Horaga onyx

Horaga onyx, the common onyx, is a species of lycaenid or blue butterfly found in the Indomalayan realm.

Range

The butterfly is mostly seen in India and also in Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. It is also Peninsular Malaya, Borneo, Singapore, Langkawi, Java, Sumatra, Bangka Hong Kong and the Philippines.

Status

Locally common.

Larvae food plants

Coriaria nepalensis.
''Mangifera indica''

Description

[Image:BBcopy087.jpg|thumb|230px|Horaga onyx onyx, male left, female right]
The butterfly has a wingspan of 27 to 33 mm. Upperside: for both sexes, blue with broad black apex, termen and costa. Underside: the butterfly has dark yellowish or greenish brown with irregular and variable broad white discal band across their wings. Underside forewing: the male has a well defined brand along basal half of vein 1. Underside hindwing: well defined white band.

Subspecies

Nine are recognized

Habit and habitat

Found on thick hilly forests, never found on plains. Their flight is weak, prefers not to come out in the open, but does bask on leaves. In the north it flies up to 2,000 m on the hills when it is on the wing from March to May and in September to October.