Precis (butterfly)

Precis is a genus of nymphalid butterflies described by Jacob Hübner in 1819.[1] They are commonly known as commodores and are found in Africa. Two species are endemic to Madagascar.

Precis
Wet-season form of the fashion commodore basking in a garden
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Nymphalidae
Subfamily:
Nymphalinae
Tribe:
Junoniini
Genus:
Precis

Hübner, [1819]
Species

See text

Synonyms
  • Coryphaeola (Butler, 1878)
  • Kallimula (Holland, 1920)
Seasonal forms in Precis
Wet-season, dry-season and transitional forms of P. octavia

Description

Precis are medium-to-large butterflies (wingspan up to 5 cm). The upperside ground colour is black with white, pink, green, or blue spots and bands, the upperside may also have a brownish ground colour. The wings often have eyespots. The outer wing margins are wavy and toothed or scalloped. Several species occur in multiple colour forms (morphs). They tend to have distinct rainy-season and dry-season forms, that of the gaudy commodore being the most extreme. Transitional forms are also known.

Biology

Precis are savannah species. They are good fliers. The larvae feed on Lamiaceae.

Taxonomy

The genus Precis is closely allied to Junonia. The two genera differ in the structure of their genitalia and larval food plant choice. The type species of the genus is Precis octavia.

Species

Listed alphabetically:[2]

Incertae sedis

  • Precis permagna Martin, 1920

References
  1. Hübner, Verzeichniss bekannter Schmettlinge, 17-176, 1819.
  2. "Precis Hübner, [1819]" at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
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