The Common Hedge Blue

Acytolepis puspa

Description

Acytolepis puspa has blue upper wings with black outlines. The underside wings are grayish-white with post-discal bands on both wings and black spots on the edges of the wings. On the hind wings there is a black spot in half basalt and one small black spot in space 7.

Larva: larvae of Acytolepis puspa are pale yellowish brown to pale yellowish green with whitish slashes on the dorso-lateral part. Widened in cylindrical shape, the surface of the body is covered with short and smooth setae in white, the capsule of the head is pale yellowish brown.

Pupa: Pupa Acytolepis puspa is pale yellowish brown in color with a number of brown and black spots, and has a typical lycaenid shape.

Population Size

-

Life Span

-

WEIGHT​

-

LENGTH

Wingspan from 25 - 30 mm.

Ar

Arboreal

He

Herbivore

Classification

KINGDOM

:

Animalia

PHYLUM

:

Arthropoda

CLASS

:

Insecta

ORDER

:

Lepidoptera

FAMILY

:

Lycaenidae

GENUS

:

Acytolepis

SPECIES

:

Acytolepis puspa

Distribution

Acytolepis puspa can be found in tropical rainforests, shrubs and parks.

Geography

Continent : Asia

Country : Acytolepis puspa spread in India, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Habits and Lifestyle

Acytolepis puspa is often seen sunbathing with open wings or visiting puddles. These butterflies are active when the weather is clear, males usually fly singly or in small numbers with other species.

Lifestyle

Arboreal

Biome

Tropical rain forest

Climate Zone

Tropical

Diet and Nutrition

Larvae of Acytolepis puspa eat young leaves from various types of trees and shrubs, including Prunus polystachya, Combretum sundaicum, Hiptage benghalensis, Bridelia retusa and Schleichera oleosa.

Diet : Herbivore (larva), Nectarivore

Mating Habits

Acytolepis puspa reproduces by laying eggs (oviparous), the eggs are laid separately on young leaves, young shoots or flower buds of the host plant. The eggs are pale green, discoid shaped and the surface is covered with a web-like pattern.

Life cycle (Metamorfosis) : Acytolepis puspa caterpillar passes through 4 instars before pupating, its body is yellowish green with a whitish oblique lateral stripes. At the last instar these stripes outlined with an apple green edge. The pupal phase can occur in confined places such as leaf litter, the pupa is milky white with dark brown spots, the body is protected by a silk belt. After 6-7 days, the butterflies emerge from the pupa.

Reproduction session : –

Incubation periods: 3 days

Independent age : at birth

Baby name : –

Baby carrying : –

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. Tan, H. and Khoon, K.S. 2012. Caterpillars of Singapore’s Butterflies. National Park Board, Singapore.
  3. Life History of The Common Hedge Blue article 
  4. Common Hedge Blue article 
  5. Common Hedge Blue article 
  6. Acytolepis puspa on Wikipedia article