Butterflies of the Indian
subcontinent
Indian Skipper
Spialia galba
FABRICIUS, 1793
Family - HESPERIIDAE
subfamily -
PYRGINAE
Tribe -
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Spialia
galba
Cuttack, Orissa, India
© Haraprasan Nayak |
Introduction
The genus Spialia
is very closely allied to Pyrgus,
and comprises
of about 30 species, the majority of which are wholly
or partly Afrotropical in distribution. There are however 4
species which can be found in Europe, and several in Asia. The most widely
distributed species is orbifer, which is found from
central Europe to Siberia.
There are 3 species which can
be found on the Indian subcontinent - doris and
zebra, which are semi-desert species; and
galba, whose habitats are described below.
Spialia
galba
Cuttack, Orissa, India
© Haraprasan Nayak
Habitats
This species is found in a wide variety of open disturbed
habitats, including forest clearings, beach hinterlands, scrubby savannah, dry
open woodland, parks, gardens and wasteland. It can be found at altitudes
between sea level and about 1500m.
Lifecycle
The larval foodplants include Sida,
Hibiscus and Waltheria
( Malvaceae ).
Adult behaviour
The butterflies have a very rapid whirring flight, just above
ground level, where they whiz about in circles and
figure-of-eights, and are impossible to follow by eye.
Males commonly imbibe mineralised moisture from damp ground, and
visit urine and dung. Both sexes frequently nectar at
Tridax and other low growing flowers.
On overcast days or when temperatures are
relatively cool they will bask on bare ground, or nectar at flowers while fully
outspreading their wings. In hot conditions the wings are held erect, or
slightly apart, as depicted in the photograph at the top of the page.
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