The Banana Skipper

Erionota thrax

Description

Erionota thrax has brown wings on the upper and under side, the apex of the forewings is pointed and the outer edges are straight (slightly convex in females). The forewing has three conspicuous pale yellow patches in space 2, 3 and cell, the largest spot in space 2.

Larva: larvae of Erionota thrax are pale green, the head is black, the body is covered with smooth short setae. In this phase the larvae are covered with a white waxy powder as a result of their metabolism. Adult larvae are about 6 cm long.

Pupa: Erionota thrax pupae are brownish yellow in color, coated with a white waxy powder like their larvae, are round in shape and tapered backwards. The pupa is about 4 – 6 cm long.

Population Size

-

Life Span

-

WEIGHT​

-

LENGTH

Wingspan from 60 – 70 mm.

Ar

Arboreal

He

Herbivore

Classification

KINGDOM

:

Animalia

PHYLUM

:

Arthropoda

CLASS

:

Insecta

ORDER

:

Lepidoptera

FAMILY

:

Hesperiidae

GENUS

:

Erionota

SPECIES

:

Erionota thrax

Distribution

Erionota thrax can be found in forests, parks and where the host plants grow.

Geography

Continent : Asia

Country : Erionota thrax is widespread in Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Hawaii, Guam and Papua New Guinea.

Habits and Lifestyle

Erionota thrax fly at fast speed, included in a crepuscular group that is active at dawn and dusk.

Lifestyle

Arboreal

Biome

Tropical rain forest

Climate Zone

Tropical

Diet and Nutrition

The larvae of Erionota thrax feed on the young leaves of their host plants, Musa textilis or other species of Musa and Palmae. The larvae of this species will cut the edges of the leaves obliquely and then roll them into small tubes, the caterpillars will eat the leaves from the inside of the roll until they run out.

Diet : Herbivore (larva), Nectarivore

Mating Habits

Erionota thrax reproduce by laying eggs (oviparous), the eggs are laid in groups on the surface of the banana leaves or new shoots. The female butterfly lays eggs at night.

 Reproduction session : –

Incubation periods: –

Independent age : at birth

Baby name : –

Baby carrying : 25 eggs

Population

Population status : Not Evaluated (NE)

NE

DD

LC

NT

VU

EN

CR

EW

EX

PHOTO GALLERY

Reference

  1. Khoon, S. 2010. A Field Guide to The Butterflies of Singapore. Ink On Paper Communications, Singapore.
  2. Ulat penggulung daun pisang on Wikipedia article 
  3. Erionota thrax on Wikipedia article 
  4. Erionota thrax (banana skipper) on CABI article 
  5. Ulat penggulung daun pisang (Erionota thrax) article