217. Junonia iphita iphita (The Chocolate Pansy)

Number: 217

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Nymphaliinae

Species: Junonia iphita iphita (Cramer, 1779)

Common name(s): The Chocolate Pansy

Photography location: Ba Vi N.P. foothills (Hanoi)

The genus Junonia comprises about 33 species, of which 11 occur in the Oriental region. Of these, 6 are found in Vietnam - iphita, atlites, orithya, hierta, almana and lemonias.

J. iphita is my 5th Junonia seen in the country - the last one in the list being hierta.

158. Junonia orithya ocyale (The Blue Pansy)

Number: 158

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Nymphaliinae

Species: Junonia orithya (Hubner, [1822])

Common name(s): The Blue Pansy

Photography location: Tam Dao foothills (Vinh Phuc Prov.)

The genus Junonia comprises about 33 species, of which 11 occur in the Oriental region. Of these, 6 are found in Vietnam - iphita, atlites, orithya, hierta, almana and lemonias.

Junonia orithya is typical of the genus, being brightly marked with blue and orange, and possessing prominent ocelli. It is a fairly common species, although never as abundant as iphita, almana or atlites. The butterfly is found in sub-Saharan Africa, Arabia, and over most of the Oriental and Australian regions. Both sexes are similar in colour and pattern, but the male has more extensive areas of blue, and smaller ocelli on the hindwings.
This species, like most others in the genus, is found mainly in open scrub and grassland habitats. I haven't managed to photograph one yet.

 Male Junonia orithya, upperside view

Male Junonia orithya, underside view

118. Junonia lemonias lemonias (The Lemon Pansy)

Number: 118

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Nymphaliinae

Species: Junonia lemonias lemonias (Linnaeus, 1758)

Common name(s): The Lemon Pansy

Photography location: Van Long N.R. (Ninh Binh Prov.)

The genus Junonia comprises about 33 species, of which 11 occur in the Oriental region. Of these, 6 are found in Vietnam - iphita, atlites, orithya, hierta, almana and lemonias.

I have seen Junonia lemonias only once, in scrubby vegetation along the dyke at Van Long Nature Reserve. I am a bit surprised because, as far as I know, this species can occupy a wide range of habitats and therefore should be more common.

Junonia lemonias, Van Long N.R.

68. Junonia atlites (The Gray Pansy)

Number: 68

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Nymphaliinae

Species: Junonia atlites atlites (Linnaeus, 1763)

Common name(s): The Gray Pansy

Photography location: Hanoi City

The genus Junonia comprises about 33 species, of which 11 occur in the Oriental region. Of these, 6 are found in Vietnam - iphita, atlites, orithya, hierta, almana and lemonias. 

Junonia atlites is found from India to Sulawesi. This species inhabits disturbed areas including forest clearings, riverbanks, roadsides and the margins of agricultural land. 

Both sexes are low flying and spend long periods basking on herbage or on the ground

67. Junonia almana almana (The Peacock Pansy)

Number: 67

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Nymphaliinae

Species: Junonia almana almana (Linnaeus, 1758)

Common name(s): The Peacock Pansy

Photography location: Hanoi City

The genus Junonia comprises about 33 species, of which 11 occur in the Oriental region. Of these, 6 are found in Vietnam - iphita, atlites, orithya, hierta, almana and lemonias. 

Junonia almana is a common species in gardens and open country throughout its range from Sri Lanka to Sulawesi. It exists in two distinct adult forms, which differ chiefly in the patterns on the underside of the wings; the dry season form has few markings, while the wet-season form has additional eyespots and lines.

A Peacock Pansy displaying its nice upperside

Wet season form with large eyespots

Individual photographed in October - dry season form with few markings on the underside of the wings