Malabar Rose

Malabar Rose

Pachliopta pandiyana Moore PAPILIONIDAE

(=Tros jophon ( Gray))

Adult

Upperside black. FW with a prominent broad triangular medical band formed by pale brownish/white streaks between the veins. HW with a large posterior discal yellowish white patch and a submarginal series of crimson lunules and a prominent tail. Wingspan 100-130mm.

A butterfly of the hilly regions of the Western Ghats at an altitude of 300-1000m. abundant during april-may and September-october in the evergreen jungles. Visits flowers like Lantana during early morning. Normally flies deep in the dense forests but common in clearings and roads during flowering periods. With very slow flight around the lower tree canopy, it resembles the Malabar Tree Nymph, Idea malabarica despite the differences in colour, seen flying even in heavy rains. Also known as the Ceylon Rose.

Larva

Dark purple black with variable number of tubercles on the body. Tubercles red-tiped on all segments except those on segment 7 and 11 which are creamy white. A white transverse band on segment 7 and an obscure white line on segments 2, 10, 12 and 13. Tubercles 2 on segment 2,8 on 3 and 6, 6 on 8.9 and 10 and 4 on the last segment.

Feeds on Apama siliquosa, Thottea siliquosa etc.

Distribution

Endemic to peninsular India and Sri Lanka.