Poritia hewitsoni
Encyclopedia
The Common Gem is a small butterfly found in India
, Myanmar
, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam that belongs to the Lycaenids or Blues
family.
to Assam
in India
and onto Myanmar
. Recorded from Mangan and Rangpo
in Sikkim
.
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...
, Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam that belongs to the Lycaenids or Blues
Lycaenidae
The Lycaenidae are the second-largest family of butterflies, with about 6000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies...
family.
Range
It ranges along the Himalayas from KumaonKumaon Division
For Kumaoni/Kumauni People see Kumauni PeopleKumaon or Kumaun is one of the two regions and administrative divisions of Uttarakhand, a mountainous state of northern India, the other being Garhwal. It includes the districts of Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Nainital, Pithoragarh, and Udham Singh Nagar...
to Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
in 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...
and onto Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
. Recorded from Mangan and Rangpo
Rangpo
Rangpo is a town in East Sikkim in the Indian state of Sikkim. The town borders West Bengal and is situated along the river Teesta. It is the first Sikkimese town on NH-31A which links Siliguri to Gangtok. It is about 200 m above sea level giving it a sub-tropical climate...
in Sikkim
Sikkim
Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayan mountains...
.
Description
A small butterfly, 31 to 38 mm wingspan. Male - Upper dark iridescent blue, usually with sub-marginal and apical spots. The cell on UPF 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 HW 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 blue area..Taxonomy
The butterfly has five subspecies in South Asia :-- P. hewitsoni hewitsoni Moore, 1865 - Kumaon to Assam and Not Rare as per Evans. Sikkim to North Myanmar and North Thailand.
- P. hewitsoni tavoyana Doherty 1889 - Myanmar. Not Rare. Manipur, S.Burma, Thailand - Peninsular Malaya.
- P. hewitsoni taleva Corbet, 1940 - Penminsular Malaya.
- P. hewitsoni ampsaga FruhstorferHans FruhstorferHans Fruhstorfer was a German explorer, insect trader and entomologist who specialised in Lepidoptera. He collected and described many new species of exotic butterflies, especially in Seitz's Macrolepidoptera of the World...
, 1912 - Vietnam.
Habits
The Common Gem is a butterfly found flying high in the lowland jungles. The males tend to fly rapidly and settle on leaves. Occurs in Sikkim in October and November. The tufted brand on the male hind-wing has a discernible, distinct odour.Life History
- Egg - Truncate, half as long as wide. With two vertical and sloping and two horizontal faces.
See also
- LycaenidaeLycaenidaeThe Lycaenidae are the second-largest family of butterflies, with about 6000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies...
- List of butterflies of India
- List of butterflies of India (Lycaenidae)