Skip to main content
Close

Chestnut-streaked Sailor (life cycle)

Neptis jumbah

Photo by SukanyaDatta
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

22.5726, 88.3639

Field Notes

Description:

The caterpillar mimics a dried leaf. It even sleeps with its head down hanging like a loose midrib of a dry leaf...since it sleeps on the dry and torn leaf it blends in really well.
The pupa is translucent to begin with but the colour darkens. There was a silver stud-like spot on the pupal case...the first day I saw it I thought it was a hole and the caterpillar was dead and gone...then I realized it was a silvery something on the case itself and not light shining through. On the day before the butterfly emerged I saw a dark knob-like thing at the far end of the pupa...maybe part of the butterfly visible through the case.
The fourth photo with the dark bit at one end is actually at an odd angle because I am holding the twig...my neighbour's Boxer dog lunged at it (he likes to tear leaves) and I threw myself between the pup(a) and the dog. The pupal case hangs downwards vertically; not horizontally as the photo may lead you to believe.
On the 8th of February my patience was rewarded when I saw this butterfly sitting quietly, resting near its pupal case. It rested for about two hours, crawled up and then flew away. 15 days to emerge from the pupa. O happy day!

Habitat:

On Bauhinia plant in my garden.

Notes:

Very similar to Neptis columella.
Hope I have ID-ed it correctly.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (3)

Thanks,Daniele. Second time I have been lucky enough. First was a moth. Today, this one. Both times in my tiny garden.
The adult butterfly emerged today. I have posted the entire life cycle of this caterpillar.

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Image
Butterflies icon

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon