The Danaid Eggfly

Hypolimnas missippus

Description

Male Hypolimnas missippus has blackish purple wings with large white circular patches on each wing. The female butterfly mimics Danaus chrysippus, has an orange color, the apical area of the forewings is black divided by a band of white spots, the hind wings have black edges.

Larva: Hypolimnas missippus larvae are cylindrical in shape, black in color with a darker dorsal back, legs and head are brick red, the head is equipped with two black branched spines, long and thick. The surface of the body is covered with setae.

Pupa: Hypolimnas missippus pupa is pendulous, short and thick. The color is light brown with gray-brown stripes, especially on the head and tail.

Population Size

-

Life Span

-

WEIGHT​

-

LENGTH

Wingspan from 50 – 65 mm.

Ar

Arboreal

He

Herbivore

Classification

KINGDOM

:

Animalia

PHYLUM

:

Arthropoda

CLASS

:

Insecta

ORDER

:

Lepidoptera

FAMILY

:

Nymphalidae

GENUS

:

Hypolimnas

SPECIES

:

Hypolimnas missippus

Distribution

Hypolimnas missippus can be found in forests, gardens and other open areas. This species can adapt to many habitats including deserts, savanna, acacia shrubs to beaches.

Geography

Continent : Asia, Australia, Afrika, Amerika

Country : Hypolimnas missippus is spread across the continents of Asia, Australia and Africa. It is also found in Mississippi, Florida and South America.

Habits and Lifestyle

Hypolimnas missippus is a slow flying, male individual often seen basking on the ground or perched with half-open wings in the bush. Female individuals are often seen hovering over the open ground in search of a place to lay eggs.

Lifestyle

Arboreal

Biome

Tropical rain forest

Climate Zone

Tropical

Diet and Nutrition

Hypolimnas missippus larvae feed on the leaves of Portulaca oleracea which are their host plant. Besides that, it also eats leaves from various types of plants such as Portulaca, Talinum (Portulacaceae), Ruellia, Asystasia, Blepharis, Justicia, Pseuderanthemum (Acanthaceae), Amaranthus (Amaranthaceae), Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae), Abelmoschus, Abutilon and Hibiscus (Malvaceae).

Diet : Herbivore (larva), Nectarivore

Mating Habits

Hypolimnas missippus reproduces by laying eggs (ovipar), female butterflies lay their eggs one by one. The eggs are round with longitudinal stripes that protrude on the surface.

Reproduction session : –

Incubation periods: –

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. Hypolimnas misippus on Wikipedia article 
  3. Hypolimnas misippus article 
  4. Danaid Eggfly article