Male. Upperside fuliginous-brown. Forewlng with three minute subapical white dots, one of them, sometimes two of them, often absent; a minute dot at the end of the cell, another near the base of the second median interspace, and a third below it, in the middle of the first median interspace, sometimes one, sometimes two of them only present, sometimes all are wanting. Hindwing with indications of a curved discal series of spots darker than the ground colour, often altogether invisible. Cilia of both wings brown. Underside. Forewlng paler than it is above, the hinder marginal area and a broad squarish patch at the hinder angle paler than the rest of the wing, the minute dots as above. Hindwing greyish-white, the costal and outer marginal areas somewhat suffused with brown; a curved series of dark brown discal spots, the lower ones usually mere dots, often invisible. Female. Upperside coloured like the male, but the shade of colour more variable in different examples in this sex than it is in the male, the sub-apical dots often larger (not always) and generally three in number; the spots in the disc much larger, the one at the end of the cell round, the outer spot near the base of the second median interspace usually conical, the one below it the largest and quadrate and two small spots lietween it and the hinder margin. Hindwing with an obscure blackish spot at the end of the cell and a discal series, all of them very indistinct in many examples. Underside. Forewing somewhat paler than the upperside, markings similar. Hindwing usually much darker grey, sometimes blue-grey, a small hlack dot at the end of the cell, in some examples a complete discal irregular series of black spots, but very variable in its prominence, and in many examples no better indicated than it is in the male; head and body above concolorous with the wings; palpi and body below concolorous with the hindwing.
The eggs are laid on the upper surface of young leaves. They hatch in about six days, whereupon they will construct a leaf shelter by cutting the edge of a leaf, folding a triangular piece back, and then attaching it with silk. During the day, they hide under this shelter and only emerge at night to feed. The larvae feed on leaves of vines belonging to the genus Dioscorea; including Dioscorea transversa, Dioscorea alata, and Dioscorea numularia. They may make other shelters as they grow larger. After about 23 days, they pupate inside their final shelter, emerging as adults after 10 days. The adults are quick flyers, maintaining a height relatively close to ground, generally under large trees, often resting under the leaves. They are usually encountered resting underneath leaf surfaces. They feed on nectar from flowers during the morning. Mating is not seasonal and adults emerge all throughout the year. However, the population is greatest during the wet season.[6]
Distribution and habitatedit
Tagiades japetus have a wide range of occurrence. They are found from Sri Lanka and India to the Himalayas, and Indochina. They also occur throughout the Maritime Southeast Asia to the Philippines and down to Papua New Guinea and the surrounding islands, and northeastern Australia.[7][1]
They are commonly found in the edges of rainforests, vine thickets, and sometimes in cultivated lands.[8]
Subspeciesedit
Tagiades japetus contains several subspecies including the ones listed below with their common names and areas of distribution:[7][1]
^ abcdSavela, Markku. "Tagiades japetus (Stoll, [1781])". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
^Varshney, R.K.; Smetacek, Peter (2015). A Synoptic Catalogue of the Butterflies of India. New Delhi: Butterfly Research Centre, Bhimtal & Indinov Publishing. p. 31. doi:10.13140/RG.2.1.3966.2164. ISBN978-81-929826-4-9.
^Watson, E. Y. (1891). Hesperiidae Indicae: being a reprint of descriptions of the Hesperiidae of India, Burma, and Ceylon. Madras: Vest and Company. pp. 93–94.
^Evans, W. H. (1949). A Catalogue of the Hesperiidae from Europe, Asia, and Australia in the British Museum. London: British Museum (Natural History). Department of Entomology. pp. 134–135.
^ ab One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Swinhoe, Charles (1912–1913). Lepidoptera Indica. Vol. X. London: Lovell Reeve and Co. pp. 40–45.
^Michael F. Braby (2000). Butterflies of Australia: Their Identification, Biology and Distribution. Csiro Publishing. ISBN9780643102927.
^ abRienk de Jong & Colin Guy Treadaway (1993). "The Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera) of the Philippines". Zoologische Verhandelingen. 288: 3–125.
^Michael F. Braby (2004). The Complete Field Guide to Butterflies of Australia. Csiro Publishing. p. 36. ISBN9780643090279. Tagiades japetus.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tagiades japetus.
Australian Faunal Directory
Australian Insects
January 01, 1970
tagiades, japetus, commonly, known, pied, flat, common, snow, flat, species, spread, winged, skipper, butterfly, belonging, family, hesperiidae, widely, distributed, being, found, from, india, himalayas, southeast, asia, australia, contains, several, recognize. Tagiades japetus commonly known as the pied flat or the common snow flat 1 is a species of spread winged skipper butterfly belonging to the family Hesperiidae It is widely distributed being found from India 2 the Himalayas Southeast Asia to Australia It contains several recognized subspecies 1 3 4 5 Pied flat Tagiades japetus obscurus from Kerala Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Class Insecta Order Lepidoptera Family Hesperiidae Genus Tagiades Species T japetus Binomial name Tagiades japetus Stoll 1782 Synonyms ListTagiades jepetus Stoll 1781 Papilio japetus Stoll 1781 Tagiades janetta Butler 1870 Tagiades clericus Butler 1882 Tagiades kowaia Plotz 1885 Tagiades gamelia Miskin 1889 Tagiades australensis Mabille 1891 Tagiades tindalii Ribbe 1899 Tagiades bubasa Swinhoe 1904 Tagiades hovia Swinhoe 1904 Tagiades louisa Swinhoe 1907 Tagiades fergussonius Fruhstorfer 1910 Tagiades inconspicua Rothschild 1915 Tagiades vulcania Evans 1934 Hesperia atticus Fabricius 1793 Tagiades utanus Plotz 1885 Tagiades yotissa Fruhstorfer 1910 Tagiades rajaghra Fruhstorfer 1910 Pterygospidea japetus ravi Moore 1866 Tagiades lugens Mabille 1883 Tagiades khasiana Moore 1884 Tagiades epicharmus Fruhstorfer 1910 Tagiades obscurus Mabille 1876 Tagiades distans Moore 1881 Contents 1 Description 2 Life cycle and ecology 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Subspecies 5 References 6 External linksDescription editFor a key to the terms used see Glossary of entomology terms Male Upperside fuliginous brown Forewlng with three minute subapical white dots one of them sometimes two of them often absent a minute dot at the end of the cell another near the base of the second median interspace and a third below it in the middle of the first median interspace sometimes one sometimes two of them only present sometimes all are wanting Hindwing with indications of a curved discal series of spots darker than the ground colour often altogether invisible Cilia of both wings brown Underside Forewlng paler than it is above the hinder marginal area and a broad squarish patch at the hinder angle paler than the rest of the wing the minute dots as above Hindwing greyish white the costal and outer marginal areas somewhat suffused with brown a curved series of dark brown discal spots the lower ones usually mere dots often invisible Female Upperside coloured like the male but the shade of colour more variable in different examples in this sex than it is in the male the sub apical dots often larger not always and generally three in number the spots in the disc much larger the one at the end of the cell round the outer spot near the base of the second median interspace usually conical the one below it the largest and quadrate and two small spots lietween it and the hinder margin Hindwing with an obscure blackish spot at the end of the cell and a discal series all of them very indistinct in many examples Underside Forewing somewhat paler than the upperside markings similar Hindwing usually much darker grey sometimes blue grey a small hlack dot at the end of the cell in some examples a complete discal irregular series of black spots but very variable in its prominence and in many examples no better indicated than it is in the male head and body above concolorous with the wings palpi and body below concolorous with the hindwing Charles Swinhoe Lepidoptera Indica Vol X 5 Life cycle and ecology editThe eggs are laid on the upper surface of young leaves They hatch in about six days whereupon they will construct a leaf shelter by cutting the edge of a leaf folding a triangular piece back and then attaching it with silk During the day they hide under this shelter and only emerge at night to feed The larvae feed on leaves of vines belonging to the genus Dioscorea including Dioscorea transversa Dioscorea alata and Dioscorea numularia They may make other shelters as they grow larger After about 23 days they pupate inside their final shelter emerging as adults after 10 days The adults are quick flyers maintaining a height relatively close to ground generally under large trees often resting under the leaves They are usually encountered resting underneath leaf surfaces They feed on nectar from flowers during the morning Mating is not seasonal and adults emerge all throughout the year However the population is greatest during the wet season 6 Distribution and habitat editTagiades japetus have a wide range of occurrence They are found from Sri Lanka and India to the Himalayas and Indochina They also occur throughout the Maritime Southeast Asia to the Philippines and down to Papua New Guinea and the surrounding islands and northeastern Australia 7 1 They are commonly found in the edges of rainforests vine thickets and sometimes in cultivated lands 8 Subspecies editTagiades japetus contains several subspecies including the ones listed below with their common names and areas of distribution 7 1 Tagiades japetus atticus Fabricius 1793 common snow flat Madhya Pradesh to Bengal Dehra Dun to Assam Myanmar Tagiades japetus avienus Fruhstorfer 1910 Key Island Tagiades japetus bandanus Fruhstorfer 1910 Banda Island Tagiades japetus brasidas Doherty 1891 Sumba Indonesia Tagiades japetus engnanicus Fruhstorfer 1910 Enggano Island western Sumatra Tagiades japetus janetta Butler 1870 black and white flat northern gulf and north eastern coast of Queensland Aru Islands Irian Jaya Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands Tagiades japetus japetus Stoll 1782 Ambon Maluku Indonesia Tagiades japetus navus Fruhstorfer 1910 Sula and Tukangbesi Islands Tagiades japetus obscurus Mabille 1876 Ceylon snow flat Sri Lanka Nilgiris Shevaroys and the Palni Hills of southern India Tagiades japetus prasnaja Fruhstorfer 1910 Sulawesi Banggai and Selayar Island Tagiades japetus titus Plotz 1884 Philippine common snow flat endemic to the Philippines Tagiades japetus xarea Mabille 1891 Timor nbsp Tagiades japetus janetta nbsp Tagiades japetus titus from the Philippines nbsp Tagiades japetus obscurus matingReferences edit a b c d Savela Markku Tagiades japetus Stoll 1781 Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms Retrieved July 3 2018 Varshney R K Smetacek Peter 2015 A Synoptic Catalogue of the Butterflies of India New Delhi Butterfly Research Centre Bhimtal amp Indinov Publishing p 31 doi 10 13140 RG 2 1 3966 2164 ISBN 978 81 929826 4 9 Watson E Y 1891 Hesperiidae Indicae being a reprint of descriptions of the Hesperiidae of India Burma and Ceylon Madras Vest and Company pp 93 94 Evans W H 1949 A Catalogue of the Hesperiidae from Europe Asia and Australia in the British Museum London British Museum Natural History Department of Entomology pp 134 135 a b nbsp One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Swinhoe Charles 1912 1913 Lepidoptera Indica Vol X London Lovell Reeve and Co pp 40 45 Michael F Braby 2000 Butterflies of Australia Their Identification Biology and Distribution Csiro Publishing ISBN 9780643102927 a b Rienk de Jong amp Colin Guy Treadaway 1993 The Hesperiidae Lepidoptera of the Philippines Zoologische Verhandelingen 288 3 125 Michael F Braby 2004 The Complete Field Guide to Butterflies of Australia Csiro Publishing p 36 ISBN 9780643090279 Tagiades japetus External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tagiades japetus Australian Faunal Directory Australian Insects Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tagiades japetus amp oldid 1220272032, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
