Mycalesis visala

Long-brand Bushbrown
Conservation status
Not evaluated (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Tribe: Elymniini
Genus: Mycalesis
Species: M. visala
Binomial name
Mycalesis visala
Moore, 1858

The Long-brand Bushbrown (Mycalesis visala) is a species of satyrine butterfly found in Asia. It might include the Tamil Bushbrown as subspecies.

Description

Wet season form

In colour and the markings on the wings of both seasonal forms of M. visala closely resemble those of M. mineus. On the whole, however, M. visala runs larger, and as a rule both sexes (in the continental form, not in the insular race) can be discriminated from the males and females or allied forms by the shape of the fore wing. This is, as a rule, produced and acute at apex, with the tennen below sharply transverse. The males, moreover, have the sex-mark on the underside of the fore wing rather bright ochraceous and very long, extending beyond the transverse bands crossing the wings.[1]

closed wing view of a long branded butterfly
open wing of the male butterfly

Race andamana, Moore. Male sex-mark on the underside of the fore wing as in M. visala. Shape of wings much more rounded in both seasonal forms of both sexes ; in this closely resembling M. mineus, but the ground-colour of the wings is darker and the ocelli proportionately larger. Disposition of the ocelli apparently quite constant. Upperside: fore wing—two ocelli, the posterior the larger; hind wing—none in the male, an obscure one in the female. Underside : both sexes, fore wing with two, hind wing with seven ocelli; the posterior four of the latter disposed as in M. mineus.[1]

Footnotes

  1. 1.0 1.1 Bingham (1905)

References