Dark small-branded swift facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dark small-branded swift |
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The Dark Small-Branded Swift (scientific name: Pelopidas mathias) is a type of butterfly. It is also known by other names like the Small Branded Swift or Lesser Millet Skipper. This butterfly belongs to a group called Skipper butterflies.
You can find the Dark Small-Branded Swift in many parts of Asia, including south, southeast, and East Asia. It lives as far east as the Philippines. These butterflies also live in tropical Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
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What Does the Dark Small-Branded Swift Look Like?
In 1891, a scientist named Edward Yerbury Watson described this butterfly. He noted that the male butterflies have an olive-brown color on their upper side. Their forewings have two small, yellowish, see-through spots. There are also three more spots near the wing tip.
Female butterflies have five spots on their forewings. They also have four or five spots on their hindwings. The underside of the butterfly is usually lighter in color. The markings on the underside are also clearer and easier to see.
How Do These Butterflies Affect Farms?
The Dark Small-Branded Swift is sometimes seen as a pest for rice farms. However, it usually does not cause as much damage as another butterfly called Parnara guttata.
When the caterpillars first hatch, they are very hungry. They like to eat young rice plants. These caterpillars are also clever. They use silky threads to roll up and stitch together leaves that they have partly eaten. This helps them eat the leaves more easily.
Different Types of Dark Small-Branded Swifts
Scientists have found a few different types, or subspecies, of the Dark Small-Branded Swift. These are slightly different versions of the same butterfly.
- Pelopidas mathias mathias
- Pelopidas mathias oberthueri Evans, 1937
- Pelopidas mathias repetita (Butler, 1882) (Found on Admiraly Island, Dampier Island, and Vulcan Island)
Images for kids
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A Dark Small-Branded Swift resting
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Close-up of a Dark Small-Branded Swift
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