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Code: Butterfly Life
Skills: Butterflies of India

Project Description

Loxura atymnus, commonly called Yamfly, is a Lycaenid butterfly species found in Asia.

Life history of a lycaenid butterfly Yamfly (Loxura atymnus) was studied in laboratory conditions to find out morphological characters and duration of different stages of its life cycle. The butterfly used Smilax zeylanica as its host plant and completed the entire life cycle in 23-26 days.

Habitats and Distribution
This is a butterfly of the low country wet and intermediate zones. It inhabits forest corridors, trails and lush gardens, but avoids dense forests.

Description:
- Male: The upper side of the male Yamfly is bright fulvous. The forewing has an increasingly black apical margin from the middle of the costa, continuing down the outer margin. The hindwing has a narrow, pale ochreous-brown band on the outer margin. The underside is dark ochreous-yellow with pale blackish markings.
- Female: The female Yamfly is somewhat paler than the male, with similar markings on the underside.
- The species is known for consuming nectar secreted from extrafloral nectaries stimulated by ants.
- The eggs are dome-shaped and whitish in color.
- The caterpillar goes through several instars, with distinct color patterns.
- The pupae are attached to leaves via their cremaster and silk girdle.