Angled Pierrot

 Caleta decidia (Hewitson, 1876)

Malayalam Name      : വരയൻ കോമാളി Common Name ; Angled Pierrot Order  : Lepidoptera Super Family             : Papilionoidae (Butterflies) Family               :  Lycaenidae Sub Family : Polyommatinae   DISTRIBUTION               South Asia and Southeast Asia. STATUS:   Not common HABITAT They are found in semi-arid plains, degraded patches of evergreen patches, and semi-evergreen forest, gardens, hill stations and forests—in fact, wherever its food plant, Kalanchoe, is abundant. HABITS Tarucus ananda is associated with Crematogaster ants IDENTIFICATION  FEATURES Small size Black and white butterfly with wingspan 25-30 mm.    The male's upperside is dark brown. Both wings crossed by a common broad band of white commencing at the second discoidal nervure of the anterior wing where it projects towards the outer margin. Underside is white having anterior wing with a small spot at base, a band before the middle, a large spot on the costal margin near the apex, a large spot at the anal angle, the apex which is marked by two white spots, the outer margin and a spot at its middle, all dark brown. Posterior wing is with a band near the base, a small spot on the inner margin, a large spot below this, a bifid spot near the apex, a spot between this and a series of submarginal lunular spots, all dark brown. SIMILAR SPECIES:  Continental Common Pierrot LARVAL HOST PLANTS Ziziphus jujuba, Z. nummularia (Rhamnaceae)

LIFE CYCLE

Malayalam Name	:	വരയൻ കോമാളി
Common Name	;	Angled Pierrot
Order	:	Lepidoptera
Super Family	:	Papilionoidae (Butterflies)
Family	:	Lycaenidae
Sub Family	:	Polyommatinae

 

DISTRIBUTION

              South Asia and Southeast Asia.

STATUS:   Not common

HABITAT

They are found in semi-arid plains, degraded patches of evergreen patches, and semi-evergreen forest, gardens, hill stations and forests—in fact, wherever its food plant, Kalanchoe, is abundant.

HABITS

Tarucus ananda is associated with Crematogaster ants

IDENTIFICATION  FEATURES

Small size Black and white butterfly with wingspan 25-30 mm. 

 

The male's upperside is dark brown. Both wings crossed by a common broad band of white commencing at the second discoidal nervure of the anterior wing where it projects towards the outer margin. Underside is white having anterior wing with a small spot at base, a band before the middle, a large spot on the costal margin near the apex, a large spot at the anal angle, the apex which is marked by two white spots, the outer margin and a spot at its middle, all dark brown. Posterior wing is with a band near the base, a small spot on the inner margin, a large spot below this, a bifid spot near the apex, a spot between this and a series of submarginal lunular spots, all dark brown.

SIMILAR SPECIES:  Continental Common Pierrot

LARVAL HOST PLANTS

Ziziphus jujuba, Z. nummularia (Rhamnaceae)

Malayalam Name     

:

വരയൻ കോമാളി

Common Name

;

Angled Pierrot

Order 

:

Lepidoptera

Super Family            

:

Papilionoidae (Butterflies)

Family              

: 

Lycaenidae

Sub Family

:

Polyommatinae

MORE IMAGES

Male

male 

Female

Male Dry Form

Mating pair

Courtesy 

Write up:Wikipaedia

Images: TNHS

കേരള വനം വന്യജീവി വകുപ്പ്  

മാങ്കുളം ഡിവിഷൻ

Pradeep Krishnan, Angled Pierrot

Pradeep Krishnan, Angled Pierrot

Angled Pierrots -Puddling -Side view -Pradeep Krishnan

Angled Pierrots -Nectaring -Side view -Pradeep Krishnan