About Junonia lemonias (Linnaeus, 1758)
The upperside of the wings of Junonia lemonias is brown, marked with numerous eyespots, plus black and lemon-yellow spots and lines. The underside of the wings is dull brown, with a number of wavy lines and spots in varying shades of brown and black. An additional eyespot is present on the lower side of the forewing. Wet-season and dry-season forms of this butterfly differ substantially in both coloration and wing shape. For the wet-season form, markings are distinct and vivid, and the wing shape is slightly more rounded. For the dry-season form, markings are obscure and pale, especially on the wing underside, and the wing margin is more angular and jagged. This angular, jagged margin helps the dry-season form camouflage among dried leaf litter. The lemon pansy is a very active butterfly. It can often be seen basking while holding its wings open toward the sun. It perches very low to the ground and can be approached easily. When it feeds, it holds its wings half open. It is a fairly strong flier that flies close to the ground with rapid wingbeats, and often returns to settle in the same spots it has used before. Caterpillars of Junonia lemonias feed on plants from six families: Acanthaceae, Amaranthaceae, Malvaceae, Rubiaceae, Tiliaceae, and Verbenaceae. Recorded host plant species are Alternanthera sessilis, Barleria cristata, Barleria prionitis, Blechum pyramidatum, Cannabis sativa, Corchorus capsularis, Dyschoriste repens, Eranthemum pulchellum, Hemigraphis schomburgkii, Hygrophila auriculata, Hygrophila costata, Hygrophila lancea, Lepidagathis formosensis, Lepidagathis incurva, Nelsonia canescens, Ophiorrhiza japonica, Phyla nodiflora, Ruellia tuberosa, Sida rhombifolia, and Strobilanthes formosanus.
