Dacalana cotys, the white-banded royal [1] is a species of blue butterfly (Lycaenidae) found in South East Asia.
| White-banded royal | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Dacalana |
| Species: | D. cotys
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| Binomial name | |
| Dacalana cotys (Hewitson, 1865)
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Range edit
The butterfly occurs in India from Sikkim to Arunachal Pradesh.[2] eastwards and across to northern Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar.[2] and Thailand.[1][3]
Taxonomy edit
The butterfly was previously classified as Pratapa cotys,[3] Ancema cotys[4] and Camana cotys.[5]
Status edit
Not common as per Wynter-Blyth.[6] Not rare as per Evans.[3]
Description edit
The butterfly has a wingspan of 33 to 37 mm.
The upperside of the male is a bright azure blue with a black border at the apex ranging from 0.5 to 5 mm at the apex. On the hindwing is a mid-costal white patch. The male has a brand on the upperside of the forewing. The female is paler with a prominent white patch at the end cell of the forewing.
On the underside, the butterfly has a white band on a pale-brown background which broadens towards the costa and dorsum. There is a lot of seasonal variation in the band width.[7]
Habit and habitat edit
It is mostly seen in wooded slopes of Himalaya. They are confined to forested area, often in the upper canopy. Males are often seen mud-puddling.[2]
See also edit
Cited references edit
- ^ a b Markku Savela's website on Lepidoptera Page on genus Dacalana.
- ^ a b c Isaac Kehimkar (2008) The Book of Indian Butterflies Bombay Natural History Society, Oxford University press, Mumbai, Delhi, Calcutta, Chennai
- ^ a b c Evans, W.H. (1932). The Identification of Indian Butterflies (2nd ed.). Mumbai, India: Bombay Natural History Society. p. 279, ser no H59.2.
- ^ Beccaloni, G.; Scoble, M.; Kitching, I.; Simonsen, T.; Robinson, G.; Pitkin, B.; Hine, A.; Lyal, C., eds. (2003). "Ancema cotys". The Global Lepidoptera Names Index. Natural History Museum. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
- ^ Yutaka Inayoshi, A Check List of Butterflies in Indo-China, page on Dacalana cotys.
- ^ Wynter-Blyth, Mark Alexander (1957). Butterflies of the Indian Region. Bombay, India: Bombay Natural History Society. p. 338. ISBN 978-8170192329.
- ^ Haribal, Meena (1992). The Butterflies of Sikkim Himalaya and Their Natural History. Gangtok, Sikkim, India: Sikkim Nature Conservation Foundation. p. 106.
References edit
- Beccaloni, George; Scoble, Malcolm; Kitching, Ian; Simonsen, Thomas; Robinson, Gaden; Pitkin, Brian; Hine, Adrian; Lyal, Chris. "The Global Lepidoptera Names Index (LepIndex)". Natural History Museum, London. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
- Evans, W.H. (1932). The Identification of Indian Butterflies (2nd ed.). Mumbai, India: Bombay Natural History Society.
- Haribal, Meena (1992). The Butterflies of Sikkim Himalaya and Their Natural History. Gangtok, Sikkim, India: Sikkim Nature Conservation Foundation.
- "Markku Savela's website on Lepidoptera".
- Wynter-Blyth, Mark Alexander (1957). Butterflies of the Indian Region. Bombay, India: Bombay Natural History Society. ISBN 978-8170192329.
- Yutaka Inayoshi, A Check List of Butterflies in Indo-China, page on Family Lycaenidae (accessed on 7 August 2007).
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