Euthalia aconthea gurda
Baron
Family: | Nymphalidae |
Subfamily: | Limenitidinae |
Genus | Euthalia |
Species: | aconthea |
Subspecies: | gurda |
Common Name: | Baron |
Wingspan: | 50-70 mm |
Status: | Common |
Life History: | complete |
Extant in countries: | •Singapore •Malaysia •Thailand |
Hostplants: |
Description
The wings are dark brown above, and paler in the larger female. There is a post-discal band on both wings, with the inner edge defined by a few small white spots. The underside is buff brown with a series of black submarginal spots on the hindwings. The caterpillar is green with a yellow dorsal stripe. Its unique appearance makes it appear like a walking TV antenna with its branched spines and processes extending way beyond the caterpillar's body.
Habitat & Habits
The Baron is a relatively common urban butterfly, mainly because of its host plant, Mango (Mangifera indica). The butterfly is rather local and often stays in the vicinity where its host plant can be found. The Baron is a robust butterfly, with a stout body and rather small wings. It is a rapid flyer, and can often be seen basking in sunlit spots with tits wings opened flat. However, when it locates a food source like the ripened inflorescence of the Singapore Rhododendron (Melastoma malabathricum), it tends to feed greedily and the fermenting nectar source sometimes renders the butterfly in an almost stupor-like state, such that one can pick it off its feeding frenzy with one's fingers!
Other Observations
To be detailed.
Early Stages
See Butterflycircle's blog article - Life History of the Baron.
Further Reading
To be detailed.