Quaker
Image: Nativeplants garden (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Common NameQuaker
Scientific NameNeopithecops zalmora
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyPolyommatinae
Wingspan (mm)24
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorswhite, black, brown
HabitatForest edges, open woodlands, gardens, disturbed areas
Geographic RangeIndia, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia (Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines)
Host PlantsAcacia, Albizia, Mimosa
Flight PeriodYear-round in tropical regions
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on young shoots of host plants. Larvae are slug-shaped and green, often associated with ants. Pupae are green or brown, attached to leaves or stems.
Identification TipsKey features include its diminutive size, the white underside with prominent black spots, and its characteristic weak, fluttering flight close to the ground.
Description
A very small butterfly with a white underside featuring several distinct black spots and some brownish shading near the wing bases and margins. The upper side is typically dark brown or black.
