Common Tit

''Hypolycaena erylus'', the common tit, is a small but striking butterfly found in India and South-East Asia that belongs to the lycaenids or blues family. The species was first described by Jean-Baptiste Godart in 1823.

Range

Bangladesh, Nepal, Sikkim, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, southern Yunnan, Java, Lombok, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Andamans, Nias, Sulawesi, Philippines, Sula, Bachan, Halmahera, Obi, Bismarck Archipelago and Waigeu.

Status

Common. Not rare as per Haribal.

Description

The underside of both sexes is pale greyish brown. The underside hindwing does not have a spot in the basal area of 7. The butterfly has two tails – a 6 mm long one at V1 and a 5 mm long tail at V2. The markings include:
* a double bar at end-cell
* a regular discal line on the forewing
* a broken, less regular line on the hindwing

The male butterfly is pale blue to dark brown above, dark shining purple depending on the light. It has a black border with the upper forewing having a large black discal area of modified scales.

The female butterfly is dark brown and its hindwing has a white disconnected discal band above the tornus. The butterfly also has a white-edged tornal black spot in 2.

File:VB 059 Common Tit UN.jpg, Underside
File:VB 060 Common Tit UP.jpg, Upperside
File:Rery102.jpg, Upperside left, underside right

Subspecies

The butterfly has a number of subspecies of which one, ''H. e. himavantus'' ( Fruhstorfer), is found in mainland India while another ''H. e. andamana'' Moore is found in the Andamans. All subspecies are:
*''H. e. erylus'' (Java)
*''H. e. pupienus'' Fruhstorfer, 1912 (Lombok)
*''H. e. teatus'' Fruhstorfer, 1912 (southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaya, Sumatra, Borneo)
*''H. e. himavantus'' Fruhstorfer, 1912 (Nepal, Sikkim to Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, southern Yunnan)
*''H. e. andamana'' Moore, 1877 (Andamans)
*''H. e. syphax'' Fruhstorfer, 1912 (Nias)
*''H. e. gamatius'' Fruhstorfer, 1912 (Sulawesi) (= ''H. e. pigres'' Fruhstorfer, 1912 (Obi))
*''H. e. tmolus'' C. Felder & R. Felder, 1862 (Philippines)
*''H. e. orsiphantus'' Fruhstorfer, 1912 (Philippines: Basilan)
*''H. e. aimnestus'' Fruhstorfer, 1912 (Palawan)
*''H. e. georgius'' Fruhstorfer, 1912 (Sula)
*''H. e. thyrius'' Fruhstorfer, 1912 (Bachan, Halmahera)
*''H. e. moutoni'' Ribbe
*''H. e. figulus'' Fruhstorfer, 1912 (Waigeu)
*''H. e. erna'' Kalis, 1933 (Bismarck Archipelago)

Habits

The butterfly is abundant at low elevations. Males are known to cluster at damp patches while the females are rarely seen.

Food plants

Recorded on '' Meyna pubescens'' in India.

Gallery

File:Hypolycaena erylus gamatius male.JPG, ''H. e. gamatius'' male
File:Hypolycaena erylus gamatius female.JPG, ''H. e. gamatius'' female
File:Hypolycaena erylus thyrius male.JPG, ''H. e. thyrius'' male
File:Hypolycaena erylus thyrius female.JPG, ''H. e. thyrius'' female
File:Hypolycaena erylus ssp male.JPG, Unknown male subspecies
File:Hypolycaena erylus ssp female.JPG, Unknown female subspecies
File:Hypolycaena erylus ssp2 female.JPG, Unknown female subspecies

See also

*List of butterflies of India
*List of butterflies of India (Lycaenidae)

Cited references

References

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{{Taxonbar , from=Q5959784

Butterflies of Asia
Hypolycaenini
Butterflies of Singapore
Butterflies of Borneo