Orange Oakleaf
Common NameOrange Oakleaf
Scientific NameKallima inachus
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyNymphalinae
Wingspan (mm)95
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, tan, grey
HabitatTropical and subtropical forests, forest edges, woodlands
Geographic RangeSouth Asia, Southeast Asia (e.g., India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Japan)
Host PlantsStrobilanthes, Pseuderanthemum, Ruellia, Girardinia
Flight PeriodMultiple broods, year-round in tropical regions, spring to autumn elsewhere
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plants. Larvae are spiny, often dark with red or yellow markings. Pupae are camouflaged, resembling a dried leaf or twig.
Identification TipsThe unparalleled dead-leaf mimicry of the underside, including the precise shape, venation, and the two small, ringed ocelli on the hindwing, are the key features for identification.
Description
The underside of this butterfly remarkably mimics a dry, dead leaf, complete with a central 'midrib' line, venation, and a pointed apex and tail-like projection.
