Indian Grizzled Skipper

Spialia galba galba (Fabricius, 1793)


Malayalam Name

:

പുള്ളിച്ചാടൻ

Order

:

Lepidoptera

Family

:

Hesperiidae

Sub-family

:

Pyrginae

Sub species

:

Spialia galba galba 

common names

:

Indian Grizzled Skipper

DISTRIBUTION South and Southeast Asia

STATUS: Very Common

HABITAT: . 


HABITS

The Indian skipper visits flowers, preferring those with small flowers such as Tridax procumbens, (a common weed in India) and species of Dicplitera or Bidens. It sleeps on hanging grass blades and the tips of the branches of herbs

IDENTIFICATION  FEATURES

Having a wingspan of only 24 to 27 mm, Spialia galba is identified by its unique pattern of black and white spots and its small size. The upperside is dark brown to black in colour with a light brown gloss and many small white spots. The wings have a chequered fringe. The underside is whitish. Sexes are identical

SIMILAR SPECIES

LARVAL HOST PLANTS

Glycine max (Fabaceae). Alcea rosea, Hibiscus spp., Sida rhombifolia, Melochia corchorifolia, Urena lobata, Waltheria indica (Malvaceae).

MORE IMAGES 







Indian Grizzled Skipper

Indian Grizzled Skipper

Indian Grizzled Skipper

Courtesy 

Write up:Wikipaedia
Images: TNHS & iFoundbutterfly.org

കേരള വനം വന്യജീവി വകുപ്പ്  
മാങ്കുളം ഡിവിഷൻ


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