Blue-banded Eggfly From Afar (Enclosure) by TheBootesArtVoid on DeviantArt (original) (raw)

Species Name: Blue-banded Butterfly

Species Latin Name: Hypolimnas alimen

Native To: Solomon islands, Indonesia (Aru Islands, Irian Jaya, Kei Islands, Maluku), New Guinea, and Australia (The coast of New south Whales, The Northern Territory, and Queensland

Sub Species:

Hypolimnas alimen Afra (Located in Trobriand Islands)

Hypolimnas alimen Alimena (Located in Ambon, Serang, and Saparua)

Hypolimnas alimen Bandana (Located in Banda Island)

Hypolimnas alimen Bateia (Located in Yule Island, and Yela Island)

Hypolimnas alimen Curicta (Located in Noemfoor Island)

Hypolimnas alimen Darwinensis (Located in Northern Territory)

Hypolimnas alimen Diffusa (Located in Bellona Island)

Hypolimnas alimen Eligia (Located in Bachan, Halmahera, Morotai, and Ternate)

Hypolimnas alimen Eremita (Located from West Irian to Eastern New Guinea)

Hypolimnas alimen Forbesi (Located from Timor to Tanimbar)

Hypolimnas alimen Fuliginescens (Located in Ugi Island)

Hypolimnas alimen Heteromorpha (Located in Kai Island)

Hypolimnas alimen Inexpectata (Located in Bismark Archipelago)

Hypolimnas alimen Lamina (Located in Torres Strait Islands, and from Cape York to Gympi)

Hypolimnas alimen Libateia (Located in Rennel Island)

Hypolimnas alimen Libisonia (Located in Papua New Guinea)

Hypolimnas alimen Manusi (Located in Admiralty Islands)

Hypolimnas alimen Obsolescens (Located in Fergusson Island)

Hypolimnas alimen Polymena (Located in Aru)

Hypolimnas alimen Remigia (Located in Obi)

Hypolimnas alimen Salomonis (Located in Bougainville, Shortland Islands, and New Georgia Group)

Hypolimnas alimen Saturnia (Located in Waigeu)

Hypolimnas alimen Senia (Located in Buru)

Hypolimnas alimen Ysabela (Located in Santa Isabel)

Photo Taken At: N/A

Wingspan: 7-9cm(2.80 – 3.5 inches)

Egg Description: Small and green

Description:

The Blue-banded butterfly lives up to its name as throughout its body a vibrant spots/bands of blue are seen across its body. When viewed from above the majority of the butterflies body including its wings will be a black colour with the iconic blue spots/bands. When viewed from below the insects wings are mostly dark brown instead of black, the distinctive blue bands are equally present on both sides of the butterflies wings.

Diet:

During the caterpillar stage of this insects life cycle it will feed on the following plants:

Pastel Flower or the Love Flower (Pseuderanthemum variabile)

Chinese Violet, Coromandel, or the Creeping Foxglove (Asystasia gangetica)

Caricature-Plant (Graptophyllum pictum)

Behaviour:

These butterflies tend not to be very active during the day as they tend to do the majority of their feeding during the night. The same is true for the insect during its caterpillar stage. When the caterpillar is ready to move onto the next stage of its life it will usually move away from the plant it feeds from in order to pupate/cocoon. When the caterpillar pupates it will generally face head down.

Further Reading (general information):

Wikipedia: Hypolimnas alimena - Wikipedia

Butterfly House: Blue Banded Eggfly • Coffs Harbour Butterfly House

Pastel Flower or Love Flower Wiki: Pseuderanthemum variabile - Wikipedia

Chinese Violet, Coromandel, or Creeping Foxglove Wiki: Asystasia gangetica - Wikipedia

Caricature Plant Wiki: Graptophyllum pictum - Wikipedia

Australian Butterflies: Friday Fun Fact - Blue Banded Eggfly - Australian Butterfly Sanctuary (australianbutterflies.com)

Bobs Butterflies: Life Cycle of Blue-banded Eggfly - (Hypolimnas alimena lamina) (bobsbutterflies.com.au)