The Scarce Silverstreak

Iraota rochana

Description

Male Iraota rochana has dark brown upper wings with the bases of the front wings under the cell and between the veins 1-6 the hind wings are turquoise, the female wings are brown. The underside of the wings are reddish brown with a silvery white stripe extending across the forewing cells, a basal line along the ribs to the termination on the hind wings. There is also an additional tail (tooth) in the 3rd vein.

Larva: Iraota rochana larvae are green to light brown with brown dorso-lateral marks and reddish brown saddle marks on the 1st and 5th abdominal segments. The surface of the body is covered with short setae.

Pupa: Iraota rochana pupae are purple with regular, yellowish spots on its back, has a distinctive lycaenid shape.

Population Size

-

Life Span

-

WEIGHT​

-

LENGTH

Wingspan from 32-36 mm.

Ar

Arboreal

He

Herbivore

Classification

KINGDOM

:

Animalia

PHYLUM

:

Arthropoda

CLASS

:

Insecta

ORDER

:

Lepidoptera

FAMILY

:

Lycaenidae

GENUS

:

Iraota

SPECIES

:

Iraota rochana

Distribution

Iraota rochana can be found in rainforest areas, nature reserves, gardens and city parks.

Geography

Continent : Asia

Country : Iraota rochana is spread across Myanmar, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia (Sumatra, Kalimantan, Java).

Habits and Lifestyle

Iraota rochana flies fast and is often in the treetops, females are often seen visiting host plants in search of nesting sites or flower plants for nectar.

Lifestyle

Arboreal

Biome

Tropical rain forest

Climate Zone

Tropical

Diet and Nutrition

Iraota rochana larvae feed on the leaves of the Ficus microcarpa.

Diet : Herbivore (larva), Nectarivore

Mating Habits

Iraota rochana reproduces by laying eggs (oviparous), the eggs are laid individually on the stem or the underside of the leaves of the host plant. Eggs are yellowish in color, shaped like a dome with many irregular polygonal holes.

Life cycle (Metamorfosis) : Iraota rochana caterpillar passes through 4 instars before pupating, its body is green with slanted whitish lateral stripes. At the last instar, these stipes becomes wider with a dark green border. The pupa phase occurs in leaf litter, the pupa is brown with dark brown spots, the body is protected by a silk belt. After 9 days, the butterflies emerge from the pupa.

Reproduction session : –

Incubation periods : 2,5-3 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 Scarce Silverstreak article 
  4. Iraota rochana on Wikipedia article