|
|
Common Tit
 |
|
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Family : Lycaenidae
SubFamily : Lycaeninae
Common Name : Common Tit
Forms : -
The Common Tit has been found in a variety of localities in Singapore, from the mangrove-type environment of Sg Buloh Nature Park, to the forested Central Catchment and even in downtown Singapore along traffic congested Victoria Street ! At the last location, the caterpillars of the species were found feeding on the roadside ornamental plant Ixora javanica (Javanese Ixora) in the heart of town. This is probably a new record of the host plant for this species. The caterpillars collected were bred to adulthood.
The upperside of the male is deep purple blue with a large circular brand on the forewing disc. The female is dull grey-brown and black marginal spots on the greyish white tornal area of the hindwing. The undersides of both sexes are a pale greenish grey with a cell-end bar and a narrow reddish brown post discal line on each wing. There is an orange-crowned black spot and a smaller one on the hindwings.
There are two tails originating from veins 1b and 2 from the hindwing. The species behaves in the typical Lycaenid behaviour of sliding the hindwings in a fashion where the tails appear to be alive. This acts as a decoy to fool predators into thinking that the rear end of the butterfly is the head with the antennae and "eyes". |
coasties has marked this note useful Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes. |
|
|
Discussions |
Thread | Thread Starter |
Messages |
Updated |
To cml: sorry | Meerkat |
1 |
11-02 05:52 |
You must be logged in to start a discussion. |
|
Hi Meerkat
Nice work here. Good POV with nice subtle colours. :-)
- cml (0)
- [2006-11-02 5:36]
- [+]
This butterfly should be a Common Tit (Hypolycaena erylus teatus).