<> Ancistroides paralysos (Wood-Mason/de Nicéville, 1881) <>

the Common Banded Demon ผีเสื้อนิลวรรณธรรมดา

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Photo taken at Doi Suthep-Pui N.P., Chiang Mai, Thailand ♂ 460m a.s.l.

Ancistroides paralysos (formerly known as Notocrypta paralysos) is fairly common across most parts of the region. Visually there is no difference between the male and female and it is not possible to determine the sex in the field. They have a strong and fast flight. Males are territorial on shrubs at forest edges.

They are multivoltine with several broods per annum. The female lays her eggs singly on the upper surface of a leaf on the host plant. On hatching the larva eats the egg shell as its first meal. The larva uses silk to form a shelter by cutting, folding, and securing leaf fragments. As the caterpillar grows in size, it will abandon the old shelter and proceed to construct a bigger one.

Synonyms and previously used names: Notocrypta paralysos, Notocrypta albifascia, Notocrypta volux, Notocrypta alysos, Plesioneura paralysos, Plesioneura leucographa

Taxonomy: Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Hesperiidae - Hesperiinae - Ancistroides - paralysos

Regional subspecies: Ancistroides paralysos asawa (Nepal, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China), Ancistroides paralysos chunda (Palawan-Philippines), Ancistroides paralysos varians (S.Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia), Ancistroides paralysos volux (Philippines)

Regional Distribution: Nepal, Bhutan, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, W.Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines

Habitat: Ancistroides paralysos is found in montane forest and forest edges at low to moderate elevations. It has been recorded up to 1200m a.s.l.

Flight time: all year depending on location Wingspan: 33-36mm

Life History: egg 4-5 days instar1 3-4 days instar2 3 days instar3 3 days instar4 3 days instar5 5 days pupa 8 days Total egg to adult 29-31 days
All times are approximate and can vary depending on the season and on the host used.

Larval Hosts: Alpinia hainanensis, Alpinia purpurata, Alpinia zerumbet, Curcuma aurantiaca, Curcuma longa, Curcuma zedoaria, Hedychium coccineum, Hedychium flavescens, Zingiber cylindricum, Zingiber officinale, Zingiber wightianum, Zingiber zerumbet, Hedychium coronarium (Zingiberaceae), Costus lucanusianus, Costus speciosus (Costaceae).
Actual host plant used depends upon location and availabilty of plant species.

Adult Food Sources: Nectar - Asystasia gangetica (Acanthaceae), Lantana camara, Stachytarpheta-jamaicensis (Verbenaceae), Mussaenda frondosa (Rubiaceae), Costus speciosus (Costaceae). NOTE: there are probably other nectar sources that have not been recorded. Other - mud puddling, bird droppings