Burara jaina


Burara jaina, the orange awlet, is a species of hesperid butterfly found in Asia. The butterfly was reassigned to the genus Burara by Vane-Wright and de Jong, and is considered Burara jaina by them.

Range

The orange awlet is found in India, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
In India, this butterfly is found in the Western Ghats and the Himalayas from Garhwal to Sikkim and Assam eastwards to Myanmar.
The type locality is Darjeeling in West Bengal, India.

Status

It is fairly common in Kodagu and Thenmala but rare elsewhere in India.

Description

Both sexes: The butterfly, which has a wingspan of 60 to 70 mm, is a dark vinaceous brown above. The forewing has an orange costal streak from the base above the cell to about halfway along the wing, while the hindwing has an orange fringe. The butterfly is paler below and has orange bands along the veins of the hindwing.
Male: The male may have an indistinct dark brand placed centrally on the forewing above, between mid 1b to vein 3.
Edward Yerbury Watson gives a detailed description, shown below:

Habits

The orange-striped awl is an insect of the low foothills with dense jungles and heavy rainfall. It is rarely seen out of such terrain. Crepuscular in nature, it flies early in the mornings or late in the evenings. It has strong, fast and straight flight. It is best seen in ravines and nullahs. It hovers at leaves and visits Lantana and other attractive flowers.

Life history

The larva of Burara jaina fergusonii de Nicéville, 1893 has been recorded on Hiptage benghalensis and Combretum latifolium.