Page 244 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Nymphalidae
DISTRIBUTION Australia, mainland New Guinea, New Zealand, and islands of

the southwest Paci c
HABITAT From woodlands to grasslands and urban gardens
HOST PLANTS Herbaceous plants from several families, including Acanthaceae,
Asteraceae, Convolvulaceae, Gentianaceae, Goodeniaceae,
and Plantaginaceae
NOTE Black caterpillar with branched spines that has numerous
food plants
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but common and widespread in many habitats

ADULT WINGSPAN
1 ⁄ –1 ⁄ in (40–43 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1 ⁄ –1 ⁄ in (37–40 mm)
JUNONIA VILLIDA
MEADOW ARGUS
242
(FABRICIUS, 1787)

The Meadow Argus caterpillar is found singly and feeds
during the day and at night. When not feeding, it rests under
litter at the base of the plant. In the hot tropical conditions of
the wet season, the caterpillar completes growth in two weeks,
but breeding during the winter dry season appears to be limited.
Several generations are completed annually in tropical areas, but
perhaps only two in temperate regions. In cooler areas, when
adults are not present, it is uncertain how overwintering occurs.

The caterpillars often leave their food plant to pupate; attached
by the cremaster to a silken pad, they hang head down on a rock
or fence. Sporadic migration of the adult butter ies occurs but

not in all locations or in all years. Caterpillars developing in the
cool, short days of winter produce small adults preadapted to
spring migration. The genus contains 30 to 35 species, commonly
called “buckeyes,” which occur throughout the world.

The Meadow Argus caterpillar has a black body
with blue-based, black, short-branched dorsal
spines and yellow, short-branched lateral and
sublateral spines. Numerous ne, white hairs
emerge from tiny, white spots within black
dorsolateral lines. The head is black with short Actual size
hairs, and the prothorax is orange.