Small Branded Swift

Small Branded Swift

Pelopidas mathias mathias ( Fabricius ) HESPERIIDAE

( = Baoris mathias ( Fabricius ))

Adult

Upperside olive brown. Male FW with nearly 9 small yellowish semi-transperant spots; those in the apex and disc prominent. HW often with one very indistinct pale discal spot. Female FW with 5 discal spots and 4 or 5 in HW. Underside pale grayish brown with distinct markings. HW with a spot in the cell. Wingspan 38-40mm.

Found in almost all rice ( its principal larval food plant ) growing areas in the country, ( hence known as the Rice/ Paddy skipper). Active from late rainy season to early winter. Fond of flowers of Indian Cherry and other species of Cordia.

Larva

Green body elongate and smooth with red V Marks on the head, constricted neck, yellowish white lines across the body and white lateral lines. Dorsal surgace often appears greenish white, as if dusted with white powder.

In addition to Rice it feeds on several grasses, gardenfan palm, Maize, Sugarcane < Sorghum, Ragi, Kodo millet, Bermuda grass and Lucerne (?).

Distribution

India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Syria, Araia, Africa, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Japan, the Comoro Islands, New Guinea and the Celebes.