The Short Banded Sailor

Phaedyma columella

Description

Phaedyma columella has upper wings which are dark brown to black with white patches. On the forewings there is a narrow and short white cell line, the spots in space 1a are elongated. On the hind wing there is a broad disc band, the speculum above the side of the hind wing protrudes. The underside of the wings are yellowish brown with the same marking as the upper side. In males, the 8 veins of the hind wings terminate in a termen just below the wing apex.

Larva: The larvae of Phaedyma columella are brown in color, the body is shaped like a saddle from the 3rd thoracic segment to the 8th ventral segment, the saddle is light yellowish brown in color. The surface of the body is covered by a small turbecles, in addition there are longer, tapered and branched spines on the 2nd and 3rd thoracic segments as well as on the 2nd and 8th abdominal segments. The head capsule is light brown in color with dark lateral and medium stripes.

Pupa: The pupa of Phaedyma columella is pale brown in color with a pair of oval silver patches on the dorsum of the metathorax, the belly is slender and the thorax is large and the wing box extends to the sides. The dorsum of the thorax is angled, the head is split at its front edge with a small, tapered lateral knot.

Population Size

-

Life Span

-

WEIGHT​

-

LENGTH

Wingspan from 55-65 mm.

Ar

Arboreal

He

Herbivore

Classification

KINGDOM

:

Animalia

PHYLUM

:

Arthropoda

CLASS

:

Insecta

ORDER

:

Lepidoptera

FAMILY

:

Nymphalidae

GENUS

:

Phaedyma

SPECIES

:

Phaedyma columella

Distribution

Phaedyma columella can be found in tropical rainforests, mangrove forests, nature reserves, parks and cities.

Geography

Continent : Asia

Country : Phaedyma columella spread in South and Southeast Asia.

Habits and Lifestyle

Phaedyma columella loves the sun and often seen gliding on weak sailing flight, often settling in sunlit areas with fully open wings. These butterflies visit ripe flowers and fruit for energy intake.

Lifestyle

Arboreal

Biome

Tropical rain forest

Climate Zone

Tropical

Diet and Nutrition

Phaedyma columella larvae feed on the leaves of Cratoxylum cochinchinense (Yellow Cow Wood), Pterocarpus indicus (Angsana) and Talipariti tiliaceum (Sea Hibiscus).

Diet : Herbivore (larva), Nectarivore

Mating Habits

Phaedyma columella reproduces by laying eggs (oviparous), the eggs are laid individually on the tips of the leaves of the host plant. The eggs are green when laid and turn pale green to yellowish green as they mature, are slightly rounded with a surface marked with hexagonal holes and short spines at the corner of the hole, giving them the appearance of small sea urchins.

Life cycle (Metamorfosis) : Phaedyma columella

Reproduction session : –

Incubation periods: 3-4 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. Tan, H. and Khoon, K.S. 2012. Caterpillars of Singapore’s Butterflies. National Park Board, Singapore.
  3. Life History of The Short Banded Sailor article 
  4. Phaedyma columella Cramer, 1782 article