Introduction
The genus Ypthima comprises of 108 known species. 16 of these are restricted to the Afrotropical region. One is found only in Australia and Papua New Guinea. Most of the remainder are found in various parts of the Oriental region. The species with the widest distribution is asterope, which is found in sub-Saharan Africa, Arabia, Turkey, Lebanon, and on the Indian sub-continent.
Ypthima are instantly recognisable as a group. All are marked with fine striations on the underside, and possess a submarginal series of yellow-ringed black ocelli.
Ypthima baldus is found in northern India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Korea, China, Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo.
Habitats
This species is found in grassy forest edge habitats and secondary growth, at elevations between about 300-1200m.
Lifecycle
The larvae feed nocturnally on grasses including Poa, Echinochloa, Digitaria, Elytrigia, Microstegium, Pogonatherum, Miscanthus, Isachne, Brachiaria and Oplismenus (Poaceae).
Adult behaviour
Both sexes prefer flying in overcast weather, and are not averse to flying in light rain. They can be found basking on leaf litter or low herbage, but are quite nervous in behaviour.