Butterflies of the
Indian subcontinent
Common Pierrot
Castalius rosimon
FABRICIUS, 1775
Family - LYCAENIDAE
subfamily -
POLYOMMATINAE
Tribe - POLYOMMATINI
Castalius rosimon,
Manas, Assam, India
� Adrian Hoskins
Introduction
There are 5 species in the
genus Castalius, distributed variously
from India to Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo and Sulawesi. A number of
additional species found in Africa have now been moved from
Castalius into Tuxentius and
Zintha.
The black spots on
the underside of rosimon vary in size.
They are generally smaller in dry season forms, in which the dark
bar at the end of the discal cell is often disconnected from the
costa.
Castalius rosimon is found from India
and Sri Lanka to Thailand, West Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, the
Philippines, Sulawesi, Java, Bali and Timor.
Castalius rosimon,
Weligaththa, Sri Lanka
� Adrian Hoskins
Habitats
This is a common species found
in forest glades, open habitats including forest edges and
clearings, open dry woodland, and flowery gardens. It can be found
at elevations between sea level and about 1000m.
Lifecycle
The larval foodplants include Zizyphus
and Paliurus ( Rhamnaceae ).
Adult behaviour
The
butterflies are usually seen singly, or in two's and three's. They
have an extremely rapid and acrobatic flight, dashing nervously back
and forth from flowers to the tops of tall bushes and back again with
amazing speed, and showing great apparent indecision about where they
will eventually settle. In sunny conditions they nectar at
Tridax and other low growing flowers,
holding their wings erect. In the late afternoon they settle to roost
on low herbage. In warm overcast or hazy weather they commonly bask
with their wings held half open.
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