Stichophthalma sparta
Encyclopedia
The Manipur Jungle Queen Stichophthalma sparta De
Nicéville
, 1889 is a butterfly
found in South Asia
that belongs to the Morphinae
sub family of the Brush-footed butterflies
family.
(Abor hills), Nagaland
, Manipur
across Myanmar
(Kindat and Katha in the north; Htawgaw and Sadon in the NE of the country, and, Gokteik in the northern Shan states) onto Northern Yunnan
in China
.
and Assam
and as Very Rare in the Naga hills
. Haribal reports the butterfly as
Rare in Sikkim
.
Upperside of both males and females ochraceous-yellow suffused with a darker, somewhat brownish shade of the same towards base of fore wing and on hind wing. Fore wing has a postdiscal transverse row of fleur-de-lys-shaped spots, a subterminal series of broad black lunules, followed by a series of narrow crescentic marks of the ochraceous groundcolour; apex and a terminal line black. Hind wing has a sub-terminal series of black lunules as on the fore wing, giving out inwards a series of large, shafted, roundly lanceolate marks of the same colour, followed, as on the fore wing, by narrow ochraceous crescentic marks and a terminal black line, the marks posteriorly rather diffuse and tending to run together. Underside ochraceous yellow, with the following transverse markings— subbasal, median, postdiscal, sub terminal and terminal dark brown sinuous lines; a discal row of dark ochraceous ocelli, six on fore, five on hind wing : and, bordering the ocelli on the inner side, a variable diffuse dusky-black band, ending posteriorly on the hind wing in a black tornal spot. Antennae dark brown ; head, thorax and abdomen ochraceous, abdomen paler beneath.
Female upperside is similar, the black markings broader and heavier. Underside also similar, but the ground-colour a beautiful pale green with a silky lustre, the median transverse dark brown line outwardly bordered from costa of fore to vein 1 of hind wing with greenish white; the dusky-black transversely discal band broader and more diffuse: fore wing with seven ocelli; terminal margins broadly but lightly infuscated.
Nicéville
Lionel de Nicéville
Charles Lionel Augustus de Nicéville was a curator at the Indian Museum in Calcutta . He studied the butterflies of South Asia and wrote a three volume monograph on the butterflies of India, Pakistan, Burma and Sri Lanka.Born in a noble Huguenot family, his father was a physician. He was educated...
, 1889 is a butterfly
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
found in South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
that belongs to the Morphinae
Morphinae
Morphinae is a subfamily of Nymphalidae butterflies that includes the morphos, the owl butterflies and related lineages. It is either considered a sister group of the Satyrinae, or disassembled and included therein.- Systematics :...
sub family of the Brush-footed butterflies
Nymphalidae
The Nymphalidae is a family of about 5,000 species of butterflies which are distributed throughout most of the world. These are usually medium sized to large butterflies. Most species have a reduced pair of forelegs and many hold their colourful wings flat when resting. They are also called...
family.
Distribution
The Manipur Jungle Queen ranges from AssamAssam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
(Abor hills), Nagaland
Nagaland
Nagaland is a state in the far north-eastern part of India. It borders the state of Assam to the west, Arunachal Pradesh and part of Assam to the north, Burma to the east and Manipur to the south. The state capital is Kohima, and the largest city is Dimapur...
, Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
across Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
(Kindat and Katha in the north; Htawgaw and Sadon in the NE of the country, and, Gokteik in the northern Shan states) onto Northern Yunnan
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
Status
Evans reports the butterfly as Not Rare in SikkimSikkim
Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayan mountains...
and Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
and as Very Rare in the Naga hills
Naga hills
Naga hills, reaching a height of around 3825 metres, lie on the border of India and Burma . These hills are part of a complex mountain system, and the parts of the mountain ranges inside the Indian state of Nagaland and the Burmese region of Sagaing are called the Naga Hills.In British India, the...
. Haribal reports the butterfly as
Rare in Sikkim
Sikkim
Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayan mountains...
.
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
Upperside of both males and females ochraceous-yellow suffused with a darker, somewhat brownish shade of the same towards base of fore wing and on hind wing. Fore wing has a postdiscal transverse row of fleur-de-lys-shaped spots, a subterminal series of broad black lunules, followed by a series of narrow crescentic marks of the ochraceous groundcolour; apex and a terminal line black. Hind wing has a sub-terminal series of black lunules as on the fore wing, giving out inwards a series of large, shafted, roundly lanceolate marks of the same colour, followed, as on the fore wing, by narrow ochraceous crescentic marks and a terminal black line, the marks posteriorly rather diffuse and tending to run together. Underside ochraceous yellow, with the following transverse markings— subbasal, median, postdiscal, sub terminal and terminal dark brown sinuous lines; a discal row of dark ochraceous ocelli, six on fore, five on hind wing : and, bordering the ocelli on the inner side, a variable diffuse dusky-black band, ending posteriorly on the hind wing in a black tornal spot. Antennae dark brown ; head, thorax and abdomen ochraceous, abdomen paler beneath.
Female upperside is similar, the black markings broader and heavier. Underside also similar, but the ground-colour a beautiful pale green with a silky lustre, the median transverse dark brown line outwardly bordered from costa of fore to vein 1 of hind wing with greenish white; the dusky-black transversely discal band broader and more diffuse: fore wing with seven ocelli; terminal margins broadly but lightly infuscated.
See also
- MorphinaeMorphinaeMorphinae is a subfamily of Nymphalidae butterflies that includes the morphos, the owl butterflies and related lineages. It is either considered a sister group of the Satyrinae, or disassembled and included therein.- Systematics :...
- NymphalidaeNymphalidaeThe Nymphalidae is a family of about 5,000 species of butterflies which are distributed throughout most of the world. These are usually medium sized to large butterflies. Most species have a reduced pair of forelegs and many hold their colourful wings flat when resting. They are also called...
- List of butterflies of India
- List of butterflies of India (Morphinae)
- List of butterflies of India (Nymphalidae)