Butterflies
belonging to the family Nymphalidae are few in number of species in Saudi
Arabia although are quite conspicuous. They include Blue Pansy Junonia
orithya that is a migratory butterfly and they appear sporadically, produce
one or more local broods of offspring, and then disappear again until their
next invasion. Their success in establishing themselves temporarily within the
region depends very much upon their powers of adaptation and choice of larval
food-plants. Whilst birdwatching the Bani Saad area near Taif I came across a
number of Blue Pansy butterflies although most were very worn and appeared to
be at the end of the life cycle. Although obvious when their wings are
outstretched, they are well camouflaged with folded wings.
