Lepidoptera > Papilionoidea > Lycaenidae > Theclinae > Aphnaeini > Spindasis
Spindasis zhengweilie Huang, 1998 – Contiguous Silverline
Subspecies in India:
(1) Spindasis zhengweilie chayuensis Huang, 2001 – Chayu Contiguous Silverline.
- Photo Gallery
- Early stages
- Distribution
- Identification
- Status, Habitat and Habits
- Larval Host Plants
- References
Spindasis zhengweilie chayuensis – Chayu Contiguous Silverline
Early Stages:
Not known.
Indian and global distribution:
records (based on images):
This species was earlier known only from SE Tibet (Mêdog County and Chayu County). The Indian distribution is based on Purnendu Roy's record from Anini, Upper Dibang Valley District, eastern Arunachal Pradesh, on 1987/07/28, and Krushnamegh Kunte's record from the Eaglenest WLS, West Kameng District, western Arunachal Pradesh, on 2015/06/25 (BOI-bu684 and BOI-bu685), reported here on 2015/08/15.
Larval Host Plants:
Not known.
Identification:
The pale yellow ground colour, thick black-edged silver bands makes this species superficially similar to S. syama and S. elwesi, however the lowest post-basal spot on the hindwing is connected by a black streak that is continuous to the wing base. The club shaped mark at the base of the forewing in S. syama consists of a single streak and not a spot and streak as in S. zhengweilie and S. elwesi.
This species is probably more closely allied to S. rukma, S. nipalicus, S. rukmini and S. evansii, however the underside ground colour, thick black-edged bands with little or no colour between the silver and black edges separates this species from those species.
Both the male and female of S. zhengweilie lack any sign of a red patch on the upper forewing and this also distinguishes this species from S. elwesi, S. nipalicus (males may lack red markings occasionally) and S. rukma.
Sexual, seasonal & individual variation:
This species is probably more closely allied to S. rukma, S. nipalicus, S. rukmini and S. evansii, however the underside ground colour, thick black-edged bands with little or no colour between the silver and black edges separates this species from those species.
Both the male and female of S. zhengweilie lack any sign of a red patch on the upper forewing and this also distinguishes this species from S. elwesi, S. nipalicus (males may lack red markings occasionally) and S. rukma.
Status, Habitat and Habits:
Appears to be local but common in forested areas of Arunachal Pradesh during the monsoon.
References:
Huang, H. 1998. New Lycaenidae butterflies from the Tsangpo basin, S.E. Tibet. Supplement to "Research on the butterflies of the Namjagbarwa Region, S.E. Tibet" (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Lambillionea 98/4:499-508.
Huang, H. 2001. Report of H. Huang's 2000 expedition to SE. Tibet for Rhopalocera (Insecta, Lepidoptera). Neue Entomologische Nachrichten 51:65-151.
Huang, H. 2001. Report of H. Huang's 2000 expedition to SE. Tibet for Rhopalocera (Insecta, Lepidoptera). Neue Entomologische Nachrichten 51:65-151.
Lepidoptera > Papilionoidea > Lycaenidae > Theclinae > Aphnaeini > Spindasis
Cite this page along with its URL as:
Roy, P., and K. Kunte. 2019. Spindasis zhengweilie Huang, 1998 – Contiguous Silverline. Kunte, K., S. Sondhi, and P. Roy (Chief Editors). Butterflies of India, v. 2.66. Indian Foundation for Butterflies.
http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/sp/2987/Spindasis-zhengweilie
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