| Forest Pierrot | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Upperside of a specimen from Peninsula Malaysia | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Taraka |
| Species: | T. hamada |
| Binomial name | |
| Taraka hamada (Herbert Druce 1875) | |
Taraka hamada, the forest Pierrot, [1] is a small species of butterfly found in Asia, that belongs to the lycaenids (or blues) family.
The uppersides of its wings are very pale brown in color, somewhat paler in the female, uniform, with the black spots of the underside faintly apparent by transparency. The undersides are white, with round black spots and markings as follows: forewing: a spot at base of wing followed in transverse order by two spots, again two spots, then an irregular row of five spots that crosses near the apex of cell, the lower two coalescent, beyond that another curved row of five spots, two of which are in interspace 3, then a complete curved series of outwardly-pointed and a terminal series of inwardly-pointed similar spots. The spots of the last series cross a well-marked but very slender anteciliary black line, and thus cause the white cilia to the wing to be alternated with black. Hindwing: similarly crossed by five rows, all of which are more or less curved outwards, of black spots, followed by a slender uninterrupted anteciliary black line. Antennae, head, thorax and abdomen brown, shafts of the antennae ringed with white, apex of club ochraceous; beneath: the palpi, thorax and abdomen white. [2]
The butterfly shows two extreme forms in Sikkim, one extreme form which is almost completely black and the other having costa and outer margin black. The black spots from the underside are seen through the upper forewings of both sexes. [3]
The forest Pierrot is found in various regions of Asia; the butterfly occurs in India from Sikkim to Assam and onto Myanmar and south to the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The butterfly also occurs in west and central China, Yunnan, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Japan, and possibly Bali and Lombok. [4]
A weak flying butterfly, found in forests at lower elevations. [5]
Not rare in Sikkim from April to December. [5]
Zizula hylax, 'the Tiny grass blue' is a species of blue butterfly.
Discolampa ethion, the banded blue Pierrot, is a contrastingly marked butterfly found in South Asia that belongs to the blues or family Lycaenidae. The species was first described by John O. Westwood in 1851.
Pontia callidice, the lofty Bath white or peak white, is a small butterfly of the yellows and whites family (Pieridae), which occurs in the Palearctic realm.
Poritia hewitsoni, the common gem, is a small butterfly found in India, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam that belongs to the lycaenids or blues family.
Miletus boisduvali, the common brownie, is a small but striking butterfly found in India and Myanmar that belongs to the lycaenids or blues family.
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.
Nacaduba angusta, the white lineblue, is a lycaenid butterfly found in South Asia. The species was first described by Herbert Druce in 1873.
Nacaduba pavana, the small four-line blue or Singapore four-line blue, is a species of lycaenid butterfly found in Southeast Asia.
Nacaduba berenice, the rounded six-line blue, is a lycaenid butterfly found in Indomalayan realm. The species was first described by Gottlieb August Wilhelm Herrich-Schäffer in 1869.
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.
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 arcesilaus, the Indian faun is a butterfly found in South Asia that belongs to the Morphinae subfamily of the brush-footed butterfly family.
Amathuxidia amythaon, the koh-i-noor, is a butterfly found in Asia. It belongs to the Morphinae, a subfamily of the brush-footed butterflies.
Thaumantis diores, the jungle glory, is a butterfly found in South Asia that belongs to the Morphinae subfamily of the brush-footed butterflies family.
Stichophthalma camadeva, the northern jungle queen, is a butterfly found in South Asia that belongs to the Morphinae subfamily of the brush-footed butterflies family.
Stichophthalma nourmahal, is a South Asian butterfly that belongs to the Morphinae subfamily of the brush-footed butterflies family.
Prosotas bhutea, the Bhutya lineblue, is a species of blue butterfly (Lycaenidae) found in 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.
Apporasa is a genus of butterflies in the family Lycaenidae, the blues. The genus is monotypic containing only Apporasa atkinsoni, the crenulate oakblue. It is found in the Indomalayan realm.
Media related to Taraka hamada at Wikimedia Commons