Dark Palm Dart

Dark Palm Dart

Telicota ancilla bambusae Moore

HESPERIIDAE

( = Astychus augias ( Linnaeus ))

Adult

Upperside dark orange in male and light orange in female. FW with an oblique brown band and irregular outer margin. HW with brown base and outer border and orange discal band. Underside markings duller. HW pale olive green at the base and outer area. Wingspan 34-36mm.

Common throughout India except in the arid north-west. Abundant in the hills and jungles in fairly wet regions. A fast and powerful flier that settles frequently on flowers and leaves. Visits flowers and bird droppings but not water. Has the habit of wetting the bird droppings with its body spray through curled abdomen. Shade loving butterfly but also basks with FW held slightly apart and HW almost flat on the resting surface.

Distribution

India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and China.