Aulocera

Aulocera
Aulocera saraswati
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Satyrinae
Genus: Aulocera
Butler, 1867
Aulocera Species

see text

Aulocera is a genus in the subfamily Satyrinae (or Brown butterflies) of the Brush-footed butterfly family, Nymphalidae. Commonly referred to as Banded Satyrs, species of the genus Aulocera are endemic to the Himalayas and associated mountain ranges.[1]

Taxonomy

Aulocera is considered to be a valid genus by some authorities[1] and a junior subjective synonym of the basal genus Satyrus by others.[2]

List of species

General description

For a key to the terms used see Lepidopteran glossary

Banded satyrs are large powerfully built Himalayan butterflies which are dark brown above. They are characterised by a white band across both wings. The wings have chequered fringes. A dark apical spot or ocellus is present on the forewing. The under hindwing is dark. The under hindwing is beautifully variegated with brown, white and grey.[3]

Males have an obscure brand on the forewing.[3]

Habits

Banded Satyrs inhabit the Himalayas from moderate to considerable high altitudes. Fond of open country, they can found elsewhere especially on rocks and paths. Banded Satyrs are very fond of sunshine.[3]

Their flight is both graceful and fast...they settle often, occasionally on flowers...possibly the finest of all Indian Satyrids.

— Col M.A. Wynter-Blyth, Butterflies of the Indian Region (1957)

References

  1. 1 2 Marrku Savela's Website on Lepidoptera Page on Aulocera genus. (Accessed on 09 Aug 2009).
  2. ↑ Page on genus "Aulocera" on LepIndex. Accessed 08 August 209.
  3. 1 2 3 Wynter-Blyth, M.A. (1957) Butterflies of the Indian Region, pp 108-109.

See also

References

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, January 12, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.