Telicota ancilla explained

Telicota ancilla, the dark palm dart, is a butterfly belonging to the family Hesperiidae. These species form a complex and exact species identity can only be determined by examination of the genitalia.

The larvae feed on various grasses, such as Imperata cylindrica, Paspalum urvillei and Sorghum halepense. Other hosts recorded include Ochlandra travancorica, Bambusa striata and Bambusa wamin.^[1]

Subspecies

• Telicota ancilla ancilla (Herrich-Schäffer, 1869) – greenish darter (New South Wales and Queensland)
• Telicota ancilla baudina Evans, 1949 (Northern Territory and Western Australia)
• Telicota ancilla horisha Evans, 1934 (southern China, northern Vietnam, Taiwan)
• Telicota ancilla lanka (Sri Lanka)
• Telicota ancilla mamba (Mambare River)
• Telicota ancilla minda Evans, 1934 (Philippines)
• Telicota ancilla santa Evans, 1934 (Philippines)
• Telicota ancilla volens (Timor)

Notes and References

1. Kalesh, S & S K Prakash. 2007. Additions of the larval host plants of butterflies of the Western Ghats, Kerala, Southern India (Rhopalocera, Lepidoptera): Part 1. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc.. 2. 235–238. 104.