Junonia oenone

Junonia oenone
Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
Amanzimtoti, South Africa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Nymphalidae
Genus:	Junonia
Species:	J. oenone
Binomial name
Junonia oenone (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
Papilio oenone Linnaeus, 1758 Papilio clelia Cramer, [1775] Vanessa epiclelia Boisduval, 1833 Precis clelia ab. subepiclelia Strand, 1911 Precis clelia ab. triocellata Strand, 1911 Precis clelia ab. vosseleriana Strand, 1911 Precis clelia ab. viridata Strand, 1911 Precis clelia ab. subvirilis Strand, 1912 Precis clelia ab. bipupillata Strand, 1912 Precis clelia ab. posterior Strand, 1912 Precis clelia ab. subtriocellata Strand, 1912 Precis clelia ab. subbipupillata Strand, 1912 Precis clelia ab. virilis Strand, 1912 Precis clelia ab. caeruleffulgiens Heslop, 1962

Junonia oenone is Nymphalid butterfly native to Africa. It is known as the blue pansy in southern Africa; however, the name blue pansy is used in India to describe Junonia orithya, and the name dark blue pansy may be used to distinguish Junonia oenone.

Subspecies

• Junonia oenone oenone from continental Africa.
• Junonia oenone epiclelia Boisduval, 1833 from Madagascar, Aldabra, Astove, Assumption and Cosmoledo Island.

Description

The wingspan is 40–52 mm. The uppersurface of the forewings is black with white markings towards the apex. The upper surface of the hindwings is black with white markings on the outer edge, and a characteristic large metallic-blue spot. This blue spot is smaller and more a dull purple colour in females. The underside of the forewings is brown with white markings corresponding to those on the upper surface. The undersurface of the hindwings is almost uniform brown.

Larval foodplants

The larvae feed on Adhatoda densiflora, Mackaya bella, Justicia natalensis, and Asystasia (Asystasia gangetica), Isoglossa, Pualowilhelmia, and Ruella species.

References

• Junonia oenone, UK Butterflies