''Telicota ancilla'', the dark palm dart, is a

butterfly Butterflies are insects in the macrolepidopteran clade Rhopalocera from the Order (biology), order Lepidoptera, which also includes moths. Adult butterflies have large, often brightly coloured wings, and conspicuous, fluttering flight. The ...

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 ''Imperata cylindrica'' (commonly known as cogongrass or kunai grass ) is a species of Perennial plant, perennial rhizomatous grass native to tropical and subtropical Asia, Micronesia, Melanesia, Australia, Africa, and southern Europe. It has al ...

'', '' Paspalum urvillei'' and ''

Sorghum halepense Johnson grass or Johnsongrass, ''Sorghum halepense'', is a plant in the grass family, Poaceae, native to Asia and northern Africa. The plant has been introduced to all continents except Antarctica, and most larger islands and archipelagos. It re ...

''. Other hosts recorded include '' Ochlandra travancorica'', ''

Bambusa striata ''Bambusa vulgaris'', common bamboo, is an open-clump type bamboo species. It is native to Indochina and to the province of Yunnan in southern China, but it has been widely cultivated in many other places and has become naturalized in several r ...

'' and ''

Bambusa wamin ''Bambusa vulgaris'', common bamboo, is an open-clump type bamboo species. It is native to Indochina and to the province of Yunnan in southern China, but it has been widely cultivated in many other places and has become naturalized in several r ...

''.

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