Meadow argus

{{Speciesbox

| name = Meadow argus

| image = Junonia villida 2.jpg

| image_caption = Upperside of the wings

| image2 = Junonia villida 3.jpg

| image2_caption = Underside of the wings

| taxon = Junonia villida

| authority = (Fabricius, 1787)

}}

The meadow argus (Junonia villida) is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae, commonly found in Australia and Nelsons Island. It is also known as Albin's Hampstead eye in the United Kingdom, where it has occurred only as an accidental import.

Description

The meadow argus has two brownish wings, each covered with two distinctive black and blue eyespots as well as white and orange marks that appear on the edge of the wings.{{cite web |url= http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/nymp/villida.html |title= Junonia villida (Fabricius, 1787) |last1=Herbison-Evans |first1= Don |last2=Crossley |first2=Stella |work= Butterflies of Australia |accessdate=22 October 2010}} The eyespots are a defense mechanism that are not only used to frighten predators away, but also to confuse the predators into thinking that the eyespots are the target, allowing the butterfly to escape with only a small part of the wing being lost.{{cite web |url= http://users.sa.chariot.net.au/~erg/villida_ds.htm |title= Junonia villida calybe (Godart) (Meadow Argus) |last=Grund |first=R. |date= 13 November 1999 |work= South Australian Butterflies |accessdate=22 October 2010}} The underside of the wings are mainly unmarked, except the lower part of the forewing has similar markings as the upperside. The wingspan measures 4 centimetres (1.6 in) in males and 4.3 centimetres (1.7) in females.{{cite web |url= http://www.ozanimals.com/Insect/Meadow-Argus/Junonia/villida.html |title= Meadow Argus (Junonia villida) |work= OzAnimals.com: Australian Wildlife |accessdate=22 October 2010}}

As the butterfly rests, it can sit in four different positions depending on the current situation. These positions include:

If the sun is shining, the butterfly will open and relax its wings
If danger approaches while in the sunlight the butterfly will open its wings further revealing eyespots on its hindwings
If the sun is not shining the butterfly will close its wings
If danger approaches while there is no sunlight the butterfly will raise its frontwings revealing hidden eyespots

Distribution and habitat

The meadow argus can be found mainly on the Australian mainland, as well as in Tasmania, Kangaroo Island, Lord Howe Island, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Tuvalu, Samoa and Cook Islands. While sightings of this butterfly are now rare in New Zealand, in late 1886 thousands of the butterflies drifted to the country, crossing the Tasman Sea. {{Cite book |last=Crowe |first=Andrew |title=Which New Zealand insect? with over 650 life-size photos of New Zealand insects |date=2002 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-14-100636-9 |location=Auckland, N.Z}} They reside in urban areas, forests, woodlands, grasslands, and roadsides, {{cite web |url= http://australianmuseum.net.au/Meadow-Argus-Butterfly |title= Meadow Argus Butterfly |work= Australian Museum |accessdate=22 October 2010}} though they are uncommon during the winter months. Every year during October or November, the butterflies migrate from southern Australia to warmer areas in the north.

File:Meadow argus (Junonia villida) Upolu.jpg]]

Early stages

=Eggs=

Meadow argus eggs are laid on a leaf of the food plant, shaped with sturdy vertical and horizontal ribs. The eggs usually hatch within 7 to 10 days.

=Larvae=

Meadow argus larvae are black with short thin spines. Meadow argus caterpillars feed on various garden plants, both native and introduced. This includes Plantago, Scrophulariaceae, Convolvulaceae, Compositae, Verbenaceae, Porulacaceae, and Gentianaceae. This stage lasts from 4 to 5 weeks.