Thursday 4 February 2016

159. Discophora sondaica (The Common Duffer)

Number: 159
Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Amathusiinae
Species: Discophora sondaica Boisduval, 1836
Common name(s): The Common Duffer
Photography locations: Tam Dao foothills (Vinh Phuc Prov.), Xuan Son N.P. (Phu Tho Prov.)

According to Monastyrskii & Devyatkin (2016), the subfamily Amathusiinae is represented in Vietnam by 10 genera: Faunis (5 species), Aemona (7 species), Stichophtalma (8 species), Amathusia (1 species), Amathuxidia (1 species), Zeuxidia (2 species), Thaumantis (1 species), Thauria (1 species), Discophora (4 species), Enispe (3 species).

Discophora species currently known in Vietnam: sondaica, deo, timora and aestheta - the last one described in 2003 from S.Vietnam, Dong Nai Prov., Cat Tien National Park.

Discophora sondaica puddling on a damp stream bed (Xuan Son N.P., August 2016)

Another specimen, puddling in a dry stream bed (Tam Dao foothills, November 2016)

A third one, from Tam Dao also (July 2016), feasting on rotten fruit

 Female Discophora sondaica, upperside (voucher specimen from Tam Dao)

Female has an upperside of purplish brown. Fore wing with three transverse series of white spots, the inner or discal series continued to the costa by two large elongate obliquely-placed white spots. Hind wing also with three transverse rows of somewhat obscure spots, but ochraceous in colour.
Similar colour pattern in male, but all series of spots are less prominent.

 Female Discophora sondaica, underside

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