| Monkey puzzle | |
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| Scientific classification | |
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| Genus: | Rathinda Moore, [1881] |
| Species: | R. amor |
| Binomial name | |
| Rathinda amor (Fabricius, 1775) | |
Rathinda is a butterfly genus in the family Lycaenidae. It consists of a single species, Rathinda amor, the monkey puzzle, [1] found in Sri Lanka and India. [1] [2] [3]
Male. Upperside brownish-black with a violet-tint. Forewing with a white spot (sometimes slightly ochreous) beyond the end of the cell, with two smaller spots in an outwardly oblique row from it. Hindwiag with two black lunular spots between the tails and indications of a third black spot in the next upper interspace, all three capped with orange, with a fine blue thread on their outer sides; tails black, tipped with white. Cilia blackish, with white tips. Underside white, sometimes tinged with yellow; the markings pale chocolate. Forewing with the apical third chocolate, its inner edge in an even curve from the middle of the costa to the hinder margin near the angle, containing a sub-marginal series of small black lunules inwardly edged with white; the middle portion of the white space with some chocolate suffusion, a thin linear mark near the hinder angle, two short streaks from the base followed by three or four small spots. Hindwing with a lunulated, outwardly curved discal line, the inner wing space covered with spots and small lunular marks, a sub-marginal orange-yellow band, lined on its inner side with dark chocolate, on its outer side by metallic blue-green small spots, some pale chocolate sufiusion near the apex, a black spot between the two upper tails, ringed with pale dull blue, white spots on each side of it, some white on the outside of the yellow band near the costa; both wings with a terminal, narrow, chocolate band ochreous tinted. Antennge black, ringed with white; the club with an orange tip; head and body above and below concolorous with the wings. Female, above and below like the male, but the white spots on the forewing above are larger.
The species is endemic to South Asia, specifically India's Western Ghats, the southern Indian plains, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. It thrives in jungles of moderate to heavy rainfall and scrub forests below 900 m (3,000 ft). It prefers the undergrowth but can be seen along forest paths and clearings. It can also be seen in gardens with one or more of its host plants.
| Holometabolism (complete metamorphosis) | ||||
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| Egg | Larva | Pupa within chrysalis | Imago | |
The caterpillars are pale green and possess fleshy, red protrusions along the back.
The chrysalis is green and turns brown as it nears maturity. The pupa is attached to foliage by a single stalk at the tail end.
The monkey puzzle is a weak flier. It keeps low to the ground and generally does not stay airborne for long. When it lands, it tends to turn around, sidestep, and waggle its tail filaments. This may serve to confuse predators as to which end is the butterfly's head.
The butterfly feeds on soapberries, myrtles, and mangos as well as plants from the families Rubiaceae (Notably Ixora coccinea ), Dipterocarpeae, Euphorbiaceae, and Loranthaceae,. [4]
Zizina otis, the lesser grass blue, is a species of blue (Lycaenidae) butterfly found in south and southeast Asia. The species was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1787. The lesser grass blue is often misidentified as Zizina labradus, the common grass blue.
Leptotes plinius, the zebra blue or plumbago blue, is a species of blue butterfly (Lycaenidae) found in Sri Lanka, India to Australia. The species was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1793.
Curetis thetis, the Indian sunbeam, is a species of lycaenid or red butterfly found in Indomalayan realm.
Zizula hylax, 'the Tiny grass blue' is a species of blue butterfly.
Bindahara phocides, the plane, is a small butterfly found Indomalayan and Australasian realms that belongs to the lycaenids or blues family.
Spalgis epius, commonly known as the apefly, is a small specees of butterfly found in the Indomalayan realm that belongs to the lycaenids or blues family. It gets its name from the supposed resemblance of its pupa to the face of an ape.
Megisba malaya, the Malayan, is a small butterfly found in South Asia and Southeast Asia. It belongs to the family of gossamer-winged butterflies (Lycaenidae). The species was first described by Thomas Horsfield in 1928.
Chilades parrhasius, the small Cupid, is a small butterfly that belongs to the lycaenids or blues family. It is found in Nepal, southern Turan, southern Ghissar, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and southern, central and north-west India.
Lampides boeticus, the pea blue, or long-tailed blue, is a small butterfly that belongs to the lycaenids or gossamer-winged family.
Jamides alecto, the metallic cerulean, is a small butterfly found in the Indomalayan realm but which crosses the Wallace line into the Australasian realm (Celebes). It belongs to the lycaenids or blues family.
Prosotas nora, the common lineblue, is a species of lycaenid butterfly found in Asia to Australia. The species was first described by Rudolf Felder in 1860.
Prosotas aluta, the banded lineblue, is a species of blue butterfly (Lycaenidae) found in Asia. The species was first described by Herbert Druce in 1873.
Arhopala amantes, the large oakblue, is a species of lycaenid or blue butterfly found in Asia.
Zesius chrysomallus, the redspot, is a species of lycaenid or blue butterfly found in Sri Lanka and India.
Horaga onyx, the common onyx, is a species of lycaenid or blue butterfly found in Asia.
Chliaria othona, the orchid tit, is a species of lycaenid or blue butterfly found in Asia.
Hypolycaena nilgirica, the Nilgiri tit, is an uncommon species of lycaenid or blue butterfly found in Asia, especially in the lowland regions to mid-hills of India and Sri Lanka.
Zeltus is a butterfly genus in the family Lycaenidae, the blues. It is monotypic containing the species Zeltus amasa, the fluffy tit, a small butterfly found in Indomalayan realm. The butterfly is found in India, specially the Western Ghats, Sikkim to Assam. It can also be found in Myanmar, Thailand, West Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Java and the Philippines.
Catochrysops strabo, the forget-me-not, is a small butterfly found in Asia that belongs to the lycaenids or blues family. The species was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1793. It is found in Sri Lanka, India, from Sikkim to Indochina and in Sundaland, Sulawesi and the Philippines.
The Common shot silverline, Cigaritis ictis, is a species of lycaenid butterflies. It is native to India and Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan population is classified as a subspecies: Cigaritis ictis ceylonica(Felder, 1868).
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain : Swinhoe, Charles (1911–1912). Lepidoptera Indica. Vol. IX. Vol. 9. London: Lovell Reeve and Co. pp. 5–6.