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Brown Pansy

Genus: Junonia
Junonia natalica natalica


* Pansies are small, brightly coloured nymphalines, very similar to Precis( ex commodores)
* They are robust butterflies, with a fast and agile flight pattern
* Often sits on ground with wings slowly opening and closing.
* Fond of flowers
* Eggs are laid singly, Bulb shaped green to yellowish.

Brown Pansies are attracted to moisture on roads, and they are particularly attrackted to alien mistletoe (Lantana camara)
* Sexes similar

Distribution: Lowland and Riverine forest, Savanna in coastal KwaZulu Natal from Port Edward to Kosi Bay, and Swaziland. Scarce at foot of the escarpment in riverine bush of Mpumalanga and Limpopo Province lowveld.
Habitat: Forest edges, flatlands, coast, parks and gardens.
Flight period: Year round with a peak in October and November, aswell as in February to May



This phot of Male upperside, taken at the Lowveld National Botanical Gardens in Nelspruit in February 2010

Also known as the Brown Commodore