Hypolycaena erylus

Bangladesh, Nepal, Sikkim, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, southern Yunnan, Java, Lombok, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Andamans, Nias, Sulawesi, Philippines, Sula, Bachan, Halmahera, Obi, Bismarck Archipelago and Waigeu. ==Status==

Common. Not rare as per Haribal. ==Description==

The underside of both sexes is pale greyish brown. The underside hindwing does not have a spot in the basal area of 7. The butterfly has two tails – a 6 mm long one at V1 and a 5 mm long tail at V2. The markings include: • a double bar at end-cell • a regular discal line on the forewing • a broken, less regular line on the hindwing The male butterfly is pale blue to dark brown above, dark shining purple depending on the light. It has a black border with the upper forewing having a large black discal area of modified scales. The female butterfly is dark brown and its hindwing has a white disconnected discal band above the tornus. The butterfly also has a white-edged tornal black spot in 2. ==Subspecies==

The butterfly has a number of subspecies of which one, H. e. himavantus (Fruhstorfer), is found in mainland India while another H. e. andamana Moore is found in the Andamans. All subspecies are: • H. e. erylus (Java) • H. e. pupienus Fruhstorfer, 1912 (Lombok) • H. e. teatus Fruhstorfer, 1912 (southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaya, Sumatra, Borneo) • H. e. himavantus Fruhstorfer, 1912 (Nepal, Sikkim to Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, southern Yunnan) • H. e. andamana Moore, 1877 (Andamans) • H. e. syphax Fruhstorfer, 1912 (Nias) • H. e. gamatius Fruhstorfer, 1912 (Sulawesi) (= H. e. pigres Fruhstorfer, 1912 (Obi)) • H. e. tmolus C. Felder & R. Felder, 1862 (Philippines) • H. e. orsiphantus Fruhstorfer, 1912 (Philippines: Basilan) • H. e. aimnestus Fruhstorfer, 1912 (Palawan) • H. e. georgius Fruhstorfer, 1912 (Sula) • H. e. thyrius Fruhstorfer, 1912 (Bachan, Halmahera) • H. e. moutoni Ribbe • H. e. figulus Fruhstorfer, 1912 (Waigeu) • H. e. erna Kalis, 1933 (Bismarck Archipelago) ==Habits==

The butterfly is abundant at low elevations. Males are known to cluster at damp patches while the females are rarely seen. ==Food plants==

Recorded on Meyna pubescens in India. ==Gallery==

File:Hypolycaena erylus gamatius male.JPG|H. e. gamatius male File:Hypolycaena erylus gamatius female.JPG|H. e. gamatius female File:Hypolycaena erylus thyrius male.JPG|H. e. thyrius male File:Hypolycaena erylus thyrius female.JPG|H. e. thyrius female ==See also==