Cigaritis vulcanus

Common silverline
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Cigaritis
Species: C. vulcanus
Binomial name
Cigaritis vulcanus
(Fabricius, 1775).
Synonyms

Spindasis vulcanus

Cigaritis vulcanus, the common silverline, is a species of lycaenid or blue butterfly found in Asia.

Description

The wingspan is 26–34 mm.

Distribution

These butterflies are found in Sri Lanka, India, central Thailand and Java. In India, the species has been spotted in the territories of Maharashtra, Orissa, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Pattern

Male

Silverline mating

It is very easily distinguishable from its similar species simply because it is the smallest. The uppersides of the wings of both sexes are dark grey brown to slate. It lacks the obvious brightest blue, which is only visible in an oblique light. The upper surface on the underside hindwing, the central band is more separated from the outer band than in any other species, making the yellow area much wider and a distinctive feature.

In some the upperside forewing orange bands are either weak or absent. The hindwing is bordered with a similar streak along the termen. The upperside of the forewing has bands which are reddish orange. The 3rd is bifurcate but long and the 4th has two silver spots.

Female

It is similar as the male. There is a long orange marginal band on the upperside of the hindwing which is easily distinguishable from its similar species.

Habitat

Their numbers peak during the south-west and north-east monsoons. It inhabits scrub land with sparse vegetation, hedge rows, scrub jungles and secondary forest.

Habits

They are difficult to disturb when nectaring on flowers but are able to fly fast erratically. Even when disturbed they return to the same spot a moment later. Mainly, they are found near their host plants.

Food plants

The larvae feed on jujube, Zizyphus rugosa, Lxora longifolia, Clerodendrum siphomanthus, C. inerme,[1] Allophylus cobbe, Ixora chinensis[2] and Canthium parviflorum.

Female
Male

References

  1. Kaur, SA (2010). "Biology of common silverline, Spindasis vulcanus (fabricius) (Theclinae: Lycaenidae: Papilionoidea)". Journal of Entomological Research. 34 (4): 337–339.
  2. Soumyajit Chowdhury; Rahi Soren; Suvankar Patra (2009). "Ixora chinensis Lam.: a new host plant for Common Silverline Spindasis vulcanus Fabricius, (Lepidoptera: Lycaentdae) from West Bengal.". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 106 (3): 348–349.


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 12/2/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.