Plum Judy

Plum Judy

Abisara echerius prunosa - Moore - NEMEOBIIDAE

(=Abisara echerius ( Stoll))

Adult

FW broadly triangular and HW angulate and toothed near the tornus. Upperside male purple brown with obscure markings. Female brown. FW with faint discal and outer discal bands. HW with white bordered black spots: 2 small conical spots near the anal region and 2 larger spots near the termen. Underside dull brown. FW with 3 transverse, pale white bands; broad curved discal band and narrow post discal and sub terminal bands. HW with a broad discal band bordered on either side with pale lunular lines. Wingspan 40-50mm.

Only south Indian butterfly of the family, mostly distributed in the lowland and subtropical forests. A shade loving insect, ventureing out rarely during the late afternoon or early evening. Male perches on leaves among forest paths during early morning hours. On settling it makes rotating and jerky movements to attain the desired position hence known as the Dancing Judy. With an erratic and jerky flight, flies up and down rapidly during evening hours not known to visit flowers and wet patches.

Larva

Wood-louse like , olive green in colour with dark green and white lateral and ventral lines.

Distribution

India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Indo – China and the Philippines.