| Orchid Tit | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Chliaria |
| Species: | C. othona |
| Binomial name | |
| Chliaria othona (Hewitson, 1865). |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Chliaria eltola Hewitson [1] |
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The Orchid Tit, Chliaria othona[2][3] is a species of lycaenid or blue butterfly found in Asia.
Contents |
The Orchid Tit is a small butterfly which has a wingspan of 24 to 27 mm. The butterfly has two tails, one is 4 mm long at v1 and the other 2 mm long at v2.
The Orchid Tit is found in India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, North Vietnam, Peninsular Malaysia, Pulau Tioman and possibly Taiwan.[2]
In Inda the butterfly is found in the Western Ghats, the Himalayas from Garhwal to Assam, Bengal and onto Myanmar.[2]
In Sikkim, the Orchid Tit is found up to an altitude of 5000 ft.[4]
Rare in South India. Not Rare in the North.[4]
The Orchid Tit is to be found in dense, rainy jungles. It is rarely seen except around its foodplants - the flower buds of epiphytic orchids. It flies weakly and settlles on flowers, leaves. It visits damp patches.[4]
Caterpillar - Green onisciform larvae with red dorsal band and three red rippled lines on each side. The caterpillar's head is concealed and its body is covered with minute bristles. Distinct short protuberances extend from the anal segment. It feeds on the flowers of the orchid.[5]
Pupa - Smooth and greenish-grey, resembles those of other Lycaenidae spp. It has a few white markings, with a distinctly wavy pattern on the wing covers. It is found fastened along the stem of the orchids.[5]
Larval food plants - The Orchid Tit's larval host plants are from the family Orchidaceae from genus Arundina, Dendrobium, Papilionanthe, Phaius, Phalaenopsis, Spathoglottis and the specific species are Papilionanthe subulata and Spathoglottis plicata [6]