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Parasa
darma Moore
Parasa darma Moore, in Horsfield & Moore, 1859: 414.
Parasa darma Moore; Hering, 1931: 696; Barlow, 1982: 40; Holloway,
1982a: 185.
Diagnosis. The crescent shaped green zone of the forewing, edged finely with white
posteriorly, distinguishes this species.
Taxonomic notes. There appear to be two biological races in Borneo, one lowland and one
montane, as described by Holloway (1982a). The former is larger and has a
slightly broader and more uniform border to the hindwing. There are also minor
genitalic differences.
Geographical range. Burma, Sundaland, Palawan.
Habitat preference. The lowland race has been taken in a range of forest
types: kerangas, hill dipterocarp, and on limestone. The montane race was taken
(5 individuals) in upper montane forest at 1800m.
Biology. There is an illustration of a larva attributed to darma in the
collection of the Malaysian Department of Agriculture. It is green, with
anterior and posterior dorsolaterals emphasised as in other Parasa. The
dorsal surface between the three anterior dorsolaterals is pale blue and there
is a much narrower transverse band of the same colour between the foremost of
the posterior dorsolaterals. These two pale blue areas are linked by
dorsolateral bands of the same colour. The flanges below the laterals are also
delineated with pale blue. The species has been reared from Cocos in
Thailand.
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(lowland)