Journal of
Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 June 2018 | 10(7): 11934–11947
A taxonomic study of six species of the genus Junonia Hübner, [1819] (Insecta:
Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) from the northwestern
Himalayan region in India
Deepika Mehra 1,Jagbir Singh Kirti 2 & Avtar Kaur Sidhu 3
1,2 Department of Zoology and Environmental
Sciences, Punjabi University, NH 64, Urban Estate Phase II, Patiala, Punjab
147002, India
3 Zoological Survey of India, High Altitude
Regional Centre (HARC), Saproon, Solan,
Himachal Pradesh 173211, India
1 deepika.mehra.nymphalidae@gmail.com
(corresponding author), 2 rjagbir2005@gmail.com, 3 avtarkaur2000@gmail.com
doi: http://doi.org/10.11609/jott.3731.10.7.11934-11947 | ZooBank:urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:803643D8-F0B2-4459-AEBF-700D6809F13B
Editor: James
J. Young, Hong Kong Lepidoptera Society, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong. Date
of publication: 26 June 2018 (online & print)
Manuscript details: Ms # 3731 |
Received 13 August 2017 | Final received 20 May 2018 | Finally accepted 11 June
2018
Citation: Mehra, D., J.S. Kirti& A.K. Sidhu (2018). A taxonomic study of six
species of the genus Junonia Hübner,
[1819] (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)
from the northwestern Himalayan region in India. Journal of Threatened
Taxa 10(7): 11934–11947; http://doi.org/10.11609/jott.3731.10.7.11934-11947
Copyright: © Mehra et al. 2018. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License. JoTT allows
unrestricted use of this article in any medium, reproduction and distribution
by providing adequate credit to the authors and the source of publication.
Funding: Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF).
Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Acknowledgements:Sincere thanks to the Head, Department of Zoology and
Environmental Sciences, Punjabi University, Patiala (PB) and Officer In-charge,
Z.S.I., Solan (HP) for providing access to the museum
specimens present in the respective institutes. I am also grateful to the
museum in-charge of both the institutes.
Abstract: Characters of external genitalia are
considered as one of the important criteria to understand the taxonomy of
insects. In the present study,
various taxonomic characters of the male and female external genitalia and wing
venation of six species under the genus Junonia Hübner viz., orythia(Linnaeus, 1758), iphita (Cramer,
[1779]), almana (Linnaeus, 1758), lemonias (Linnaeus, 1758), hierta(Fabricius, 1798), atlites(Linnaeus, 1763), have been described and illustrated in detail. Besides, brief diagnoses and
identification keys based on external genitalia, morphological variations and
taxonomic remarks have been given for all taxa.
Keywords: External genitalia, Old and New World
tropics, taxonomy, western Himalaya.
Genus Junonia Hübner, [1819] is
a speciose genus, of the butterfly family Nymphalidae, with extant members predominantly of tropical
affinity. The genus contains 33
species that are distributed throughout all major biogeographicalregions of the world, except the Palaearctic (Kodandaramaiah& Wahlberg 2007)., The true number of species and
their relationships, however, has been an on-going debate in the scientific
community for the last 100 years (Turner & Parnell 1985; Borchers & Marcus 2014).
Harvey
(1991) recognized only three tribes within Nymphalinae—Nymphalini, Kallimini, and Melitaeini —and placed Junonia Hübner under Kallimini; Whalberg et al. (2005) divided Nymphalinaeinto six tribes—Coeini, Nymphalini,Junoniini, Victorini, Kallimini and Melitaeini—based
on the DNA sequence data and placed the genus Junonia Hübner under the tribe Junoniini.
Six
species of the genus Junonia Hübner, viz., orythia(Linnaeus), iphita (Cramer), almana (Linnaeus), lemonias(Linnaeus), hierta (Fabricius),
and atlites (Linnaeus), are distributed
throughout the Indian subcontinent. A perusal of literature reveals that no consolidated account is
available on wing venation and genitalia of Junonia Hübner (Kumar et al. 2007). To this date, the taxonomy of Junonia is somewhat unstable (Kodandaramaiah& Wahlberg 2007; Neild 2008; Brévignon2009; Kodandaramaiah 2009). There is considerable geographic
variation within Junonia species, and possible
on-going inter-specific hybridization suggests that Junoniamay be a ring species, making this a very difficult group to define taxonomically
(Borchers & Marcus 2014). Numerous studies at the molecular level
have been initiated but no emphasis has been laid down on the genitalic attributes of the species of this genus (Vanlalruati et al. 2011; Gemmell et
al. 2014; Win et al. 2015). Recent
taxonomic review of the tribe Junoniini from Myanmar
given by Win et al. (2016) included only adult descriptions, whereas important
taxonomic characters of the external genitalia and wing venations have not been
discussed.
In many
insects, genitalia often provide the only way to reliably distinguish species
using morphology (Özgül-Siemund & Ahrens
2015). Hence in order to fill the
taxonomic gaps, the male and female external genitalia and wing venation of the
six species of the genus Junonia have been
illustrated, described and discussed in detail.
Materials and
Methods
The
material examined for the present study has been obtained from the preserved
entomological collections lying in the Department of Zoology and Environmental
Studies, Punjabi University, Patiala and Zoological Survey of India, HARC, Solan. To study
wing venation, the methodology given by Common (1970) is followed. For the study of external male and
female genitalia, the methodology given by Robinson (1976) is followed.
Terminological
review: The terminology given by Sibatani et al.
(1954) and Klots (1956) for the male and female
genitalia have been followed.
Male
genitalia: Various authors like Bethune-Baker (1891), Petersen (1904), Pierce
(1909), Eyer (1924), Sibataniet al. (1954), and Ogata (1957) had presented different terminological reviews
on the male genitalia in Lepidoptera. The term ‘tegumen’ is used to denote the
dorsal part of the ninth abdominal segment. Pierce (1909) established the term
vinculum for the ninth abdominal sternite, but later
on Pierce (1914) synonymised it with the term ‘saccus’
(Bethune-Baker 1891) which signified both saccus and
vinculum. In the present study, the
terms used are as follows: saccus, lateral-dorsal
projections of the saccus, and lateral-ventral
projections of the tegumen.
Nevertheless,
the subdivision of valvae has always been the point
of debate. The valvaeterminology reviewed by Sibatani et al. (1954) and Klots (1956) are applied in the present work. The terms used are as follows: costa (dorso-proximal region of the valvae),sacculus (ventro-proximal
region of the valvae), ampulla (medio-dorsal
region), and harpe (posterior projection of the sacculus, on the innerside of thevalvae). The terminology for the copulatory organ of
male Lepidoptera is followed as given by Klots(1956). The terms used are as
follows: aedeagus (sclerotized tubular structure), vesica (membranous tube), ductus ejaculatorius (a duct along which spermatozoa move from the
testes).
Female
genitalia: All the terms adopted by Klots (1956) are
used, except the term genital plate used by Pierce (1909) is here replaced by sterigma as the latter denotes the fused ante- and
post-vaginal lamellae. Moreover, it is more commonly found mentioned in the
literature and widely used by specialists (Carneiroet al. 2013).
Genus Junonia Hübner, [1819]
Common
name: Buckeyes, Pansies or Commodores
Junonia Hübner, [1819] Verz.bek. Schmett.
(3): 34
General
Characteristics:
Adult
Diagnosis: Broad-winged butterflies with a relatively small body, ground-colour
dull grey-brown, red brown or black; head broad; eyes naked; palpi long, projecting beak-like; antennae about half the
length of the forewing; latter triangular, costal margin strongly curved, apex
more or less obliquely truncate, termen concave; wing
shape variable in seasonal forms, wing more strongly angulate in dry-season
form than in wet-season form; upper discocellularobsolete, middle one deeply concave, lower discocellularabsent, discal cell open; hind wing triangular, apex
round, tornal angle often produced into a lobe; precostal erect and then almost rectangular bent outward,
sometimes bearing a short spur on basal side.
Immature
stages: Larva cylindrical, with branched thorns; head with short bristles; pupa
suspended, with small wart-like tubercles on the back.
Distribution and Natural History
The
genus is distributed over all major biogeographicalregions of the world except the Palaearctic (Kodandaramaiah& Wahlberg 2007).
Commonly
known as the pansies and buckeyes, the members of the genus Junonia are sun-loving butterflies and can be found flying during the hottest hours
of the day. Although having a
preference for the riverine habitat, these butterflies are generalist species
and are found venturing into wide variety of habitats. The wings have characteristic eye spots (ocelli). Their flight is very fast, remaining
close to the ground. The dull
colouration on the underside of these butterflies makes them nearly invisible
while they sit on bare ground to indulge in mud puddlingunder the sun. They have a definite
preference for salts from the ground and are often seen puddlingin the rocky terrains near the source of water. These butterflies are fast fliers, and
are fond of sitting with spread wings on the ground.
Identification
keys to species of the genus Junonia Hübner, [1819] from India:
Valvae C- shaped ……………................………… 2
Valvae longer than broad …………….............. 3
Uncus hidden between a pair of valvae ........ ............................................hierta (Fabricius)
Uncus not hidden between a pair of valvae .. ..........................................orythia (Linnaeus)
Tegumen dome shaped …………………….......4
Tegumen relatively flat …………………………… 5
Ampulla
bear two long
deeply curved spines .........................................almana (Linnaeus)
Ampulla differentiated
into a small spine ..… .......................................lemonias (Linnaeus)
Ampulla and harpe broad, ampulla spatulate ...............................................iphita (Cramer)
Ampulla and harpe narrow, ampulla folded upon
itself ......................... atlites (Linnaeus)
Junonia orythia (Linnaeus, 1758)
(Fig.
1)
Papilio orithya Linnaeus, 1758 Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1: 473; TL:S.China
Wing span: 40–60 mm.
Diagnosis:
Adult (male): Upper side of forewing dark brown from base to post discal area, an oblique white band from costa to termen, apical area pale brown, two eye spots in post discal area; upper side of hind wing with ground colour
shining blue, black angular patch below discal cell
curving towards inner margin, two eyespots in post discalarea; underside from dull ocheraceous to dark brown
depending upon to seasonal form.
Female:
Similar as male, but basal half of hind wing entirely black, and eye spots more
prominent.
Male
genitalia (Fig. 2): Tegumen well developed, arched,
moderately sclerotized; latero-ventral projections oftegumen broad; saccusdistinct and moderately sclerotized; latero-dorsal
projections V-shaped, narrow, extending dorsally; anterior projection of saccus tubular in lateral view and posterior elongation
absent; uncus differentiated from tegumenby a light sclerotization, broad proximally with
distal portion descending into a sharp narrow pointed tip, sinousand sparsely setose and approximately as long as tegument; gnathosattached to caudal margin of tegumen, more or less
rhomboid in shape and moderately sclerotized with two halves remain separate
from each other; subscaphium developed into a
u-shaped pad, densely setosed; valvaebroad proximally, well sclerotized, costa convex, broad and strongly
sclerotized, ampulla well developed into an arm, sparsely setose, ventral
margins serrated and slightly folded upon it, sacculusconvex, sparsely setose and well sclerotized, harpedeveloped into an arm, well sclerotized, bears serrations, extends slightly
beyond ampulla and partially overlaps latter laterally; aedeaguscurved, approximately as long as valvae, more or less
cylindrical and narrows into a tip posteriorly; ductus ejaculatorius enters from lateral side.
Female
genitalia (Fig. 3): Sterigma composed of coupling of
lamella antevaginalis and lamella postvaginalis(no sharp distinction between these two) which after fusion forms a sclerotized
rectangular plate forming a u-shaped arc; ductus bursae very small, funnel like, membranous, leading to
corpus bursae after a narrow constriction; corpus bursae very long, extends far cephaladinto abdomen, membranous, balloon shaped, narrow at its base but dilating
gradually towards apex, signa absent; ductus seminalis enters dorsally
at base of ductus bursaeand its entry marked by prominent sclerotization;
eighth segment fully developed, moderately sclerotized, pair of anterior apophysis present, extending cephaladwith spatulate and clubbed anterior tip; anal
papillae moderately sclerotized, heavily setose with short setae, posterior apophysis present, similar to anterior apophysis.
Material
examined: I1871, 1 male, 19.ix.1999, Saleran Dam (Shivalik), Hosiarpur, Punjab,
coll. R. Paliwal. I1872, 1 female,
8.x.1886, Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh, Punjab, coll. S.
Chand. I1873, 1 female, 22.v.2010, KalatopWildlife Sanctary, Chamba(HP), coll. A.K. Sidhu & party. I1875, 1 female, 3.viii.1996, Nangal(Punjab), coll. Harmeet. I1876,
2 females, 29.viii.2013, Ghat ka Jubad (Chail WS) (HP),
coll. A.K. Sidhu & party. I1877, 1 male, 10.vii.2000, Ropar,
Punjab, coll. R.Paliwal & party. I1878, 2 males, 29.vii.200, Kansal, Solan (HP), coll. Mahender &
party. I1881, 1 female, 11.vi.1996, Solan (HP), coll. Kangru Ram. I1883, 1 male, 15.v.2005, Khajjiar,Chamba (HP), coll. A.K. Sidhu. I1884, 1 female, 27.iii.1996, Punjabi University, Patiala,
Punjab, coll. Harmeet. I1885,
1 female, 9.ix.2010, Khajjiar, District Chamba (HP), coll. A.K. Sidhu& party. I1886, 1 female, 20.viii.2010, Shivaliks, Ropar, Punjab, coll.
L.P. Dubey. I1887, 1 male,
20.viii.2010, Ghat ka Jubad (Chail WS) (HP), coll. A.K.Sidhu & party. I1890, 1
male, 9.x.1999, Pong Dam, District Kangra (HP), coll.
R. Paliwal. I2680, 1 male,
23.ix.2016, Shangarh, SainjWS, Kullu (HP), coll. A.K. Sidhu. I2681, 1 female, 21.v.2015, Shangarh,Sainj WS, Kullu (HP), coll.
A.K. Sidhu. I2682, 1 female,
21.v.2015, Shangarh, Sainj WS,Kullu (HP), coll. A.K. Sidhu. I2683, 1 male, 26.vii.2016, Shangarh,Sainj WS, Kullu (HP), coll.
Kamal Saini. I2987, 1 male,
25.ix.2017, Kupa, SanglaValley, Kinnaur (HP), coll. T Kubendran. I138, 1 male, 22.iv.1972, NainaDevi, Bilaspur (HP), coll. M. Chandra.
Range
country: Madagascar, tropical Africa (dry), Arabia, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar,
New Guinea, northern Australia.
Remarks:
This is a widely spread species. The wet season forms have prominent eyespots while the dry season forms
have these eyespots reduced in size. No major variation in the genitalia could be found. Kumar et al. (2007) had erroneously
reported a pair of well-developed signum on the
corpus bursae of the female genitalia of the nominate
species. The corpus bursae of the
female J. orithya lack signumand is entirely membranous.
Junonia iphita (Cramer, [1779])
(Fig.
4)
Papilio iphita Cramer, [1779] Uitl.Kapellen 3 (17-21): 30, pl. 209, f. C, D, TL: China
Wing span: 55–80 mm.
Diagnosis:
Adult (male): Upper side of forewing dull brown, a broad brown colour band
traversed from costa to inner margin, two apical white spots present near
costal margin; hind wing upper side dull brown, broad brown colour band in
continuation from forewing, sub-marginal series of eyespots along terminal
margin; under side of forewing dark brown, basal area traversed by three
greyish fasciae, a discal prominent dark brown line
traversed across; underside of hindwing eye spots not
as prominent as above.
Adult
(female): Similar as male.
Male
genitalia (Fig. 5): Tegumen U-shaped from dorsal,
moderately sclerotized, more or less obliquely slanting towards uncus. Saccus well developed and distinct; anterior projection of saccus tubular, reaches cephaladup to mid of sixth sternite, slightly curved upward; latero-dorsal projections of saccusnarrow, prominent, bears a strong convex curvature and produced into an
anteriorly directed crest at point where valvaearticulate with latter; uncus stout, well sclerotized,
sparsely setosed, angulate from mid dorsal portion,
posteriorly descending into sharp pointed tip directed ventral; gnathos paired, roughly rectangular, glued to tegumen by a membrane; valvaewell developed, sclerotized, broad proximally, costa well sclerotized, more or
less triangular in shape, ampulla well developed into a laterally flattened
arm, sparsely setose and margins spinous, sacculus also well developed, harpesparsely setose, slightly sclerotized, produced into a spatulatearm with serrated margins and overlaps ampulla laterally; aedeaguslong, slender, uniform width throughout its length following apex descending
into a sharp pointed tip.
Female
genitalia (Fig. 6): Eighth sternite reduced and well
sclerotized; antevaginal lamella and postvaginal lamella collapse, form a sclerotized plate
giving rise to tubular, dorso-ventrally compressed,
well sclerotized sterigma; ostium bursae cresent shaped; ductus bursae long and
membranous; ductus seminalisenters at base of ductus bursae(region marked with prominent sclerotization) from latero-dorsal side; corpus bursaelarge, membranous, balloon shaped, narrow at its base but dilating gradually
towards apex, signa absent; a pair of well
sclerotized and thin anterior apophysis arises from
anterolateral margin of 8th tegument. 8th tegument and sternite not fused; anal papillae not small, lightly
sclerotized, densely setose with fine setae, pair of posterior apophysis present, well sclerotized, slightly longer than
anterior apophyses; both pairs of apophysesare oriented horizontally along abdomen.
Material
examined: I2608, 1 male, 07.x.2015, Dalogi, Sainj WS, Kullu (HP), coll. KamalSaini. I2609, 1 male, 07.x.2015, Dalogi, Sainj WS, Kullu (HP), coll. Kamal Saini. I2610, 1 male, 07.x.2015, Dalogi, Sainj WS, Kullu (HP), coll. KamalSaini. I2611,1 male,
07.x.2015, Dalogi, SainjWS, Kullu(HP), coll. Kamal Saini.I2612, 1 female, 07.x.2015, Dalogi,Sainj WS, Kullu (HP), coll.
Kamal Saini. I2613, 1 male,
07.x.2015, Dalogi, SainjWS, Kullu (HP), coll. Kamal Saini. I2614, 1 female, 24.vii.2016, Dalogi,Sainj WS, Kullu (HP), coll.
Kamal Saini. I2615, 1 female, 10.x.2015, Bah,Sainj WS, Kullu(HP), coll. Kamal Saini. I2616, 1 male, 10.x.2016,
Bah, Sainj WS, Kullu(HP), coll. Kamal Saini. I2617, 1 male, 26.ix.2016, Bah,Sainj WS, Kullu (HP), coll.
A.K. Sidhu. I2618, 1 female,
26.ix.2017, Bah, Sainj WS, Kullu(HP), coll. A.K. Sidhu. I2619,
1 male, 09.x.2015, Taliyara & around, Sainj WS, Kullu (HP), coll. KamalSaini. I2620, 1 female,
09.x.2015, Taliyara & around, SainjWS, Kullu (HP), coll. Kamal Saini. I2621, 1 female, 09.x.2015, Taliyara& around, Sainj WS, Kullu(HP), coll. Kamal Saini. I2622,
1 male, 09.x.2015, Taliyara & around, Sainj WS, Kullu (HP), coll. KamalSaini. I2623, 1 male,
09.x.2015, Taliyara & around, SainjWS, Kullu (HP), coll. Kamal Saini. I2624, 1 male, 5.v.2015, Shakti & around, Sainj WS, Kullu (HP), coll. A.K. Sidhu. I2625, 1 female,
28.vii.2016, Shakti & around, Sainj WS, Kullu (HP), coll. Kamal Saini. I2626, 1 male, 27.ix.2016, Niharni-SainjWS, Kullu (HP), coll. A.K. Sidhu. I2627, 1 male, 27.ix.2016, Niharni-SainjWS, Kullu (HP), coll. A.K. Sidhu. I2628, 1 male, 27.ix.2016, Niharni-SainjWS, Kullu (HP), coll. A.K. Sidhu. I2629, 1 male, 23.v.2015, Niharni-SainjWS, Kullu (HP), coll. A.K. Sidhu. I2630, 1 male, 11.x.2015, Niharni-SainjWS, Kullu (HP), coll. Kamal Saini. I2631, 1 female, 11.x.2015, Niharni-SainjWS, Kullu (HP), coll. Kamal Saini. I2632, 1 female, 11.x.2015, Niharni-SainjWS, Kullu (HP), coll. Kamal Saini. I2633, 1 male, 11.x.2015, Niharni-SainjWS, Kullu (HP), coll. Kamal Saini. I2634, 1 male, 11.x.2015, Niharni-SainjWS, Kullu (HP), coll. Kamal Saini. I2635, 1 male, 11.x.2015, Niharni-SainjWS, Kullu (HP), coll. Kamal Saini. I2891, 1 male, 12.vii.2017, Shin, SainjWS, Kullu (HP), coll. T Kubendran. I2892, 1 male, 15.vii.2017, Lower Noi,Sainj WS, Kullu (HP), coll.
T. Kubendran. I2893, 6 Male,
13.vii.2017, Ropa, SainjWS, Kullu (HP), coll. T Kubendran. I3007, 1 male, 19.ix.2017, Ropa, Sainj WS, Kullu (HP), coll. G.
Sharma. I3008,1 male, 17.ix.2017, Niharni-Sainj WS, Kullu (HP),
coll. G. Sharma. I116, 1 male, 23.ix.1973, Giri river, Dadahu, Sirmour (HP), coll. H.P. Agrawal. I1981, 1 male, 27.ix.1992, Renukasanctuary, Sirmour (HP), coll. J.M. Julka. I1982, 1 male, 3.x.2012, ChailWS, District Solan , coll. J.M. Julka. I1983, 1 male, 20.iv.2001, Mahooz, Dholbaha, Hoshiarpur, Punjab,
coll. M.L. Thakur. I1984, 1 male, 20.ix.1969, Tatapani, Mandi (HP), coll. M.L.
Thakur. I1985, 1 female, 12.x.1999, Pong Dam, Kangra (HP), coll. M.S. Verma. I1986, 2 males, 26.ii.1972, Solan(HP), coll. K.R. Thakur. I1987, 4 females, 15.x.2005, Mussorie, Dehradun (UK), coll. A.K. Sidhu. I1989, 1 male, 16.vi.2009, Taranhnear Kupvi, Shimla (HP), coll. A.K. Sidhu. I1990, 1 male, 4.x.2000, Katori Bunglow, Dunera (HP), coll. G.S. Arora& party. I1991, 1 male, 2.x.1992, Renuka Sanctuary, Sirmour (HP),
coll. J.M. Julka. I1992, 1
male, 28.ix.1992, Renuka sanctuary, Sirmour (HP), coll. M.S. Verma. I1993, 1 male, 17.x.2005, Dehradun (UK), coll. M.S.V erma. I1994, 1 male, 1.x.1992, Renuka sanctuary, Sirmour (HP),
coll. J.M. Julka. I1995, 1
male, 20.v.2012, KKWS, Chamba (HP), coll. A.K. Sidhu. I1996, 1 male, 10.x.2012,
KKWS, Chamba (HP), coll. M.S. Verma& Kamal. I1997, 1 male, 24.iv.1992, Renuka sanctuary, Sirmour (HP),
coll. Dr. Mahabal. I1998, 1 male, 28.xi.1972, Solan (HP),
coll. K.R. Thakur. I1999, 1 male, 11.ix.2007, Nauradhar, Solan (HP), coll. H.S.
Mehta. I2000, 2 males, 3.x.2000, Khajjiar,Chamba (HP), coll. G.S. Arora& party. I2001, 1 male, 1.x.1992, Renuka Sanctuary, Sirmour (HP),
coll. J.M. Julka. I2002, 1
male, 21.viii.2013, Haka, ChailWS, Solan (HP), coll. Anil Rathi.I2003, 1 male,10.x.2012, KalatopWS, Chamba (HP), coll. M.S.Verma& Madan. I2004,1 male,
9.ix.2010, Khajjiar, Chamba(HP), coll. A.K. Sidhu & party. I2005, 1 male, 3.x.2000, Khajjiar, Chamba (HP), coll. G.S. Arora.
Range
country: Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, Sumatra, China
Discussion:
This species is quite common throughout its range. The males exhibit roosting
behaviour. No major variation in the external genitalia could be found.
Junonia lemonias (Linnaeus, 1758)
(Fig.
7)
Papilio lemonias Linnaeus, 1758 Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1: 473, TL: Canton, China
Wing span: 40–60 mm.
Diagnosis:
Adult (male): Upper side of forewing brownish, two pale ochreousbars with black margins traverse discal cell, a
prominent blue centred orange ringed eyespot near tornusencircled by pale ochre spots which extend obliquely towards costal margin, two
more ochre spots near apex, termen sinous; upper side of hind wing brownish with two blue
centred orange eye spots, upper eyespot prominent, second eyespot indistinct,
two dark sinous sub-marginal lines, termen sinous; underside very
variable according to seasons, series of eye spots on hind wing well developed
in wet season forms but very obscure in dry season forms.
Male
genitalia (Fig. 8): Tegumen strongly built, broad,
moderately sclerotized, obliquely slanting towards uncus;uncus broad distally, strongly sclerotized, as long
as tegumen, sickle shape with pointed tip, deeply
grooved in centre at point of origin of uncus giving
a y-shape from dorsal view; gnathos lightly
sclerotized, more or less triangular, separated from tegument by a membrane,
pair remains separate; saccus well developed,
anterior projection tubular, directed upward, tip blunt; latero-dorsal
projections of saccus narrow, arced and short; valvae well developed, sclerotized, longer than broad,
directed in a diagonal fashion and hides pointed tip of uncus,
costa well developed and sclerotized, ampulla developed into a small arm
bearing bifid claw, curved ventrally, saccullus well
sclerotized, harpe simple and sparsely setose with
long setae, bears minute spines; aedeagus not long,
slender, descending into a pointed tip posteriorly.
Female
genitalia (Fig. 9): Eighth sternite reduced and
strongly sclerotized; antevaginal lamella and postvaginal lamella fused together and form a funnel like
heavily sclerotized sterigma; ostium bursae cresent shaped; dustus bursae membranous but
lightly sclerotized at basal portion; ductus seminalis entering at basal part of ductus bursae from latero-dorsal
side, entrance marked by sclerotization; corpus bursae oval, large and somewhat elongated, membranous and signa absent; anal papillae not small, moderately
sclerotized and beset with dense setae, remain withdrawn under inter-segmental
membrane of 8th and 9th segment and protrude only during
egg laying; a pair of thin but prominent and sclerotized posterior apophysis present; a pair of anterior apophysis,
shorter than posterior apophysis, arise from anterio-lateral margin of 8th tergum, heavily sclerotized and bear spatulateclub shaped tip.
Material Examined: I107, 1 male, 23.ix.1973, Giririver, Dadahu, Sirmour(HP), coll. H.P. Agrawal. I1916, 1 male,
2.vii.2000, Solan Railway Station & vicinity
(HP), coll. Mahender. I1917,
2 males, 6.iv.2000, Thudarwala, Chandigarh, Punjab,
coll. T.R. Sharma. I1918, 1 male, 28.vii.2000, Sukhna Lake vicinity, Chandigarh, Punjab, coll. Mahender. I1921, 1 male, 2.x.2000,
Pong Dam, Dist. Kangra (HP), coll. G.S. Arora. I1922, 2 males, 30.ix.1992,Renuka Sanctuary, Sirmour(HP), coll. J.M. Julka. I1923,
1 male, 5.x.1999, Pong Dam, District Kangra (HP),
coll. M.S. Verma. I1924, 1
male, 18.xii.1997, Pong Dam, Dist. Kangra (HP), coll.
I.J. Gupta. I1926, 1 male, 17.x.2005, Dehradun (UK),
coll. A.K. Sidhu. I1935, 2
females, 30.ix.1992, Renuka Sanctuary, Sirmour (HP), coll. J.M. Julka. I1936, 1 male, 17.vii.1992, ParshuramTank, Renuka, Sirmour (HP),
coll. M. Chandra. I1938, 1 male, 11.x.1999, Pong Dam,
District Kangra (HP), coll. R. Paliwal. I1939, 1 male, 12.x.1999, Pong Dam, Dehragopipur,
Dist. Kangra (HP), coll. M.S. Verma. I1941, 1 male, 1.x.1992, RenukaSanctuary, District Kangra (HP), coll. J.M.Julka. I1942, 1 male,
5.x.1999, Pong Dam (Dehragopipur), District Kangra (HP), coll. M.S. Verma. I1943, 2 males, 5.x.1999, Pong Dam, District Kangra (HP), coll. M.S. Verma. I1944, 1 male, 19.vii.1992, RenukaLake, District Kangra (HP), coll. JagdishChand. I1945, 1 male, 21.vii.1992, ParshuramTank, Renuka, District Kangra(HP), coll. Chandra. I1946, 1 male, 28.ix.1992, Renuka Sanctuary, District Kangra(HP), coll. J.M. Julka. I1947,
3 males, 15.iii.2008, Simbalwara, Sirmour(HP), coll. A.K. Sidhu. I1948,
1 male, 5.vi.2006, Simbalwara Wildlife Sanctuary, Sirmour (HP), coll. D.K. Sharma. I1949,
1 male, 15.x.2005, Mussorie, Dehradun (UK), coll.
A.K. Sidhu.
Range
country: Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar.
Remarks:Discal ocellus on the upper
side of the hind wing near the apex is variable in size and could be moderate
to very large having two irises, one large and other small. In the dry season forms, the wings are
more falcate and have reduced eyespots on the underside of the wings than the
wet season forms. The males exhibit roosting behaviour.
Junonia almana (Linnaeus, 1758)
(Fig.
10)
Papilio almana Linnaeus, 1758 Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1: 472, TL: Canton, China
Wing span: 60–65 mm
Diagnosis:
Adult (male): Upper side tawny, costal margin of forewing brown, two transverse
brown lines across cell base, three dark bands across costal margin of
forewing, two prominent eyespots in post discal area;
hind wing suffused with dull brown scales, tawny beyond middle, a large
prominent eyespot in discal area near costal, anotherdiscal eyespot small and obscure, two black submarginal lines across termenof forewing and hind wing; under side of wings seasonally variable with
eyespots well developed in wet season form and eyespots obscure in dry season
form.
Male
genitalia (Fig. 11): Tegumen broad, well developed,
moderately sclerotized, u-shaped from dorsal view; saccuswell developed, sclerotized, anterior projection slender, curved upward, latero-dorsal projections short, narrow; uncus distally broad, as long as tegumen,
sickle shaped, well sclerotized, strongly built, sparsely setose; gnathos roughly triangular, lightly sclerotized,
differentiated from tegumen by light sclerotization; valvae longer
than broad, sparsely setose, positioned diagonally, caudal part of pair of valvae hides tip of uncus, costa
well developed, sclerotized, ampulla differentiated into bifid claw like
processes, strongly curved inward, sacculus well
developed, not articulated with latero-dosrsalprojection of saccus, harpeslightly sclerotized and sparsely setose, spatulate,
overlaps ampulla, bears a small spine ventrally, serrated margins; aedeagus not long, well sclerotized and slender.
Female
genitalia (Fig. 12): Eight sternum reduced, surrounded and sustained by strong sclerotization of vaginal lamella (anteroand post vaginal lamella) which in this case forms tubular sterigma;
eighth tergum well developed; sterigmawell developed and strongly sclerotized; ostium bursae crescent shaped; ductus bursae long, funnel shaped and membranous, lead to long and
membranous corpus busae after a narrow membranous
constriction; corpus bursae long, balloon shaped,
membranous and narrow at base but gradually dilating towards apex; signa absent; anal papillae not large, moderately
sclerotized, densely setose with short setae, kept retracted under intersegment
membrane of 8th and 9th segment and emerge only during
egg-laying; anterior and posterior apophyses present,
thin but well sclerotized tips spatulate; posterior apophysis slightly longer than anterior apophysis.
Material
examined: I1891, 1 ex, 9.x.1999,
Pong Dam, District Kangra (HP), coll. R. Paliwal. I1892, 1ex, 27.ix.1999, Dholbaha(Indian Shivaliks), Punjab, coll. M. Mahajan.I1895, 2Male, 15.ix.1999, Dholbaha(Indian Shivalik), Punjab, coll. T.R.Sharma. I1901, 1 male, 6.xi.1970, Deli, District Shimla (HP), coll.
M. Chandra. I1902, 1 male, 4.vi.2000, Balsua, Shimla (HP), coll. H.S. Mehta & party. I1903, 2Male, 7.v.2000, Ropar (Indian Shivaliks), Punjab, coll. Mahender. I1904, 1ex, 2.x.2000, H.P. Pong Dam (District Kangra) (HP), coll. G.S. Arora. I1905, 2 males, 6.v.2000, Ropar,
Punjab, coll. Mahender. I1906,
1 male, 25.ix.1999, Kahanpur Khuian,
coll. M. Mahajan. I1907, 1
male, 24.v.2010, 1km short of Khajjiar, Chamba (HP), coll. A.K. Sidhu& party. I1908, 1 male, 27.ix.1999, Dholbaha, Punjab, coll. M. Mahajan. I1910, 1 male, 30.x.1999, Dehrian(Indian Shivaliks), Punjab, coll. M. Mahajan. I1911, 2Male, 30.x.1999, Hoshiarpur, Punjab, coll. M. Mahajan. I1913, 1 male, 4.vi.1996, Punjabi University, Patiala,
Punjab, coll. Mandeep. I1914,
1 female, 24.x.1996, Kalpa (HP), coll. S.Chander. I1915, 1 female,
15.iii.2008, Simbalwara, Sirmour(HP), coll. A.K. Sidhu & party. I118, 1 male, 8.xi.1973, Ghagas, Bilaspur (HP), coll. H.P. Agrawal. I257, 1 male, 6.xi.1970, Deli, Shimla (HP), coll. M. Chandra. I118, 1 female, 8.xi.1973, Ghagas, Bilaspur (HP), coll. H.P. Agrawal. I257, 1 female, 6.xi.1970, Deli, Shimla (HP), coll. M. Chandra. I118, 1 male, 8.xi.1973, Ghagas, Bilaspur (HP), coll. H.P. Agrawal. I257, 1 male, 6.xi.1970, Deli, Shimla (HP), coll. M. Chandra. I118, 1 male, 8.xi.1973, Ghagas, Bilaspur (HP), coll. H.P. Agrawal. I257, 1 male, 6.xi.1970, Deli, Shimla (HP), coll. M. Chandra.
Range
country: Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Hong Kong
Remarks:
The size of the dorsal apical eyespot on the discalarea of the hind wing may vary from moderate to very large. The wings in the dry season form are
more falcate than wet season form. The eyespots on the underside of the wing are prominent in wet season form
whereas these eyespots are obsolete in dry season form.
Junonia hierta (Fabricius,
1798)
(Fig.
13)
Papilio hierta Fabricius, 1798Ent. Syst. (Suppl.): 424, TL: “South India”
Wing span: 45–60 mm.
Diagnosis:
Adult (male): Upper side of forewing pale yellow, apical portion black with two
pre-apical white streaks, inner margin of wing black; hind wing basal half
black with a prominent large blue spot, remaining area pale yellow, termen black and sinous.
Female:
Forewing similar as male except a black band covers end cell and a prominent
eyespot in lower discal area; hind wing similar as
male but two small eyespots present in discal area
and two subterminal black lines across termen.
Male
genitalia (Fig. 14): Tegumen strongly built, broad,
well sclerotized, u- shaped from dorsal view, latero-ventral
projections broad; saccus well developed, anterior
projection slender, stout, short, not curved dorsally, tip blunt; latero-dorsal projections of saccuswell developed, not arched, not narrow, well sclerotized, merge with latero-ventral projection of tegumen;uncus well sclerotized, sleek, broad proximally,
descends into sharp pointed tip, slightly sinuous, sparsely setose; gnathos present, not conspicuous, roughly triangular,
lightly sclerotized; valvae well developed,
moderately sclerotized, sparsely setose, c-shaped, stout; costa well
sclerotized, round; ampulla spatulate, setosed, serrated margin due to presence of claw like
spines; saccullus well developed, round and well
sclerotized, harpe spinousapically, overlaps ampulla laterally; aedeagusslender gradually narrowing towards posterior to a pointed tip, well
sclerotized and curved slightly; ductus ejaculatoris enters ventrally.
Female
genitalia (Fig. 15): Eighth sternum not reduced and moderately sclerotized,
latter surrounded and sustained by strong sclerotizationof vaginal lamella, which in this case from a U-shaped groove like sterigma; fusion of antevaginallamella and postvaginal lamella forms a heavily
sclerotized sterigma; ostium bursae crescent shaped; ductus bursae membranous and very long; ductus seminalis enters at base of ductus bursae from dorso-lateral
side; corpus bursae slender, narrow at base but
gradually dilating towards apex, signa absent; anal
papillae moderately sclerotized and densely setose with short setae, kept
retracted under inter-segmental membrane of 8th and 9thsegment and emerge only during egg-laying, equipped with a pair of posterior apophyses; anterior apophysispresent, arise from anterior lateral margin of 8th tegument, shorter than
posterior apophysis, crimped, both pair of apophyses have spatulate tips.
Material
examined: I119, 2 males, 15.viii.1972, Manali, Kullu (HP), coll. K.K. Mahajan. I256, 1 male, 25.iv.1975, Bhakra-Nagal, Bilaspur (HP), coll. K.A. Alvi. I1962, 1 male, 15.viii.1972, Manali(HP), coll. K.K. Mahajan. I1963,
1 male, 30.vii.2000, Forest Rest House, Manali (HP),
coll. Mahender. I1965, 1
male, 6.x.1999, Pong Dam, Thangar, Kangra (HP), coll. R. Paliwal. I1967, 1 female, 25.v.1992, Nauni, Solan (HP), coll. M. Mahajan. I1969, 1 male, 30.vii.2000, Forest Rest House, Shimla (HP),
coll. Mahender & Arora. I1970, 1 male, 25.x.1975, Bhakra,
coll. K.A. Alvi. I1977, 1
male, 2.viii.2012, Sadhupul, Solan(HP), coll. Kamal Saini. I1978,
1 male, 29.vii.2000, Daryia, Solan(HP), coll. Mahender. I1979, 1 male,
11.v.2000, Khajjiar, Chamba(HP), coll. H.S. Mehta
& party. I1980, 1 male, 6.iv.2000, Forest Rest House,
Shimla (HP), coll. T.R. Sharma.
Range
country: India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Cambodia, China.
Remarks:
This species prefers hottest temperatures and is a quick flier. No prominent variation in genitalia is
observed.
Junonia atlites (Linnaeus, 1763)
(Fig.
16)
Papilio atlites Linnaeus, 1763; AmoenitatesAcad. 6: 407; TL: Asia
Wing span: 55–65 mm.
Diagnosis:
Adult (male): Upperside greyish in colour, a pair
black transverse lines across mid cell, another pair of black traverse lines
across end cell, a wide irregular transverse band across discalarea interrupted by a series of six oval ocellatedspots, of which first, second and third from costal margin are larger and
brighter; hind wing upperside grey with numerous tranverse black lines around basal area, transverse band as
in forewing except only five ocellated spots are
present. Underside numerous transverse line around basal area in fore wing and
hind wing, a prominent dark brown line across discalarea, only three eyespots on fore wing and two eyespots in hind wing are
distinct.
Adult
(female): As male but larger and darker.
Male
genitalia (Fig. 17): Tegumen well developed,
u-shaped, well sclerotized, dome shaped; uncus well
developed, broad at base, moderately sclerotized, curved obtusely form middle
towards ventral side, slender, sharp pointed tip sparsely setose; saccus present, well developed; anterior projection long
and curved upward; latero-dorsal arm sclerotized,
narrow and strongly arched, extends upwards till they merge with lateroventral projections of tegumen;gnathos present, conspicuous, well sclerotized, bean
shaped, connected to tegumen by lightly sclerotized
membrane; valvae longer than broad, oriented
diagonally, well sclerotized and setose; costa well developed; ampulla simple,
leaf like with serrated margins; sacculus well
sclerotized; harpe sclerotized and sparsely setosed, flap like with serrated margins, partially
overlaps ampulla; aedeagus slender, well sclerotized,
not long and tip pointed.
Female
genitalia (Fig. 18): Eighth sternite highly reduced; sterigma composed from coupling of antevaginallamella and postvaginal lamella forming a sclerotized
oval arc housing ostium bursae;sterigma forms a sclerotized lobe running cephalad leading to ductus bursae; eighth tergum well
developed; ductus bursaemembranous, long and funnel like; ductus seminalis entering dorsally from posterior of ductus bursae, after a narrow
constriction leads to corpus bursae; latter long
membranous and gradually expanding anteriorly; anal papillae not large, more or
less rectangular, densely setose; antrero-lateral
margin of anal papillae bears posterior apophysis;
anterior apophysis present on anterolateral margin of
8th tergum; the former shorter than
posterior apophysis and sinous,
both pair of apophyses have clubbed and spatulate tips.
Material
examined: I2006, 3 males, 3.x.2000, Pong Dam (District Kangra)
(HP), coll. G.S. Arora. I2007, 1
female, 3.vi.2000, Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh, Punjab,
coll. T.R. Sharma. I2008, 2 males, 9.x.1999, Pong Dam Sukanda, Kangra (HP), coll. R. Paliwal. I2011, 1 male, 26.x.1996,Dhanas (HP), coll. M.Mahajan.
Range
country: India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar
Discussion:
This species is not so common in the western part of the Himalaya.
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