Skip to main content

Chocolate Pansy

Junonia iphita

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

12.2377, 79.0781

Field Notes

Habitat:

spotted in my garden in Tamil Nadu, India

Notes:

A butterfly of the same species with wings open, can be seen at

http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/8644117

Reference Links:

Junonia iphita

Species ID Suggestions

leafwing butterfly

Doleschallia sp.

Reference Link
MartinL
1

Comments (11)
KarenL
Hi Pamsai! As the photo you took today is almost certainly a different butterfly (same species but different individual!) you can create a separate spotting if you wish but if you do I would add a link to this spotting in the notes (& vice versa) so that other users can see both views of the beautiful butterfly. Lovely spotting by the way! You have a very nice collection!
pamsai
Hi Martini, Numerous trip to the garden with my camera, paid off! I got a shot of this butterfly with open wings. It seems to be the Chocolate pansy. Shall I post it to this spotting, or enter a new spotting? Couldn't get a shot of it with the wings closed as the camera battery ran out just then! But it looked the same. Must be better prepared!
pamsai
mmm, could be, but there was almost no black on the upper wing that I could see, and very light markings. It was quite light brown. One of these days I'll catch the wings open when I have my camera, then I'll post it. thanks for hanging in there with this one...
MartinL
Try the chocolate pansy for a dark brown wing. Junonia iphita http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chocolate_Pansy_Butterfly.jpg I believe that the flicker link that I gave you yesterday is J iphita and not J almana (J almana is very light underwing and this image is mis-named).
pamsai
Martini, the same one was there this morning, so I uploaded a couple more photos. Saw it with the wings open while flying, and it was nearly all the same colour brown. No colour... It shut it's wings as soon as it landed.
pamsai
wow, that one looks pretty good. Definitely looks the same. I'll keep checking on and off and see if I can catch one with it's wings open. Thanks for the help...
MartinL
Hey pamsai check this one for a closer match... http://www.flickr.com/photos/toddalperovitz/3018628231/
pamsai
Martini, went out to check if it is still there, but no luck. Didn't see the inside wing. I got distracted by something else, and when I looked back it was gone. So.o many butterflies in the garden at the moment, all different sorts. Sometimes I spend 15/20 mins stalking one without it settling, and the garden is big, so I do a lot of stalking! Really hard ti get good close up pictures with my little point and shoot!
MartinL
This has a couple of differences from the usual but very variable D. bisaltide so I am not confident to suggest this species. The wing tip profile is more angular and the usual eyespots on the hind underwing is very reduced in your spotting.
Mark Ridgway
Do you know what colours it has with wings open?

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Butterflies & Moths of the World
Mission
Tamil Nadu Biodiversity
Mission
Butterflies of Tamil Nadu
Photographed
PublishedJanuary 21, 2012

Community Sponsor

Butterfly
Become a Community Sponsor and Help Grow our Global Movement!

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Butterflies icon
Become a Community Sponsor

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

Nature & Conservation Organizations

Brands & Mission-Focused Companies