Mimathyma nycteis
Mimathyma nycteis is a butterfly in the Nymphalidae family found in the East Palearctic region, including Amurland, Korea, and northeast China. It has also been known by synonyms such as Atyma nycteis and Atyma cassiope.
Description
- Upper side: The wings are not very elongated. The forewing cell has a white longitudinal streak, giving a look somewhat like certain Athyma species.
- Underside: Violet-brown with white markings that mirror those on the upperside but are widened and have a pearly gloss. On the hindwing, there is a long curved white spot near the base and a row of bluish-white spots between the middle band and the submarginal row.
- Female: Similar to the male but larger; may have a row of red-brown spots near the outer margin of the hindwing.
- Rare form cassiope: White spots on the forewing’s central area are greatly enlarged, forming a broad curved band, and the hindwing’s middle band is also widened.
Life cycle
- Larva (caterpillar): Slug-like, dark green with light lateral stripes. Segments 6–12 have two thorny processes; the tail end has two long pointed projections. The head has two long thorny horns ending in knobs; the underside is paler. Length about 52 mm.
- Pupa: Whitish-green, like other species such as ilia and iris, but with a row of rounded tubercles along the dorsal abdomen.
Host plants
- The larvae feed on elm trees, specifically Ulmus propinga and Ulmus pumila.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 05:27 (CET).