Hasora chromus
Encyclopedia
Hasora chromus, commonly known as the Common Banded Awl, is a butterfly
belonging to the family Hesperiidae which is found in the India
n subcontinent, Southeast Asia
and Australia
.
n subcontinent, Southeast Asia
(including the Malay peninsula and the Indonesia
n archipelago), South China
, Okinawa, Japan
, Papua New Guinea
and Australia
.
It occurs in the plains and hills up to 7000 ft. It is found in jungle as well as open country both in areas of light and heavy rainfall.
subfamily of skippers. It has a rapid and whirring flight which is audlible at close quarters. It is less averse to sunshine than other Awls and is often found flying around bushes in bright sunshine. It can be seen visiting flowers early in the day and sometimes basks on leaves, often with its wings slightly parted. It rests with wings closed.
Caterpillar:The caterpillar is cyclindriform with a constricted second segment which appears as a neck with black collar. The head is lobed, rounded and yellowish-red in colour. The caterpillar is yellowish-black with brown sides which range from pale to dark-brown in colour. The markings are very variable. The caterpillar is greenish-white below tinged with yellow. Sometimes the green extends all over the body along with the dark markings. When newly born, the caterpillar eats the eggshelf, usually incompletely and scuttles off to a leaf where it hurriedly makes a cell for itself. Active when young, it becomes lethargic as it grows. The caterpillar ventures forth to feed only when the light is very low and at night.
Pupa: The pupa is stout, pale-brown, with white abdomen and a prominent projection on the head between bulbous eyes.
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
belonging to the family Hesperiidae which is found in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n subcontinent, Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Range
The Common Banded Awl is found throughout the IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n subcontinent, Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
(including the Malay peninsula and the Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n archipelago), South China
Northern and southern China
Northern China and southern China are two approximate regions within China. The exact boundary between these two regions has never been precisely defined...
, Okinawa, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
It occurs in the plains and hills up to 7000 ft. It is found in jungle as well as open country both in areas of light and heavy rainfall.
Description
- See glossaryGlossary of Lepidopteran termsThis glossary describes the terms used in the formal descriptions of insect species, jargon used mostly by professionals or entomologist....
for terms used
- Both sexes:
- Wingspan 45-50mm.
- The male and female are dark vinaceous brown. The cilia is greyish brown while the head and thorax are greenish brown. The abdomen, third joint of palpi and the legs are also brown; the palpi and thorax beneath are dull yellow.
- Below, The hindwing is dark-brown with more of less of dull blue-grayish gloss. It has a narrow discal band, whitish in colour which is diffused on the outside margin. It has a black tornal patch. This black spot is clearly visible only at the time of hatching for a few moments but is becomes hidden in the fold of the hindwing, a characteristic of this genus which develops very soon after. It can also be seen in mounted museum specimens.
- Male: Above, dark brown and unmarked. UPF with a brand from vein 1 to 4.
- Female: Above, the female has two yellowish white discal spots, with a small spot near the apex.
Similar species
The following species of Awls (genus Hasora) look similar and can be told apart by the differences in the white discal band UNH.- Plain Banded Awl Hasora vittaHasora vittaHasora vitta, commonly known as the Plain Banded Awl, is a butterfly belonging to the family Hesperiidae which is found in India and parts of Southeast Asia.-Description:The butterfly, which has a wingspan of 45 to 55mm, is dark brown above...
ButlerArthur Gardiner ButlerArthur Gardiner Butler was an English entomologist, arachnologist and ornithologist...
- The white band is broader, diffused at the outer margin and has more glossy sheen than the Common Banded Awl. - White Banded Awl Hasora taminatusHasora taminatusHasora taminatus, commonly known as the White Banded Awl, is a butterfly belonging to the family Hesperiidae, which is found in Asia.-Range:...
HübnerJacob HübnerJacob Hübner was a German entomologist. He was the author of Sammlung Europäischer Schmetterlinge , a founding work of entomology.-Scientific career:...
- The white band is broad, sharply defined and generally uniform in width. - Common Awl Hasora badraHasora badraHasora badra, commonly known as the Common Awl, is a butterfly belonging to the family Hesperiidae, which is found in India.-Description:The butterfly, which has a wingspan of 50 to 55mm, is dark brown unmarked above...
MooreFrederic MooreFrederic Moore FZS was a British entomologist. It has been said that Moore was born at 33 Bruton Street but may be incorrect given that this was the address of the menagerie and office of the Zoological Society of London from 1826 to 1836.Moore was appointed an assistant in the East India Company...
- It resembles the Common Banded Awl but lacks the white band. It has rust colouring and a white spot UNH.
Habits
In India, the Common Banded Awl is the commonest of the Awls or CoeliadinaeCoeliadinae
Coeliadinae is a subfamily of the skipper butterfly family . With about 150 described species, this is one of several smallish skipper butterfly subfamilies. It was first proposed by William Frederick Evans in 1937....
subfamily of skippers. It has a rapid and whirring flight which is audlible at close quarters. It is less averse to sunshine than other Awls and is often found flying around bushes in bright sunshine. It can be seen visiting flowers early in the day and sometimes basks on leaves, often with its wings slightly parted. It rests with wings closed.
Life cycle
Eggs: Laid singly on young shoots, or on new leaves, both above and below. The egg is pinkish white when laid, dome-shaped with a flattened-top, and with minute longintudinal ridges. These are bead-patterned and have fine transverse striations. The egg turns dirty-white as it matures.Caterpillar:The caterpillar is cyclindriform with a constricted second segment which appears as a neck with black collar. The head is lobed, rounded and yellowish-red in colour. The caterpillar is yellowish-black with brown sides which range from pale to dark-brown in colour. The markings are very variable. The caterpillar is greenish-white below tinged with yellow. Sometimes the green extends all over the body along with the dark markings. When newly born, the caterpillar eats the eggshelf, usually incompletely and scuttles off to a leaf where it hurriedly makes a cell for itself. Active when young, it becomes lethargic as it grows. The caterpillar ventures forth to feed only when the light is very low and at night.
Pupa: The pupa is stout, pale-brown, with white abdomen and a prominent projection on the head between bulbous eyes.