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View Full Version : Is this Lemon Pansy??



Dr Hari Venkatesh K R
21-12-2009, 09:57 AM
taken 2 years back..sorry dont hav the details

Mrudul Godbole
21-12-2009, 10:40 AM
Nice details on the butterfly. Liked the composition. It seems at some places the colour of the wings is fading. Thanks for sharing.

Bibhav Behera
21-12-2009, 04:04 PM
Hi Dr Hari,
Yes, this is a lemon pansy. The composition is nice. As pointed out by Mrudul, I wonder why the colours seem faded in the lower wings.

Something more about the Lemon Pansy:
The Lemon Pansy Junonia lemonias is a common nymphalid (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymphalid) butterfly found in South Asia. It is found in gardens, fallow (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallow) land, and open wooded areas. It is brown with numerous eye-spots as well as black and lemon-yellow spots and lines on the upperside of the wings. The underside is a dull brown, with a number of wavy lines and spots in varying shades of brown and black. There is also an eyespot on the lower side of the forewing. The wet and dry season forms differ considerably in coloration and even shape. In the wet season form the markings are distinct and vivid and the wing shape is a little more rounded. In the dry season form the markings are obscure and pale especially on the underside and the wing margin is more angular and jagged. This helps it camouflage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camouflage) in the dried leaf-litter. The Lemon pansy is a very active butterfly and can be seen basking (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bask) with its wings open facing the sun. It sits very low to the ground and can be approached easily. It feeds with its wings half open. It is a fairly strong flier and flies close to the ground with rapid wingbeats and often returns to settle back in the same spots.

Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junonia_lemonias

Dr Hari Venkatesh K R
21-12-2009, 04:15 PM
Thank u mrudul..Thank u Bibhav for the wonderful information...

Sabyasachi Patra
22-12-2009, 01:34 PM
Beautiful species. The information helps us in understanding it better.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi