The Common Tit

Hypolycaena erylus

Description

Hypolycaena erylus has dark purple upperwings with large black circles on the forewing discs in males. The female butterfly has brown to dull gray wings with dark brown stripes on the post-discal front and rear wings, two large black spots on the marginal area and a white crown in spaces 1b and 2. The undersides of the wings of both sexes are pale greenish gray with a reddish brown stripe on the post discal portion of each wing. On the hindwings there are 2 black spots with an orange crown, one of which is smaller. This species has 2 black tails with a white tip on the veins 1b and 2, the tail on the veins 1b is longer. The legs are white with black stripes.

Larva: Hypolycaena erylus larvae that have just hatched have a pale yellowish brown body with dark lateral bands on each side of the body, the head is yellowish brown, 1.4 mm long. Its body is covered by rather long and black setae. Larvae on subsequent instars are lime green with a more pronounced reddish-brown stripe on the lateral dorso.

Pupa: Hypolycaena erylus pupa is pale green in color with small dark green spots on the surface. Length is about 13 – 14.5 mm.

Population Size

-

Life Span

-

WEIGHT​

-

LENGTH

Wingspan from 28 – 32 mm.

Ar

Arboreal

He

Herbivore

Classification

KINGDOM

:

Animalia

PHYLUM

:

Arthropoda

CLASS

:

Insecta

ORDER

:

Lepidoptera

FAMILY

:

Lycaenidae

GENUS

:

Hypolycaena

SPECIES

:

Hypolycaena erylus

Distribution

Hypolycaena erylus is mostly found in the lowlands to an altitude of 1500 m. This species lives in coastal mangroves, lowland rainforests and temperate hill forests.

Geography

Continent : Asia

Country : Hypolycaena erylus is spread across Asia, from Bangladesh, Nepal, China, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia (Java, Lombok, Sulawesi, Halmahera, Kalimantan) and Papua New Guinea.

Habits and Lifestyle

Hypolycaena erylus flies at moderate speed, often seen flying between flowers and puddles. This species distracts predators by wagging its tail along with an eye mark near the tail. When not eating, it is often found perched on top of leaves, shrubs or low branches, sunbathing with open wings.

Lifestyle

Arboreal

Biome

Tropical rain forest

Climate Zone

Tropical

Diet and Nutrition

Hypolycaena erylus larvae feed on the young leaves of their host plant, Ixora spp. and Hibiscus tillaceus.

Diet : Herbivore (larva), Nectarivore

Mating Habits

Hypolycaena erylus reproduces by laying eggs (ovipar), the eggs are laid one by one on the leaves, stems or shoots of the host plant. The eggs are white with a greenish tinge, in the shape of a dome with a diameter of 0.8 mm.

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. Hypolycaena erylus on Wikipedia article 
  3. Life History of The Common Tit article 
  4. Common Tit article 
  5. Hypolycaena erylus teatus