EASY GARDEN BUTTERFLIES
Common DiademHypolimnas misippus
The Common Diadem is one of the Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies), subfamily Nymphalinae (Admirals, Pansies etc.).
The male Common Diadem is an amazing sight. His upper side is jet black with a large white blotch in the middle of each wing. Each blotch is ringed with a shifting iridescent blue lustre which is only visible from certain angles. His underside is attractive as well.
This butterfly is an example of what we call sexual dimorphism, in which females and males look totally different. The female Common Diadem looks like an African Plain Tiger, because she mimics that butterfly to gain protection against predators who have learned to avoid that bad-tasting butterfly.
The Common Diadem’s wingspan is like that of an African Plain Tiger – 60-80 mm.
A Common Diadem has a more nervous and active flight than an African Plain Tiger, and when it lands it will constantly move its wings up and down. We call this ‘pumping’.
Distribution
The Common Diadem is found across the eastern side of South Africa, avoiding the arid Nama Karoo and Succulent Karoo areas. It’s found in the fynbos areas of the Western Cape and has spread across the world, being found across Asia and the Americas where it’s known as the Danaid Eggfly.
It’s widespread in Africa and it’s found on the southern end of the Arabian peninsula as well as Madagascar and the Indian Ocean islands.
Egg
Diadem eggs
Hypolimnas anthedon
Diadems are closely related to Pansies and Commodores and have similar eggs. These are eggs of the similar Variable Diadem – green, barrel-shaped eggs tapered towards the top with 12-14 white vertical ribs that don’t reach the apex, with faint cross-ribbing. They are laid on young shoots of the host plant, singly or in small groups. They are about 0.7mm diameter by 0.6mm high. The egg stage lasts five to ten days, taking longer in cool conditions.
Caterpillar
Common Diadem larva
Hypolimnas misippus
Fully-grown Common Diadem caterpillars are greyish black in colour with salmon-pink bands along the side. The prolegs and head are salmon-pink to orange. The head has two short spiny horns. The body has seven rows of short, branched, black spines, one per segment. Although spiny they don’t sting or make you itch. They grow from 2mm to 48-50mm long over a month. There are normally four moults but when growth is slow there can be five.
Pupa/Chrysalis
Common Diadem pupa
Hypolimnas misippus
The Common Diadem pupa is variable in colour, from sandy to black through various shades of brown. It closely resembles that of a Pansy or Commodore, having the rounded shape with spiny back typical of Nymphalinae pupae. It’s usually formed concealed on the host plant or in leaf debris where it is well camouflaged. Like all Nymphalidae pupae it is attached to its substrate by its tail. The pupa is 22-25mm long and the adult usually emerges after 4-6 weeks.
Host plants
Like many widespread butterflies, Common Diadem has a wide host plant range. In South Africa its main host plant is African Coromandel Asystasia intrusa, but it also uses Justicias like Veld Justicia Justicia protracta, Moss-rose Purslane Portulaca grandiflora, and Ruellias like Veld Violet Ruellia cordata.
African Coromandel
Asystasia intrusa
Veld Justicia
Justicia protracta
Moss-rose Purslane
Portulaca grandiflora
Veld Violet
Ruellia cordata
How to attract them
Gardeners can promote the presence of this butterfly by cultivating its preferred host plants. Some of these are popular garden plants, so it’s not a surprise that Common Diadems often turn up in gardens.
Like its close relatives the Pansies and Commodores it’s a sun-loving insect that’s often found on flowers. Males like to patrol hilltops and other prominent landforms.
Some other aspects
Male underside
Common Diadem
Hypolimnas misippus
As well as their brightly coloured upper sides, male Common Diadems have conspicuous underside markings.
Female forms
Common Diadem female
Hypolimnas misippus form inaria
The Common Diadem female shown on the header is the ‘nominate’ form. She resembles the local subspecies orientis of the African Plain Tiger. Form inaria, shown here, is a mimic of the rarer Tawny Plain Tiger, Danaus chrysippus dorippus. Unlike that subspecies this form of Common Diadem is not rare.
Female forms
Common Diadem female
Hypolimnas misippus form alcippoides
Common Diadem females mimic several subspecies of the Plain Tiger. This one has the white hindwings reminiscent of White-winged Plain Tiger Danaus chrysippus alcippus. The amount of white is variable, and forms exist that mimic Plain Tiger subspecies we never see in South Africa.