Dacalana cotys

White-banded Royal
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Dacalana
Species: D. cotys
Binomial name
Dacalana cotys
(Hewitson, 1865)

The White-banded Royal Dacalana cotys[1] is a species of blue butterfly found in South East Asia.

Contents

Range

The butterfly occurs in India from Sikkim to Assam eastwards and across to northern Myanmar and Thailand.[1][2]

Taxonomy

The butterfly was previously classified as Pratapa cotys [2], Ancema cotys[3] and Camana cotys [4].

Status

Not Common as per Wynter-Blyth.[5] Not Rare as per Evans.[2]

Description

For a key to the terms used see Lepidopteran glossary

The butterfly has a wingspan of 33 to 37 mm. UP: Male - The White-banded Royal above is a bright azure blue with a black border at the apex ranging from 0.5 to 5 mm at the apex. On the hindwing is a mid-costal white patch. The male has a brand on the UPF. Female - Paler with a prominent white patch at the end cell of the FW. UN: The butterfly has a white band on a pale-brown background which broadens towards the costa and dorsum. There is a lot of seasonal variation in the band-width.[6].

Cited references

  1. ^ a b Marrku Savela's Website on Lepidoptera Page on Dacalana genus.
  2. ^ a b c Evans,W.H.(1932) The Identification of Indian Butterflies, ser no H59.2, pp 279.
  3. ^ Card for cotys in LepIndex. Accessed 08 August 2007.
  4. ^ Yutaka Inayoshi, A Check List of Butterflies in Indo-China, page on Dacalana cotys.
  5. ^ Wynter-Blyth, M.A. (1957) Butterflies of the Indian Region, pg 338.
  6. ^ Haribal, Meena (1994) Butterflies of Sikkim, pg 106.

See also

References