The Tawny Coster

Acraea violae

Description

Acraea violae has dark orange upperwings in males and brownish yellow in females. The forewings have two black spots across the cell, a wider spot in spaces 2 – 6 and 10, the costa edge and the termen are black. The hindwings have black spots on the cell, 4 – 5 black spots in the basal area, subcostal spots and a series of discal spots. The edge of the termen is bordered by a black line which has a series of small dots. The head is black with pale yellow and yellow spots, the antennae are black.

Larva: larvae of Acraea violae are cylindrical, yellowish brown in color, their bodies are covered with turbecles, each of which has a black setae. On the 2nd instar the caterpillar is orange brown and the setae are replaced by rows of black spines growing dorso-lateral.

Pupa: Acraea violae pupae are whitish in color with black bands on the dorso-lateral and orange spots laterally and ventral. The length of the pupa is about 19-21 mm.

Population Size

-

Life Span

-

WEIGHT​

-

LENGTH

Wingspan from 45 – 55 mm.

Ar

Arboreal

He

Herbivore

Classification

KINGDOM

:

Animalia

PHYLUM

:

Arthropoda

CLASS

:

Insecta

ORDER

:

Lepidoptera

FAMILY

:

Nymphalidae

GENUS

:

Acraea

SPECIES

:

Acraea violae

Distribution

Acraea violae can be found in the lowlands, around grassland, shrubs, forests, beaches and flower gardens.

Geography

Continent : Asia

Country : Acraea violae is spread across India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and Singapore.

Habits and Lifestyle

Acraea violae fly at slow speeds, live in colonies and are often seen flying together. This species keeps their wings erect while eating, but when basking their wings will be opened.

Lifestyle

Arboreal

Biome

Tropical rain forest

Climate Zone

Tropical

Diet and Nutrition

The larvae of Acraea violae feed on the leaves, young shoots, tendrils and outer surface of the young stems of their host plants. Host plants are members of the Passifloraceae, namely Passiflora foetida, Passiflora tuberosa and Passiflora edulis.

Diet : Herbivore (larva), Nectarivore

Mating Habits

Acraea violae reproduce by laying eggs (oviparous), the eggs are laid in groups under the leaves of the host plant. The eggs are yellowish, olive-shaped with a striped surface.

Reproduction session : –

Incubation periods: 3 – 4 days.

Independent age : at birth

Baby name : –

Baby carrying : varies from just less than 10 to 50 – 60 eggs.

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. Life History of the Tawny Coster article 
  3. Acraea terpsicore on Wikipedia article 
  4. Tawny Coster article