Graphium doson

Common Jay

Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Papilionidae
Genus:	Graphium
Species:	G. doson
Binomial name
*Graphium doson* C&R Felder, 1864

The Common Jay (Graphium doson) is a black, tropical papilionid butterfly with pale blue semi-transparent central wing bands that are formed by large spots. There is a marginal series of smaller spots. The underside of wings is brown with markings similar to upperside but whitish in color. The sexes look alike.

Range

It is widespread and common throughout Southeast Asia, including lower elevations in Sri Lanka and Southern India, Eastern Ghats, Satpuras, Bengal Assam and Bangladesh, and the Himalayan foothills. The species is however scarce in southern Honshū, Japan.

Habitat

Common in thick, riparian, moist, deciduous, semi-evergreen and evergreen forests.

Behaviour

The Common Jay is active throughout the day and constantly on the move; it rarely settles down. Its flight is swift and straight.When feeding from flowers, it never settles down, and keeps its wings vibrating. The males are seen mud-puddling, often in tight groups.

Subspecies

G. d. doson
G. d. robinson

Life cycle

Eggs

The spherical and pale yellow eggs are laid singly on the underside of leaves.

Larva

The caterpillar is somewhat spindle-shaped. The grown caterpillars have two forms, dark brown or grassy green. There are spines on the 4th segment which are short, conicle and blue-centered surrounded by lemmon yellow and then black rings. The osmeterium is pale bluish green. It is extruded only reluctantly.

Pupa

The pupa is pale green with a dark purplish median line from the head to the thoracic horn and a yellow line from the tip of the horn to the cremaster.

Images of life cycle

Life Cycle of Common Jay (Graphium doson)
Egg
Caterpillar
Pupa
Butterfly

Foodplants

The caterpillars feed on plants of the families Annonaceae, Lauraceae, Magnoliaceae such as Annona lawii, Cinnamomum macrocarpum, Magnolia grandiflora, Michelia champaca, Milliusa tomentosum and Polyalthia longifolia.

References

Evans, W.H. (1932) The Identification of Indian Butterflies. (2nd Ed), Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, India
Kunte,Krushnamegh (2005) Butterflies of Peninsular India. Universities Press.
Wynter-Blyth, M.A. (1957) Butterflies of the Indian Region, Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, India.

Gallery

on Singapur Cherry Muntingia calabura in Hyderabad, India.
Mud-puddling in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
adult
Photo of dead Common Jay with upper forewing visible
Underside of wing from Seitz Macrolepidoptera
A Bunch of Common Jay (Graphium doson) at Achencovil river