<> Cigaritis lohita (Horsfield, 1829) <>

the Long-banded Silverline ผีเสื้อลายขีดเงินลายขอ

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Photo taken at Chiang Dao Nature Sanctuary, Chiang Mai, Thailand 540m a.s.l.

Cigaritis lohita is widespread across most of the SE Asia region , with the exception of the Philippines. Visually there is little difference between the sexes except the upper wings being more vibrant in the male. It is however, rarely seen with its wings open. It is fast flying and males are territorial on undergrowth at forest edges.

The species is multivoltine and there are a number of broods per annum. The female lays her eggs singly or in pairs on the stems and leaves of the host plant. The larva are strongly ant associated.

Synonyms and previously used names: Amblypodia lohita, Spindasis milleri, Spindasis lohita, Aphnaeus lohita

Taxonomy: Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Lycaenidae - Aphnaeinae - Cigaritis - lohita

Regional subspecies: Cigaritis lohita batina (Yunnan-China), Cigaritis lohita formosana (Taiwan), Cigaritis lohita himalayanus (Nepal, Bhutan, NE India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam), Cigaritis lohita lohita (Java-Indonesia), Cigaritis lohita senema (S.Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra/Kalimantan-Indonesia)

Regional Distribution: Nepal, Bhutan, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia

Habitat: Cigaritis lohita is usually found in montane and secondary forests at low to moderate elevations. However, it has been recorded at elevations up to 2500m a.s.l. in Nepal.

Flight time: all year depending on location Wingspan: 27-32mm

Life History: egg 6-7 days instar1 3-4 days instar2 3-4 days instar3 3-4 days instar4 3-4 days instar5 4 days instar6 6-7 days pupa 9 days Total egg to adult 38-42 days
All times are approximate and can vary depending on the season and on the host used.

Larval Hosts: Dioscorea hispida, Dioscorea pentaphylla (Dioscoreaceae), Glochidion rubrum, Macaranga peltata (Euphorbiaceae), Ixora brachiata (Rubiaceae), Terminalia catappa, Terminalia paniculata (Combretaceae), Carissa carandas (Apocynaceae), Smilax perfoliata, Smilax zeylanica (Smilacaceae), Dendrotrophe frutescens (Santalaceae), Lomnthus parasiticus, Loranthus chinensis, Viscum orientale (Loranthaceae), Melastoma malabathricum (Melastomataceae), Psidium guajava (Myrtaceae), Coffea liberica (Rubiaceae), Hiptage benghalensis (Malpighiaceae), Litchi sp. (Sapindaceae), Xylia xylocarpa (Fabaceae), Trema tomentosa (Cannabaceae), Sida rhombifolia, Talipariti tiliaceum, Thespesia populnea (Malvaceae), Portulaca oleracea (Portulacaceae), Elatostema cuneatum (Urticaceae), Flagellaria indica (Flagellariaceae)
Actual host plant used depends upon location and availabilty of plant species.

Adult Food Sources: Nectar - Bidens alba, Bidens pilosa, Chromolaena odorata, Mikania micrantha (Asteraceae), Leea rubra (Leeaceae), Syzygium zeylanicum (Myrtaceae), Zanthoxylum avicennae (Rutaceae), Kaempferia rotunda (Zingiberaceae), Coelogyne corymbosa, Dendrobium devonianun (Orchidaceae), Cyananthus incanus (Campanulaceae), Rhododendron grande (Ericaceae), Gentiana capitata (Gentianaceae). Other - mud puddling