Hypolimnas alimena | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Nymphalidae |
Genus: | Hypolimnas |
Species: | H. alimena |
Binomial name | |
Hypolimnas alimena | |
Subspecies | |
See text | |
Synonyms | |
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Hypolimnas alimena, the blue-banded eggfly, is a species of butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in the Solomon Islands, Indonesia (Aru Islands, Irian Jaya, Kei Islands, Maluku), New Guinea and Australia (the coast of New South Wales, the Northern Territory and Queensland). [2]
The wingspan of H. alimena is 80–90 mm. The ground colour of the wings is black with a row of white dots and a blue band. [3]
These butterflies resemble closely to related species, H. bolina.The males exhibit less visually elaborate structiral coloration, as compared. The dorsal blue coloration of this butterfly has weak iridescence, and is not very bright. This is because it arises from a simpler nanosale surface structure, unlike the more complex nanoscale multilayer-arrays structure of H. bolina, which gives it a brighter sheen and saturation. [4]
The males of this species primarily utilize a sit-and wait-strategy for locating mates. This behavior is similar to Hypolimnas bolina . However, unlike H. bolina, these males do not engage in extended aerial disputes for the territorial defence. Both of their flight morphology is strikingly similar, and does not show any significant differences in terms of strength, as is noticeable by their similar thoracic mass. Another charaecteristic shared by the two species is possessing a higher relative flight muscultaure, lower wing loading, and a lower aspect ratio, compared to their conspecific female specimens. However these traits contribute to the sexual dimorphism observed within the species, it only suggests partial match with the typical observations of sexual selection. [5]
The females show no notable preference for males with variable dorsal blue coloration and hues, unless it is completely or mostly absent. This low drive towards exaggerated visual signals is specific to this species, unlike others in the same genus. [4]
The larvae feed on Pseuderanthemum variabile , Asystasia gangetica and Graptophyllum pictum .
Hypolimnas is a genus of tropical brush-footed butterflies commonly known as eggflies or diadems. The genus contains approximately 23 species, most of which are found in Africa, Asia, and Oceania. One species, the Danaid eggfly, is noted for its exceptionally wide distribution across five continents; it is the only Hypolimnas species found in the Americas.
Eurema hecabe, the common grass yellow, is a small pierid butterfly species found in Asia, Africa and Australia. They are found flying close to the ground and are found in open grass and scrub habitats. It is simply known as "the grass yellow" in parts of its range; the general term otherwise refers to the entire genus Eurema.
Tagiades japetus, commonly known as the pied flat or the common snow flat, is a species of spread-winged skipper butterfly belonging to the family Hesperiidae. It is widely distributed, being found from India, the Himalayas, Southeast Asia, to Australia. It contains several recognized subspecies.
Hypolimnas bolina, the great eggfly, common eggfly, varied eggfly, or in New Zealand the blue moon butterfly, is a species of nymphalid butterfly found from Madagascar to Asia and Australia.
Phalanta alcippe, the small leopard, is a butterfly of the nymphalid or brush-footed butterfly family found in Asia.
Apaturina is a monotypic genus of butterflies in the family Nymphalidae. Its sole species is Apaturina erminea, the turquoise emperor.
Vindula arsinoe, the cruiser, is a butterfly from the family Nymphalidae. It ranges from the Maluku Islands and New Guinea to the Solomon Islands and Queensland. It is sexually dimorphic.
Cepora perimale, the caper gull, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is found on Norfolk Island and in New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia, Fiji, Irian Jaya, Maluku, Sulawesi, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
Papilio euchenor is a butterfly of the family Papilionidae.
Pachliopta polydorus, the red-bodied swallowtail, is a butterfly from the family Papilionidae found in north-eastern Queensland, Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Hypolycaena phorbas is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Waigeo, Biak, Roon Island, mainland New Guinea and various outlying islands as well as Australia.
Nacaduba cyanea, the tailed green-banded line-blue, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae, and formerly considered a member of the genus Danis. It is found in the Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Australia (Queensland).
Hypolimnas antilope, the spotted crow eggfly, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found from Malaya to the Philippines, New Guinea and Australia.
Taenaris is a genus of butterflies in the family Nymphalidae, subfamily Amathusiinae, that distributed throughout Australasia with a majority of species being located on the island of New Guinea. They are commonly known as the owl butterflies.
Hypolimnas anomala, commonly known as the Malayan eggfly or crow eggfly, is a species of eggfly.
Tirumala hamata, the dark tiger, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is distributed from the Philippines to Australia and Pacific oceanic islands such as Samoa. In Australia, the butterflies perform mass migrations to the south in some years. In April 1995, the butterfly made a rare migratory journey to New Zealand, coinciding with the appearance of Hypolimnas bolina on the islands.
Jamides cyta, the pale cerulean, is a butterfly of the lycaenids or blues family. It is found throughout South-east Asia, from Malaysia to the Solomon Islands and the Philippines, as well as Queensland in Australia.
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