Spotted Joker
Common NameSpotted Joker
Scientific NameByblia ilithyia
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyBiblidinae
Wingspan (mm)45
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsorange, black
HabitatOpen woodlands, savannas, grasslands, forest edges
Geographic RangeAfrica, Arabian Peninsula, India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia
Host PlantsTragia
Flight PeriodYear-round in tropical regions, seasonal elsewhere
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plants. Larvae are spiny and feed on the leaves of *Tragia* species. Pupation occurs as a chrysalis, leading to the adult butterfly.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive orange and black pattern, particularly the row of orange spots enclosed within a black band on the hindwings, which gives it its 'spotted' appearance.
Description
This butterfly features vibrant orange wings heavily marked with broad, irregular black patterns, including a prominent black border and a row of orange spots within a black band on the hindwings.
