''Telicota ancilla'', the dark palm dart, is a
butterfly belonging to the family
Hesperiidae
Skippers are a family of the Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) named the Hesperiidae. Being diurnal, they are generally called butterflies. They were previously placed in a separate superfamily, Hesperioidea; however, the most recent taxonomy ...
. These species form a complex and exact species identity can only be determined by examination of the genitalia.
The larvae feed on various grasses, such as ''
Imperata cylindrica'', ''
Paspalum urvillei'' and ''
Sorghum halepense''. Other hosts recorded include ''
Ochlandra travancorica'', ''
Bambusa striata'' and ''
Bambusa wamin''.
Subspecies
*''Telicota ancilla ancilla''
(Herrich-Schäffer, 1869) – greenish darter (New South Wales and Queensland)
*''Telicota ancilla baudina''
Evans, 1949 (Northern Territory and Western Australia)
*''Telicota ancilla horisha''
Evans, 1934 (southern China, northern Vietnam, Taiwan)
*''Telicota ancilla lanka'' (Sri Lanka)
*''Telicota ancilla mamba'' (Mambare River)
*''Telicota ancilla minda''
Evans, 1934 (Philippines)
*''Telicota ancilla santa''
Evans, 1934 (Philippines)
*''Telicota ancilla volens'' (Timor)
References
Taractrocerini
Butterflies described in 1869
{{Hesperiinae-stub