Tarucus
Encyclopedia
Tarucus is a butterfly
genus
in the family
Lycaenidae
. They are commonly known as blue pierrots or simply "pierrots". But the latter name is often used for the very closely related genus Castalius
. In fact, the delimitation of Castalius versus Tarucus is not yet fully resolved, with some species, such as the Dark Pierrot (T. ananda), having been moved between the two genera repeatedly. It may even be that they are eventually regarded as synonymous, and in that case the older name Castalius would supersede Tarucus.
Several species
formerly in Tarucus have recently been moved to Leptotes
, another closely related lineage (though not quite as close as Castalius).
The caterpillar
s of this genus typically feed on Zizyphus and are attended by ant
s.
s or merely convenient but paraphyletic assemblages:
Afrotropical group:
South Asia
n group:
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
in the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Lycaenidae
Lycaenidae
The Lycaenidae are the second-largest family of butterflies, with about 6000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies...
. They are commonly known as blue pierrots or simply "pierrots". But the latter name is often used for the very closely related genus Castalius
Castalius
Castalius is a butterfly genus in the family Lycaenidae. They are commonly known as pierrots. This name is also often used for the very closely related genus Tarucus....
. In fact, the delimitation of Castalius versus Tarucus is not yet fully resolved, with some species, such as the Dark Pierrot (T. ananda), having been moved between the two genera repeatedly. It may even be that they are eventually regarded as synonymous, and in that case the older name Castalius would supersede Tarucus.
Several species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
formerly in Tarucus have recently been moved to Leptotes
Leptotes (butterfly)
Leptotes is a butterfly genus in the family Lycaenidae. They are commonly known as zebra blues in reference to their zebra-striped undersides.Several species have recently been moved here from the genus Tarucus, a rather close relative...
, another closely related lineage (though not quite as close as Castalius).
The caterpillar
Caterpillar
Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture...
s of this genus typically feed on Zizyphus and are attended by ant
Ant
Ants are social insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors in the mid-Cretaceous period between 110 and 130 million years ago and diversified after the rise of flowering plants. More than...
s.
Species
The genus can be divided in two distinct groups. These are generally separated geographically, but some taxa (such as the Black-spotted Pierrot, T. balkanicus nigra), though assigned to one group, occur in the range of the other. Consequently, it is not quite clear whether the groups are cladeClade
A clade is a group consisting of a species and all its descendants. In the terms of biological systematics, a clade is a single "branch" on the "tree of life". The idea that such a "natural group" of organisms should be grouped together and given a taxonomic name is central to biological...
s or merely convenient but paraphyletic assemblages:
Afrotropical group:
- Tarucus balkanicusTarucus balkanicusThe Balkan Pierrot or Little Tiger Blue is a small butterfly that belongs to the Lycaenids or Blues family. It is found in North Africa, Balkans, Western Asia, parts of Central Asia and in India....
– Balkan Pierrot, Little Tiger Blue- Tarucus balkanicus nigra – Black-spotted Pierrot
- Tarucus bowkeriTarucus bowkeriBowker’s Blue is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa, from the North Cape, south to fynbos in the West Cape and east to the Amatolas in the East Cape....
(Trimen, 1883) - Tarucus grammicus (Grose-Smith & Kirby, 1893) – Black Pierrot
- Tarucus kiki Larsen, 1976
- Tarucus kulala Evans, 1955 – Turkana Pierrot
- Tarucus legrasi Stempffer, 1944 – Le Gras' Pierrot
- Tarucus quadratus Ogilvie-Grant, 1899
- Tarucus rosacea (Austaut, 1885) – Mediterranean Tiger Blue, Mediterranean Pierrot
- Tarucus sybarisTarucus sybarisThe Dotted Blue is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in southern Africa.The wingspan is 22-26 mm for males and 20-27 mm for females...
(Hopffer, 1855) - Tarucus theophrastusTarucus theophrastusThe Common Tiger Blue, Pointed Pierrot or African Pierrot is a small butterfly found in the Old World tropics...
– Pointed Pierrot, African Pierrot, Common Tiger Blue - Tarucus thespisTarucus thespisThe Fynbos Blue or Vivid Blue is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa, from the North Cape, south to fynbos in the West Cape and east to the Amatolas in the East Cape....
(Linnaeus, 1764) - Tarucus ungemachi Stempffer, 1944 – Ungemach's Pierrot
South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
n group:
- Tarucus alteratusTarucus alteratusThe Rusty Pierrot is a small butterfly found in India that belongs to the Lycaenids or Blues family.-References:* Evans, W.H. The Identification of Indian Butterflies...
– Rusty Pierrot - Tarucus ananda – Dark Pierrot
- Tarucus callinaraTarucus callinara* Tarucus callinara . Pierrot The Spotted Pierrot is a small butterfly found in India that belongs to the Lycaenids or Blues family.-References:* Evans, W.H. The Identification of Indian Butterflies...
– Spotted Pierrot - Tarucus extricatusTarucus extricatusThe Rounded Pierrot is a small butterfly found in India that belongs to the Lycaenids or Blues family.-References:* Evans, W.H. The Identification of Indian Butterflies...
– Rounded Pierrot - Tarucus indicaTarucus indicaThe Indian Pierrot is a small butterfly found in India that belongs to the Lycaenids or Blues family.-References:* Evans, W.H. The Identification of Indian Butterflies...
- Tarucus naraTarucus naraThe Striped Pierrot is a small butterfly found in India that belongs to the Lycaenids or Blues family.-See also:*Lycaenidae*List of butterflies of India*List of butterflies of India...
– Striped Pierrot - Tarucus venosusTarucus venosusThe Himalayan Pierrot or Veined Pierrot is a small butterfly found in India that belongs to the Lycaenids or Blues family.-References:* Evans, W.H. The Identification of Indian Butterflies...
– Veined Pierrot, Himalayan Pierrot - Tarucus waterstradti Druce, 1895
- Tarucus waterstradti dharta – Assam Pierrot