| Common gem | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Male left, female right | |
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Poritia |
| Species: | P. hewitsoni |
| Binomial name | |
| Poritia hewitsoni (Moore, 1865) | |
Poritia hewitsoni, the common gem, is a small butterfly found in India, Myanmar, [1] Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam [2] that belongs to the lycaenids or blues family.
It ranges along the Himalayas from Kumaon to Assam in India and onto Myanmar. [1] Recorded from Mangan and Rangpo in Sikkim. [3] [4]
It is a small butterfly with a 31 to 38 mm wingspan. Male upper: dark iridescent blue, usually with submarginal and apical spots. The cell on upperside forewing is entirely devoid of blue or with a minute blue spot at the base in some cases. Males also have a tufted brand on the upper hindwing above vein 7. The underside is brown with variable pale lineation. Females: brown above, with a few blue spots. The upper forewing has a yellow discal patch above a blue area. [3] [4]
The butterfly has five subspecies in South Asia: [1] -
The common gem is found flying high in the lowland jungles. The males tend to fly rapidly and settle on leaves. [3] It occurs in Sikkim in October and November. The tufted brand on the male hindwing has a discernible, distinct odour. [4]
Poritia erycinoides, the blue gem, is a small butterfly found in India, Myanmar and parts of South-East Asia that belongs to the lycaenids or blues family.
Poritia phalena, the broad-banded brilliant, is a small butterfly found in India and South-East Asia that belongs to the lycaenids or blues family. The species was first described by William Chapman Hewitson in 1874.
Ticherra is a monotypic genus in the lycaenid or blues family. Its sole species is Ticherra acte, the blue imperial, a small butterfly found in India and South-East Asia.
Heliophorus epicles, commonly known as the purple sapphire, is a species of lycaenid or blue butterfly found in Asia. The species was first described by Jean Baptiste Godart in 1823.
Hypolycaena erylus, the common tit, is a small but striking butterfly found in India and South-East Asia that belongs to the lycaenids or blues family. The species was first described by Jean-Baptiste Godart in 1823.
Faunis canens, the common faun, is a butterfly from South and South East Asia that belongs to the Morphinae, a subfamily of the brush-footed butterflies. This species may include the Indian faun, Faunis arcesilaus.
Discophora timora, the great duffer, is a butterfly found in South Asia that belongs to the Morphinae subfamily of the brush-footed butterflies family.
Thauria aliris, the tufted jungleking, is a butterfly found in South East Asia that belongs to the Morphinae subfamily of the brush-footed butterflies family.
Enispe intermedia is a butterfly found in South Asia that belongs to the Morphinae subfamily of the brush-footed butterflies family.
Prosotas pia, the margined lineblue, is a species of blue (Lycaenidae) butterfly found in Asia.
Drina donina, the brown yamfly is a species of blue butterfly (Lycaenidae) found in Asia.
Baspa melampus, the Indian red flash is a species of blue (Lycaenidae) butterfly found in South-East Asia.
Flos apidanus, the plain plushblue, is a small butterfly found in the Indomalayan realm that belongs to the lycaenids or blues family. The species was first described by Pieter Cramer in 1777.
Arhopala silhetensis, the Sylhet oakblue, is a small butterfly found in India that belongs to the lycaenids or blues family. The species was first described by William Chapman Hewitson in 1862.
Flos areste, the tailless plushblue, is a small butterfly found in the Indomalayan region that belongs to the lycaenids or blues family.
The Mahathala ameria, the falcate oakblue, is a species of blue butterfly, of the family Lycaenidae found in South-East Asia.
Dacalana cotys, the white-banded royal is a species of blue butterfly (Lycaenidae) found in South East Asia.
Pratapa icetoides, the blue royal, is a species of blue butterfly (Lycaenidae) found in the Indomalayan realm.
The blue tit is a species of lycaenid or blue butterfly found in parts of South Asia and Southeast Asia. It was traditionally called Chliaria kina but the genus Chliaria is merged into Hypolycaena by many recent authors.
Dacalana penicilligera, the Double-tufted royal is a species of blue butterfly (Lycaenidae) found in South East Asia.
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