Indian Skipper

Indian Skipper

Spialia galba galba ( Fabricius) HESPERIIDAE

(=Syrichtus galba ( Fabricius ))

Photo : Amber Habib

Adult

Upperside male olive brown with numerous yellowish white semi- transparent sots on both wings. FW with 3 spots in the cell, 1 beneath it , a transverse series of 7 spots ( 4 discal and 3 subaical) and a submarginal series of small spots. HW with a sub-basal spot, discal series of spots ( 2 and 4, large, quadrate and rectangular respectively) and a submarginal series of small spots. Wing margins checkered grey and white in both wings. Underside grey. FW with larger spots. HW with white abdominal fold, 3 sub- basal spots and the discal spots in the form of white band. Female usually larger anddarker with similar markings but with smaller spots on the upperside. Wingspan 24-27mm.

Distributed all over India in the plains and in hills up to 1300m in the Himalayas and 2700 m in south India. Flies always close to the ground. Visits flowers frequently and damp patches occasionally. Fond of basking in the sun with horizontally held hindwings. Also called as the Indian Grizzled Skipper.

Larva

Bluish green with a black hairy head. Body cylindrical with a darker dorsal stripe and white marginal line. Segment 3 bright orange with a black collar and central row of long black hairs.

Feeds on broomjute sida, Waltheria indica, etc.

Distribution

India, sri lanka, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.