Malabar Tree Nymph

Malabar Tree Nymph

Idea malabarica ( Moore ) DANAIDAE

(=Hestia lynceus ( Moore & de Niceville ))

Adult

Upperside grayish white and semi-transparent. FW with black margined veins, 2 large sub-basal sots, a large oval discal spot and 3 rows of spots on the outer half. Costa black at the base and alternately black and white in the rest. HW with similar black markings. Cell with 2 streaks, thicker than FW and costa white.

Underside similar to upperside. Wingspan 120-160mm

An insect of heavy rainfall areas, confined to the wet evergreen forests of the western ghats, up to 1300 m in the Nilgiris and upto the south of Maharashtra. Largest among the milkweed butterflies and probably the slowest flier among Indian Butterflies. Also known by various names as Floater, Spectre and Silver- Paperfly. Because of its graceful flight. Often seen hovering effortlessly at one spot, riding the air with its large wings but can make a swift escape when alarmed. Ascends to the tree tops by lazy flapping of wings and then sails down slowly in wide circles by keeping the wings spread out like large white flowers, to water surfaces where it flutters for a moment and then rises again to the tree tops. Visits Lantana and other flowers.

Larva

Pale yellow or white with black head. Body smooth, glossy with 4 pairs of black, fleshy filaments, a pair each on segments 3, 4, 6 and 12. segment 2 with 2 dorsal black spots. Other segments with alternately broad black and narrow white transverse bands, segments 6,7,8,9,10 and 11 with small round bright scarlet patches on the sides.

Feeds on Aganosma cymosum.

Distribution

Endemic to South India