Chocolate Pansy

The fourth butterfly from our garden is the Chocolate Pansy (Junonia iphita ). This is a common Indian butterfly, that is fond of damp patches. 

One of the amazing thing about butterflies that I learnt from the book "Butterflies on the roof of the world" is that the butterflies change their colour and markings with season. The upper photograph was clicked before the rains set in and there is a clear difference in the colours when you compare it with the lower photographs; which were clicked during the rains. The colour tends to blend in with the foliage on the ground.

One thing I noticed about this butterfly is that it enjoys basking in the sun. When not feeding, I notice it perched on leaves, basking in the sun. When it settles down to bask, the wings always face the sun, like a solar panel.