Search by Subject
Search by Institution
Satyrium tanakai (Shirozu, 1943) 田中烏小灰蝶

Tags: butterfly | insect

 

Satyrium tanakai (Shirozu, 1943) 田中烏小灰蝶

 

Satyrium tanakai is endemic to Taiwan. The dorsal side of the wings is blackish brown without stripes. A long elliptical sex patch appears above the median cell of the forewings in males. Two tail-like projections form at the hindwings and the projection on the apex of the 3rd vein is very short in males but a bit longer in females. The ventral side of the wings is dark-brown. Thin, distinct and strongly curvy white strips appear in the middle of the forewings and hindwings as its characristic feature. The description here is mostly cited from Hsu (2002), Shirozu (1943), Shirozu (1960) and Hamano (1987). 
 
The larvae of this species feed on plants from Aceraceae family, including Acer albopurpurascens. One generation per year. Eggs hibernate over the winter. The adults appear from April to June. It inhabits in the area south to Taipei basin but north of central Taiwan at elevations between 400 and 2000m. This species have been recorded from Lalashan, Ronhua, Baling, Chihduan, Lienhuachih in Taiwan.
 
 
National Museum of Natural Science (The Digital Museum of Nature & Culture)