Matapa (butterfly) explained

Matapa is a genus of grass skipper butterflies in the family Hesperiidae. The species of this genus occur in the Indomalayan realm, from India to Sulawesi.^[1] They are mainly crepuscular and have red eyes.

Species

• Matapa aria (Moore, [1866])
• Matapa celsina (C. & R. Felder, [1867]) – Celebes, Banggai Island
• Matapa cresta Evans, 1949 – Sikkim to Burma, China, Andamans, Thailand, Laos, Malaya, Borneo, Sumatra
• Matapa deprivata de Jong, 1983 – Burma
• Matapa druna (Moore, [1866])
• Matapa intermedia de Jong, 1983 – Sulawesi
• Matapa pseudodruna X.L. Fan, H. Chiba & M. Wang – China
• Matapa purpurascens Elwes & Edwards, 1897 – Khasi Hills (Assam), China
• Matapa sasivarna (Moore, [1866]) – Sikkim to Burma, Thailand, Laos, Hainan, Malaya, Sumatra

Ecology

The larvae feed on grasses including Bambusa, Dendrocalamus, Dinochloa, Gigantochloa, Ochlandra, and Oxytenanthera.^[2]

References

• 1983: Revision of the Oriental genus Matapa Moore (Lepidoptera, Hesperiidae) with discussion of its phylogeny and geographic History. Zoologische Mededelingen 57 (21): 243–270. Full article: http://www.repository.naturalis.nl/document/149616

External links

• Images representing Matapa at Barcode of Life Data System

Notes and References

1. [Adalbert Seitz|Seitz, A.]
2. Robinson, G. S., P. R. Ackery, I. J. Kitching, G. W. Beccaloni & L. M. Hernández, 2010. Hosts - A Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants. Natural History Museum, London. nhm hosts