Commander Butterfly

Commander Butterfly

Moduza procris undifragus

Fruhstorfer - NYMPHALIDAE

( = Limenitis procris ( Cramer ))

Adult

upperside reddish brown with a broad, discal white band across both wings. Base with 3 short, transverse black lines in FW and 4 in HW. FW with 2 pre-apical white spots and 2 pale wavy black lines on 2 terminal black borders. HW with 2 rows of black spots, a sub-terminal black line and a terminal blck band. Underside with more clearly defined markings and pale blue basal area. Wingspan 60-75mm.

A butterfly of low elevation and the most widely distributed member of the genus in India. Occurring in moderate to heavy rainfall areas in forests of south India, to Madhya pradesh from dehra dun eastwards to west Bengal and north –east India. Fond of open glades, clearings and roadside in forests. Very fond of damp patches and flowers of Aztec marigold. Male exhibits strong territorial behavior, often found perching high up in the trees and pouncing on other butterflies.

Larva

Dirty grey to chestnut-brown with spiny head. Body with yellow-brown fleshy spined processes, laterally flattened on segments 3-12 and blackish blotches. Segments 2-4 with thin white dorsal line.

Feeds on Almond, Cinchona, Mussaenda frondosa, Cadaba fruticosa, Wendlandia exserta, W.notoniana, Sarcocephalus missionis, Stephegyne parvifolia and other plants of Rubiaceae.

Distribution

Practically the entire oriental region.