Erionota torus, also known as the rounded palm-redeye, Sikkim palm dart, Sikkim palm red-eye and banana skipper,[1] is a species of butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It was described by William Harry Evans in 1941. It is found from southern and northeast India[2] to Burma, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and China.[3] It has also been recorded from Taiwan.[4][5]

Erionota torus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae
Genus: Erionota
Species:
E. torus
Binomial name
Erionota torus
Evans, 1941

The wingspan is 65–70 mm. Adults have been recorded on wing in April to November. They feed on flowers nectar of banana trees.[6]

The larvae feed on Musa coccina, Musa formosana, Musa nana, Musa sapientum, Musa uranoscopos and Cocos nucifera. They make leaf shelters. The larvae reach a length of about 50 mm. Pupation occurs inside the leaf shelter.

References

edit
  1. ^ Butterflies of India
  2. ^ R.K., Varshney; Smetacek, Peter (2015). A Synoptic Catalogue of the Butterflies of India. New Delhi: Butterfly Research Centre, Bhimtal & Indinov Publishing, New Delhi. doi:10.13140/RG.2.1.3966.2164. ISBN 978-81-929826-4-9.
  3. ^ Erionota at funet
  4. ^ Chiang, H.-S.; Hwang, M. -T. (1991). "The banana skipper,Erionota torus Evans (Hesperidae: Lepidoptera): Establishment, distribution and extent of damage in Taiwan". Tropical Pest Management. 37 (3): 207–210. doi:10.1080/09670879109371583.
  5. ^ W. H., Evans (1949). A Catalogue of the Hesperiidae from Europe, Asia, and Australia in the British Museum. London: British Museum (Natural History). Department of Entomology. p. 326.
  6. ^ "old.hkbutterfly.org". Archived from the original on 2014-01-11. Retrieved 2014-01-11.