Horsfield's Baron (♂)

Description:

This is a male of Horsfield's Baron that i found on the tree in recreation park. The wingspan of this butterfly is about 65 mm. T. iapis puseda exhibits sexual dimorphism.

Above, the male is dark velvety black with its hindwing hosting a broad greenish-blue distal border which is continued narrowly along the termen of the forewing. The larger female is pale ochreous brown, and has a post-discal series of helmet-shaped white spots and a less distinct marginal series of spotts on both fore- and hindwings.

Underneath, the male is pale ochreous brown with a series of dark striae in the forewing cell, but without any white spots. The female has additional marginal and post-discal series of whitish spots on both fore- and hindwings.

Habitat:

- Spotted on the tree in recreation park. Usually it can be found in the nature reserves, but at times adults can be seen flying in public parks and wastelands where the host plants (Melastoma malabathricum) are growing in abundance.

Notes:

- This butterfly is from the Nymphalidae family. Thanks to Bayucca and Viv Braznell for the ID.
* Kingdom: Animalia
* Phylum: Arthropoda
* Class: Insecta
* Order: Lepidoptera
* Family: Nymphalidae
* Genus: Tanaecia
* Species: T. iapis
* Subspecies: puseda