English: Dry Season form of Common Pierrot

Spotted from Wayanad.

The Common Pierrot (Castalius rosimon) is a small butterfly found in India that belongs to the Lycaenids or Blues family.

Sri Lanka. India, Myanmar; Tenasserim, extending into the Malayan Subregion. In the Indonesian archipelago the butterfly occurs in NE Sumatra, East Java, Bali, Bangka, Timor, Wetar, Kissar, Sumbawa and Sulawesi.

In India the butterfly is found in peninsular India south of the outer ranges of the Himalayas, except in desert tracts; East India; the North West Himalayas; Assam. The butterfly is also found in the Andaman Islands and South Nicobar Islands

Larva

"Feeds on Zizyphus jujuba and is of a rough texture as if shagreened all over. It is of the usual woodlouse form, much flattened towards the anal segment which is very broad; head concealed; colour bright green with a double, dorsal, yellow line and the sides powdered with small yellow spots."

Pupa:

"Of the usual Castalius form but narrow and slightly flattened. It is intensely glossy as if covered with gum. It varies in colour, being sometimes black, at others green with inconstant black markings." (Davidson, Bell & Aitken)