Loxura atymnus
Loxura atymnus, the yamfly, is a species of lycaenid or blue butterfly found in Asia.
Subspecies
The subspecies of Loxura atymnus are:Loxura atymnus atymnus Stoll, 1780 – south IndiaLoxura atymnus arcuata Moore, – Sri LankaLoxura atymnus continentalis Fruhstorfer, 1912 – northeast India, Indochina Loxura atymnus prabha Moore, 1877 – AndamansLoxura atymnus nicobarica Evans, 1932 – Nicobar IslandLoxura atymnus fuconius Fruhstorfer, 1912 – Borneo, Thailand, peninsular Malaya, Langkawi, Singapore
Life history
Loxura atymnus uses Smilax zeylanica and Dioscorea pentaphylla as host plant. Smilax zeylanica is preferred for Oviposition and eggs are laid singly at the base of young shoots. Before hatching parts of the egg shell are consumed. Just after their emergence from the egg shells the hatchlings consumed the remaining part of the egg shell, then they start feeding leaves. The first three instars take 2–3 days. The fourth instar stops feeding after four days and attaches itself with a silk girdle and builds the pupal case. 15 to 16 days after hatching from eggs the pupation takes place. The adult butterflies emerged from the pupae after 7.7 days. The total life cycles were completed in 23–26 days in laboratory conditions and may be change with temperature changes. This short duration of life cycle enables the butterfly species to complete several life cycles within a year.