PRECIS (JUNONIA) HIERTA

Precis hierta, or Junonia hierta (Precis (Junonia) Hierta)

Phylum — arthropoda
Class — insecta
Order — lepidoptera
Family — nymphalidae

Genus – junonia

Appearance

The younger caterpillars are light brown with fine brown hairs. The older caterpillars are brown-gray with a broad lighter horizontal stripe running along the dorsal part. There is a yellow ring in the neck area. The body is covered with branched thorns.

The wingspan of this butterfly is 40-52 mm. The male upper side is bright yellow. The anterior half and the terminal margin of the hindwing is black, and the dorsum is broadly shaded with brown while the anterior black area has a large brilliant blue spot. The cilia of both forewings and hindwings are white alternated with brown. The underside of the forewing is pale yellow. The hindwing is greyish yellow. The antennae is pale, and the head, thorax and abdomen are dark brownish black; beneath that is a dull ochraceous white.

The female is similar, although the colors are duller. A blue-centered well-marked ocelli is in interspaces 2 and 5 on the disc of the forewing, and smaller ocelli in interspaces 2 and 5 on the disc of the hindwing.  The underside is also as the male, but generally has heavier and more clearly defined markings.

Habitat

This species can be found in Africa and Southeast Asia.

Behavior

It demonstrates daily activity. Males are often found on wet ground, where they absorb moisture with minerals.

Diet

The caterpillars feed on the leaves of plants in the family Acanthaceae.

Butterflies feed on nectar.

Reproduction

For their reproduction you need a terrarium with a size of 50 x 50 x 70 cm. Females lay eggs one by one on the young shoots of the forage plant. The eggs are pale green, with vertical ribs. The incubation period is 3-6 days. It is better to keep the caterpillars in terrariums for  6-8 insects, placing a pot with a forage plant in it. The temperature is 22-25 ^oC. The humidity is 70-80%. The caterpillar develops 19-43 days. The pupa is dull brown with large orange-brown spots. The pupa stage lasts 7-18 days.

In captivity

The mesh terrarium with a size of 50 × 50 × 70 mm is suitable for keeping butterflies. Room temperature is necessary. Daylight time is 12 hours. You can feed butterflies with honey syrup diluted with boiled water in a ratio of 1:10.