Ajith (അജിത്ത്)
Red Pierrot
The Red Pierrot (Talicada nyseus) is a small but striking butterfly found in South Asia and South-East Asia belonging to the Lycaenids or Blues family. Red Pierrots, flying weakly around and perching on the Kalanchoe plant, are usually noticed by excited children in gardens due to their beautiful striking patterns and colours.
The butterfly with a wing span of 3 to 3.5 cm. The upper side of its wings are black except for a large portion of the lower edge of the hind wing which is orange.
On the underside, the forewing is white with black spots more toward the margin. The hind wing is very striking, it is white with black spots toward the base and the margin has a wide band of orange with white spots. There is a lot of variation found in the blacks spots on the hind wings.
Generally seen in Sri Lanka, South India, Meghalaya, Assam, North Myanmar.
The Red Pierrot is a weak flier, and flutters about close to the ground. It flies in short bursts and settles often but not for very long. And not so easy to take photo.
It keeps on the wing almost till dark when it settles on the undersides of leafs and twigs often in company. It is sluggish early in the morning and late in the evening. It visits flowers of herbs especially of the amaranthaceae and acanthaceae family for nectar. It visits both ornamental and wild flowers and varieties of Alternanthera are among its favourite.
It always sits with its wings closed to display the bright markings of its undersides. It fearlessness, weak flight and distinctive markings all indicate that it is a protected butterfly, which is peculiar considering that its hostplants are not known to contain any sequestrable toxins.
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Talicada
Species: T. nyseus
Red Pierrot
The Red Pierrot (Talicada nyseus) is a small but striking butterfly found in South Asia and South-East Asia belonging to the Lycaenids or Blues family. Red Pierrots, flying weakly around and perching on the Kalanchoe plant, are usually noticed by excited children in gardens due to their beautiful striking patterns and colours.
The butterfly with a wing span of 3 to 3.5 cm. The upper side of its wings are black except for a large portion of the lower edge of the hind wing which is orange.
On the underside, the forewing is white with black spots more toward the margin. The hind wing is very striking, it is white with black spots toward the base and the margin has a wide band of orange with white spots. There is a lot of variation found in the blacks spots on the hind wings.
Generally seen in Sri Lanka, South India, Meghalaya, Assam, North Myanmar.
The Red Pierrot is a weak flier, and flutters about close to the ground. It flies in short bursts and settles often but not for very long. And not so easy to take photo.
It keeps on the wing almost till dark when it settles on the undersides of leafs and twigs often in company. It is sluggish early in the morning and late in the evening. It visits flowers of herbs especially of the amaranthaceae and acanthaceae family for nectar. It visits both ornamental and wild flowers and varieties of Alternanthera are among its favourite.
It always sits with its wings closed to display the bright markings of its undersides. It fearlessness, weak flight and distinctive markings all indicate that it is a protected butterfly, which is peculiar considering that its hostplants are not known to contain any sequestrable toxins.
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Talicada
Species: T. nyseus