Hypolimnas misippus misippus

A large butterfly with a wingspan of 56-90 mm, females are much larger and resemble the plain tiger through mimicry while males are brownish-black and white. Also called the “diadem,” the false plain inhabits drier parts of the country, such as coasts, farmland, waste ground, scrub, grassland, and semi-desert. Host plants include purslane (Portulaca oleracea), amaranths (Amaranthus spp.), morning-glories (Ipomoea spp.), hibiscus (Hibiscus spp.), figs (Ficus spp.), stonecrops (Sedum spp.), and greater plantain (Plantago major). This migratory species flies February through October, the flight is fast and strong.

Photographs

 male

Attribution: Uajith (Wikipedia Creative Commons)

Attribution: Vengolis (Wikipedia Creative Commons)

Attribution: Sathya K Selvam (Wikipedia Creative Commons)

Attribution: Peellden (Wikipedia Creative Commons)

 female

Attribution: Ajith U (Wikipedia Creative Commons)

Attribution: Dr. Raju Kasambe (Wikipedia Creative Commons)

Attribution: Dr. Raju Kasambe (Wikipedia Creative Commons)

Attribution: Dr. Raju Kasambe (Wikipedia Creative Commons)