Butterflies of the Indian
subcontinent
Red Pierrot
Talicada nyseus
GUERIN, 1843
Family -
LYCAENIDAE
subfamily -
POLYOMMATINAE
Tribe -
Talicada
nyseus
Mumbai, India
© Anand Narkevar
Introduction
There are 8 species in the genus
Talicada - annamitica,
assamica, buruana,
clitophon, khasiana,
macbethi, metana and
nyseus; all of which are Oriental in distribution.
On the upper surface, the wings
of Talicada nyseus are black, with a broad orange
band on the hindwings that corresponds with the red makings on the underside.
Talicada
nyseus is distributed from India and Sri Lanka to Burma, Thailand and
South Vietnam.
Habitats
This is a forest edge species, found at altitudes up to about
2000m, but is most commonly met with in hill forest habitats between 300-800m
above sea level.
Lifecycle
The caterpillars spend their entire lives living and feeding within blister
mines, between the cuticle of leaves of Bryophyllum
and Kalanchoe ( Crassulaceae ).
The chrysalis is cream
coloured, with rows of black spots along the back and sides, and is covered with
short soft bristles. It is suspended by the cremaster from twigs or stems.
Adult behaviour
Males can sometimes be found mud-puddling, but both sexes are
more commonly seen perching on low growing foliage. In hazy sunshine or warm
overcast conditions they bask with the wings held half open, but hold them erect
in full sunshine, or when at rest.
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