Caleta caleta

Taxobox | name = Angled pierrot
status =


image_width = 240px
image_caption = Angled pierrot mudpuddling, Yeoor, Mumbai,India
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Lepidoptera
familia = Lycaenidae
genus = "Caleta"
species = "C. caleta"
binomial = "Caleta caleta"
binomial_authority = (Hewitson, 1876)
range_

range_map_width = 180px
range_map_caption =
synonyms = "Castalius decidia"

The Angled Pierrot ("Caleta caleta")Marrku Savela's Website on Lepidoptera [http://www.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/papilionoidea/nymphalidae/polyommatinae/caleta/index.html| Page on "Caleta" genus.] ] is a species of blue butterfly found in South Asia.

Description

:"For a key to the terms used see Lepidopteran glossary"Male upperside is dark brownish black, a broad medial oblique white band across both fore and hind wings, not extended on the fore wing above vein 5, above vein 3 produced shortly outwards and downwards into a hook-like form. Underside: white with the following black markings:—On fore wing a short, outwardly-pointed, oblique, clavate streak from base joined below to a semi-circular broad band that reaches the costa; a short, outwardly oblique, upper diseal bar, its outer edge generally emurginate; the apex, the terraen narrowly, a large irregular sub-quadrate spot touching it in the middle and a very large inwardly oblique irregular spot or mark close to the tornus. On the hind wing: a hook-shaped mark at base sometimes slender; an inwardly oblique short clavate bar from apex, three coalescent spots extended outwards from the dorsum above the tornus formed into a sinuate irregular mark; a spot further outwards in interspace 4; a terminal series of slender lunules and an anticilary fine line. Antennae, head, thorax and abdomen black; beneath: the palpi, thorax and abdomen white.

Female. Similar to the male on both upper and under sides, but on the former the white medial band is narrower, on the latter the black markings are broader. Antennae, head, thorax and abdomen as in the male. [Bingham, C. T. 1907 Fauna of British India. Vol 2. (Description of "Castalius decidia")]

Range

The butterfly is found in Sri Lanka, peninsular India, Madhya Pradesh, south Bihar, Orissa, and in the Himalayas from Sikkim to Assam and onto Myanmar. The butterfly is also found in southern Sulawesi, Basilan, and Mindanao.

tatus

Common in Sikkim up to 300m though it has been recorded up to 2800m in southern parts. It is abundant in the monsoons. Haribal, Meena (1994) Butterflies of Sikkim, pg 9.] . Not Rare over the Indian range as per Wynter-blyth.Wynter-Blyth, M.A. (1957) Butterflies of the Indian Region, pg 259-260.]

Habits

The butterfly flies rapidly, close to the ground visiting low flying bushes. Found along nullahs and shady paths. Visits damp patches.

Found in jungle and lightly forested country with moderate to heavy precipitation.

Life history

Larva

"Feeds on the tender leaves of the chorna ("Zizyphus rugosa") .... pale green, of the usual woodlouse form, with the head concealed under the second segment. The whole body is more or less pubescent and there is a fringe of longer hairs on each side." (Davidson and Aitken quoted in Bingham, 1907)

Pupa

"Short and stout, constricted between the thorax and abdomen, clothed with short hair, closely attached by tail and band to any convenient surface; colour ochreous mottled with brown." (Davidson and Aitken quoted in Bingham, 1907). [Bingham, C. T. 1907 Fauna of British India. Vol 2. (Description of "Castalius decidia")]

Similar to that of "Castalius ethion" but has two green bands on the back.

Imago

Dry season form is smaller with less prominent markings.

Food plant

* Zizyphus rugosa, Rhamnaceae.

Gallery

ee also

* Caleta decidia, a blue butterfly species
* List of butterflies of India (Lycaenidae)

References

* Krushnamegh Kunte (2000) (reprint 2006) Butterflies of Peninsular India : University Press India Pvt. Ltd., India