Dophla evelina
Encyclopedia
The Redspot Duke, Dophla evelina, is a species
of brush-footed butterfly found in Asia
.
Male upperside somewhat dark metallic green. Fore wing : cell with two median sinuous short black transverse lines with a crimson spot between them, two similar lines beyond, one before, one after apex of cell; followed by a dark irregular transverse shading between the veins; apex of wing broadly and termen narrowly edged with an obscure dark shading. Hind wing with a slender black loop in cell; very obscure discal and sub terminal dark macular bands and the anterior third of the wing purplish.
Underside sap-green, largely suffused with plumbeous grey. Fore wing has the transverse black slender lines and crimson spot as on the upperside ; a very obscure subterminal series of dark spots parallel to terminal margin. Hindwing has three crimson spots encircled by slender black loops near base, and a very obscure subterminal series of dark spots in continuation of that on the fore wing, but obsolescent posteriorly. Antennae brown; head with a crimson streak behind the eyes; thorax and abdomen greenish brown, beneath greyish.
Female very similar, with precisely similar markings above and below, but the ground-colour on upperside paler and especially pale on the terminal halves of the wings, in contrast with the darker basal portions.
Subspecies
laudabilis Swinhoe
: The Southern Indian continental representative of D. evelina seems to form a very distinct race. The male differs in the costa of the fore wing on the upperside beyond the dark obscure discal band being broadly greyish white with a silvery lustre up to a little distance before the apex of the wing; this colour spreads downwards diffusely, but does not extend below vein 6. In the female there is a similar patch, very wide on the costa, extending as a broad transverse band with outer diffuse and inner sinuous margin right across the wing to vein 1; on the hind wing it is not represented by a very much narrower transverse diffuse band or irroration of grey scales. Underside male and female,as in the typical form, but more densely suffused with plumbeous grey. Antennae, head, thorax and abdomen as in the typical form.
), and is green with a vinaceous dorsal patch on each segment, enclosing a whitish dark-centred ocellus. These patches vary in size, those on the fourth, seventh and tenth segments being usually the largest, and those on the fifth and sixth small or obsolete.
Pupa: "Green, with silver spots and a bright line of the same colour along the sides of the dorsal triangle."
At least on Borneo
but probably elsewhere too, adults are frequently seen drinking juices from old fruits. They indiscriminately seek out such sources of nutrition, whether these are in the shade of the forest or in drier and sunnier open areas.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of brush-footed butterfly found in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
.
Description
- See glossaryGlossary of Lepidopteran termsThis glossary describes the terms used in the formal descriptions of insect species, jargon used mostly by professionals or entomologist....
for terms used
Male upperside somewhat dark metallic green. Fore wing : cell with two median sinuous short black transverse lines with a crimson spot between them, two similar lines beyond, one before, one after apex of cell; followed by a dark irregular transverse shading between the veins; apex of wing broadly and termen narrowly edged with an obscure dark shading. Hind wing with a slender black loop in cell; very obscure discal and sub terminal dark macular bands and the anterior third of the wing purplish.
Underside sap-green, largely suffused with plumbeous grey. Fore wing has the transverse black slender lines and crimson spot as on the upperside ; a very obscure subterminal series of dark spots parallel to terminal margin. Hindwing has three crimson spots encircled by slender black loops near base, and a very obscure subterminal series of dark spots in continuation of that on the fore wing, but obsolescent posteriorly. Antennae brown; head with a crimson streak behind the eyes; thorax and abdomen greenish brown, beneath greyish.
Female very similar, with precisely similar markings above and below, but the ground-colour on upperside paler and especially pale on the terminal halves of the wings, in contrast with the darker basal portions.
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
laudabilis Swinhoe
Charles Swinhoe
Colonel Charles Swinhoe was an English naturalist and lepidopterist, who served in the British Army in India...
: The Southern Indian continental representative of D. evelina seems to form a very distinct race. The male differs in the costa of the fore wing on the upperside beyond the dark obscure discal band being broadly greyish white with a silvery lustre up to a little distance before the apex of the wing; this colour spreads downwards diffusely, but does not extend below vein 6. In the female there is a similar patch, very wide on the costa, extending as a broad transverse band with outer diffuse and inner sinuous margin right across the wing to vein 1; on the hind wing it is not represented by a very much narrower transverse diffuse band or irroration of grey scales. Underside male and female,as in the typical form, but more densely suffused with plumbeous grey. Antennae, head, thorax and abdomen as in the typical form.
Life history
Larva: The larva of laudabilis feeds on Diospyros candolleana (EbenaceaeEbenaceae
The Ebenaceae are a family of flowering plants, which includes ebony and persimmon. The family has approximately 500 species of trees and shrubs in two genera, Diospyros and Euclea. The species are mostly evergreen and native to the tropics and subtropics, with a few deciduous species native to...
), and is green with a vinaceous dorsal patch on each segment, enclosing a whitish dark-centred ocellus. These patches vary in size, those on the fourth, seventh and tenth segments being usually the largest, and those on the fifth and sixth small or obsolete.
Pupa: "Green, with silver spots and a bright line of the same colour along the sides of the dorsal triangle."
At least on Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
but probably elsewhere too, adults are frequently seen drinking juices from old fruits. They indiscriminately seek out such sources of nutrition, whether these are in the shade of the forest or in drier and sunnier open areas.