The Commander

Moduza procris

Description

Moduza procris has dark reddish-brown upperwings crossed by a wide band of white macula, wide white spots on the forewing cells to the mid-dorsum of the hindwings. There are 4 subapical white spots on the forewings, two series of black submarginal and postdiscal spots on the hindwings. The undersides of the wings are dark reddish brown but the bottoms of the wings are pale greenish gray.

Larva: Moduza procris larvae are cylindrical, greenish brown in color, orange head capsule with dark brown spots. The surface of the body is covered with many small turbecles. In the next instar stage, the body of the caterpillar turns dark brown with spiny and tufted turbecles, its head is covered with short and blunt spines.

Pupa: Moduza procris pupae is creamy brown with dark brown to black segments, about 18-19 mm long. The appearance of the coccon is like a tightly rolled withered leaf.

Population Size

-

Life Span

-

WEIGHT​

-

LENGTH

Wingspan from 60 – 65 mm.

Ar

Arboreal

He

Herbivore

Classification

KINGDOM

:

Animalia

PHYLUM

:

Arthropoda

CLASS

:

Insecta

ORDER

:

Lepidoptera

FAMILY

:

Nymphalidae

GENUS

:

Moduza

SPECIES

:

Moduza procris

Distribution

Moduza procris can be found in dense forest areas that have high rainfall up to an altitude of 400 m above sea level. They are also found on forest trails, river banks or puddles.

Geography

Continent : Asia

Country : Moduza procris is found in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Philippines, West Malaysia, Sumatra, Sarawak, Brunei, Sabah, Kalimantan and Java.

Habits and Lifestyle

Moduza procris flies at moderate to fast speeds with fast wing beats and smooth gliding movements, this butterfly lives a solitary life.

Lifestyle

Arboreal

Biome

Tropical rain forest

Climate Zone

Tropical

Diet and Nutrition

The larvae of Moduza procris feed on the leaves of their host plants Timonius wallichiana and Uncaria canescens. Besides that, it can also eat the leaves of other Rubiaceae members such as Mussaenda, Wendlandia, Nauclea, Sarcolephalus and Stephegyne.

Diet : Herbivore (larva), Nectarivore

Mating Habits

Moduza procris reproduce by laying eggs (oviparous), the eggs are laid one by one at the tip of the leaves of the host plant. The egg is round in shape, the surface is marked with hexagonal holes and short spines at the corners of the holes, giving it the appearance of sea urchins. Egg diameter is about 1 mm and height is 1.1 mm. 

Reproduction session : –

Incubation periods: 3,5 days

Independent age : at birth

Baby name : –

Baby carrying : –

Population

Population status : Not Evaluated (NE)

NE

DD

LC

NT

VU

EN

CR

EW

EX

PHOTO GALLERY

Reference

  1. Khoon, S. 2010. A Field Guide to The Butterflies of Singapore. Ink On Paper Communications, Singapore.
  2. Moduza procris on Wikipedia article 
  3. Life History of the Commander article 
  4. Commander article