Common Silverline

Common Silverline

Spindasis vulcanus vulcanus ( Fabricius ) LYCAENIDAE

Adult upperside dark brown. FW with conspicuous, black spotted orange-yellow transverse bands ( 5 in male and 6 in female ) , more bluish gloss in male. HW outer border at the tornal area bright yellowish or orange with 2 spots and 2 delicate tails. Underside pale yellow with prominent black or brown bordered reddish bands. Wingspan 26-34mm.

Occurs throughout India, except in the arid regions of north-west and eastern Himalayas and Assam ( ?). a fast flying butterfly, frequenting open country and has an affinity to the cold ashes of wood fires, burnt grasses etc, visits flowers of low growing plants, especially of tomthumb Alternanthera, Leea indica and Tridax procumbens.

Larva

Pale green. Head shiny black and body with dorsal, sub dorsal and lateral green lines and 2 tubercles bearing strong bristles in the posterior segment. Always attended on by ants of Crematogaster spp.

Feeds on Ber, Zizyphus rugosa, lxora longifolia, clerodendrum siphomanthus, Allophylus cobbe, Canthium parviflorum etc.

Distribution

India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Thailand.