Dark Blue Pansy

Junonia oenone

Dark Blue Pansy, Junonia oenone, observed near, Nairobi, Kenya, July 2014. Photo © by Michael Plagens

Open secondary woods. Nairobi, Kenya, July 2014.

This is a familiar, yet strikingly patterned butterfly. It frequents sunny patches in woodland and scrub where it avidly visits flowers with nectar sources. (Not all flowers offer nectar; some just smell and look nice, but offer nothing in return for pollination services.) The size of the blue patches in the hindwings varies considerably. If threatened it is capable of rapid escape flight. It can alight with the wings folded above its back showing only the well-camouflaged, dead-leaf appearance of the undersides.

Dark Blue Pansy, Junonia oenone, observed near, Nairobi, Kenya, Dec 2015. Photo © by Michael Plagens

Nymphalidae -- Brush-footed Butterfly Family

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Kenya Natural History

Copyright Michael J. Plagens. Page created 28 Jan. 2015,
updated 26 May 2016.