Yellow Pansy

Yellow Pansy

Precis hierta hierta ( Fabricius) NYMPHALIDAE

Adult

Upperside male FW bright yellow. FW black bordered with 2 yellowish white elongated markings in the apex and 2 ocelli in the discal area. HW with broad black costa and base, the latter with a brilliant blue oval patch and no spots in the yellow area. Female larger but pale. FW with narrow costal border having 4 bands extending inwards. HW with costal and basal areas more black or brownish; oval blue patch small and 2 spots in the yellow border. Underside straw yellow. FW more yellowish with distinct ocelli. HW grayish basally with brown wavy lines. Spots andlines more pronounced in female. Wingspan 45-60mm.

Inhabits open scrub jungle and ill kept agricultural land. Fond of sunniest patches and stream beds. Territorial like other pansies, male can be seen pungnaciously chasing it otwn kind. Besides Aztec Marigold, it visits flowers of Lantana, Lindely Butterfly bush, Bachelor’s Button etc.

Larva

Light greenish brown with yellow spined head. Body with velvety black dorsum on segments 3 and 4, double yellow lines and 7 rows of black spines.

Feeds on justicia, starthorn, bluebell barleria, menow-weed, barleria longifolia, reullia prostrata, etc.

Distribution

India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Arabia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, China and Hongkong.