Common Pierrot

Common Pierrot

Castalius rosimon rosimon ( Fabricius ) LYCAENIDAE

Adult upperside white with blue base and black markings. FW with a narrow blackish brown costal band, an outer marginal band, a large discocellular spot and an outer discal row of 5 spots. HW basal spots clouded by blue scales. Outer marginal band traversed by a row of slender white conical rings. Tail black with white tip. Underside white with deep black markings. FW with markings as above. HW with 2 sub-basal streaks near the abdominal margin and an outer band of 6 spots in 3 pairs. Both wings with a subterminal row of small round spots. Spots coalesece to form bands in female. Wingspan 24-32mm.

It is a monobaisc genus and other species originally allotted under it are now under other genera. A common butterfly in open areas and thinly wooded country up to 1300 m in south India and up to 2500 m in the Himalayas. With weak flight, it always flies close to the ground frequently settling on leaves. Fond of sunshine and basking more after the rains. Visits flowers, damp patches, dead insects and bird droppings.

Larva

Bright green with 2 dorsal faint yellow bands and 2 or 3 black spots in the abdominal region. Feeds on ber.

Distribution

Throughout the oriental region.