboflavescens 7 has also been noted as a larval host plant and it is believed that many more species in the family may be discovered 8 Malabar tree nymph Udupi India Malabar tree nymph larvae Udupi Malabar tree nymph pupa UdupiCited references Edit Lepidoptera Specialist Group 1996 Idea malabarica IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 1996 e T10783A3215742 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 1996 RLTS T10783A3215742 en Retrieved 20 November 2021 a b c Varshney R K Smetacek Peter 2015 A Synoptic Catalogue of the Butterflies of India New Delhi Butterfly Research Centre Bhimtal amp Indinov Publishing New Delhi p 151 doi 10 13140 RG 2 1 3966 2164 ISBN 978 81 929826 4 9 Savela Markku Idea malabarica Moore 1877 Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms Retrieved July 2 2018 a b c One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Bingham Charles Thomas 1905 Fauna of British India Butterflies Vol 1 p 4 One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Moore Frederic 1890 1892 Lepidoptera Indica Vol I Vol 1 London Lovell Reeve and Co pp 18 22 Gaden S Robinson Phillip R Ackery Ian J Kitching George W Beccaloni AND Luis M Hernandez HOSTS a Database of the World s Lepidopteran Hostplants 1 Accessed October 2006 Parsonsia spiralis Vidal the Plant List Susanth C 2005 Parsonsia spiralis new larval host plant of endemic butterfly Malabar Tree Nymph Idea malabarica Moore Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 102 3 354 355Other sources EditEvans W H 1932 The Identification of Indian Butterflies 2nd ed Mumbai India Bombay Natural History Society Wynter Blyth Mark Alexander 1957 Butterflies of the Indian Region Bombay India Bombay Natural History Society ISBN 978 8170192329 See also EditDanainae Nymphalidae List of butterflies of India List of butterflies of India Nymphalidae External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Idea malabarica Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Idea malabarica amp oldid 1115183219, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
