Скачать или смотреть Small Branded Swift butterfly Pelopidas mathias

The Small Branded Swift, scientifically known as Pelopidas mathias, is a butterfly species belonging to the Hesperiidae family, which are also known as skippers. It is also known by other common names such as the Dark Small-branded Swift, Lesser Millet Skipper, or Black Branded Swift. The wings are predominantly olive-brown, featuring several semi-transparent yellowish spots. Males have a distinct, slender, and slightly angled impressed glandular streak on the forewing. The underside is paler than the upperside, with more distinct markings. Adults typically have a wingspan of 32-36mm.The Small Branded Swift is widely distributed, found throughout much of South, Southeast, and East Asia, extending as far as the Philippines. It is also present in tropical Africa and Arabia.
It thrives in various habitats, including grasslands, savannas, agricultural areas, forests, and even urban and suburban environments.
Adults are often seen in flower-rich areas, including gardens and grasslands, and are particularly drawn to sunny spots for basking and feeding. The dome-shaped, whitish eggs are laid singly on the upper surface of a grass blade. Upon hatching, the larvae (caterpillars) are initially whitish with a yellowish tone and a black head. They feed on the leaves of host plants, creating shelters by joining the edges of a grass blade. They undergo several instars (molting stages), with changes in coloration and head capsule markings. The pupae are typically bright green and secured with a silk girdle and cremaster. The body is deep lime green in the thorax and wing case, yellowish green in the abdomen, with narrow whitish dorso-lateral and lateral bands running lengthwise on the abdomen. The larvae are known to feed on various grasses, including Axonopus compressus (Wide-leaved Carpet Grass, Cow Grass), rice (Oryza sativa), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), and other species from the Poaceae family. The adults are strong and swift fliers, often seen darting around. They visit flowers for nectar and have been observed puddling on wet grounds. The Small Branded Swift plays a role in pollination as it gathers pollen on its fluffy hairs while visiting flowers.
They exhibit swift, darting flight patterns.
Adults may sunbathe with open wings in sunny conditions. The Small Branded Swift is currently not evaluated (NE) for its population status, indicating that there is insufficient data to assess its risk of extinction. The species was first described by Edward Yerbury Watson in 1891. The scientific name, Pelopidas mathias, is derived from Fabricius's 1798 description in the Entomologia Systematica.