Common banded awl
Hasora chromus, the common banded awl, is a butterfly belonging to the family Hesperiidae which is found in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and Australia.
The common banded awl is found throughout the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia (including the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian archipelago), South China, Okinawa, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Papua New Guinea and Australia.
It occurs in the plains and hills up to 7,000 feet (2,100 m). It is found in jungle and open country in areas of light and heavy rainfall.
In India, the common banded awl is the most common of the awls or Coeliadinae subfamily of skippers. It has a rapid and whirring flight which is audible at close quarters. It is less averse to sunshine than other awls and is often found flying around bushes in bright sunshine. It can be seen visiting flowers early in the day and sometimes basks on leaves, often with its wings slightly parted. It rests with wings closed.
Eggs: Laid singly on young shoots, or on new leaves, both above and below. The egg is pinkish white when laid, dome shaped with a flattened top, and with minute longitudinal ridges. These are bead patterned and have fine transverse striations. The egg turns dirty white as it matures.Caterpillar: The caterpillar is cylindriform with a constricted second segment which appears as a neck with a black collar. The head is lobed, rounded and yellowish red in colour. The caterpillar is yellowish black with brown sides which range from pale to dark brown in colour. The markings are very variable. The caterpillar is greenish white below tinged with yellow. Sometimes the green extends all over the body along with the dark markings. When newly born, the caterpillar eats the eggshelf, usually incompletely and scuttles off to a leaf where it hurriedly makes a cell for itself. Active when young, it becomes lethargic as it grows. The caterpillar ventures forth to feed only when the light is very low and at night.Pupa: The pupa is stout, pale brown, with white abdomen and a prominent projection on the head between bulbous eyes.
Host plantsThe larva (caterpillar) has been recorded on Ricinus communis, Derris scandens, Pongamia pinnata, Heynea trijuga and Toddalia asiatica.
