The Forested Path (and Beyond): BUTTERFLIES of RAUB: The Pallid Faun, Melanocyma faunula faunula (Westwood)

Monday, June 10, 2013

The Pallid Faun, Melanocyma faunula faunula (Westwood)

This butterfly looks like a pale version of the Common Faun with distinctive wavy black markings on its pale greyish undersides. There is a pale yellow patch at the end of its hindwing that is visible in flight. It inhabits primary forests of higher elevations and usually keeps to the mid storey. It can be baited with rotting fruits but it will seldom descend from its lofty perch. It is more in flight than the Common Faun and is not uncommon in hill stations. Specimens from lowland forest tend to be smaller in wingspan than their cousins from the hills.

Habitat indicator

RSP	WV	PG	VF	FTR	SC	LWDF	LWPF	LMEF	UMN	MN
							x	x	x	x

Frequency observation chart: (S marks the usual occurences, H marks an unusually high occurence, F for first record)

2013
Mac	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct
		S1S3	S3S5	S1S3	S3

2013		2014
Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mac	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct
			S3	S3	S1S3	S3	S1				S3

2014

2015

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mac

Apr

May

June

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

2016
Jan	Feb	Mac	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

2017
Jan	Feb	Mac	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

2018
Jan	Feb	Mac	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
									S5	S5	S5

2019
Jan	Feb	Mac	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
S1

2020
Jan	Feb	Mac	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

This one was resting on a patch of lichen at the mid-trunk of a tree 01 May 2013 @ 16:38.

These two were flying over a stream: 29 May 2013 @ 14:39.

10 June 2013 @ 14:24. This one descended to the tarmac on the abandonned stretch of Jeriau road because of the landslide. It was feeding on rotting figs on the tarmac.