Virachola rubida

Virachola rubida (Tytler, 1926)


♂, Chiang Mai, Thailand.		♀, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

♂, Chiang Mai, Thailand.		♂, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

♂ genitalia, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

ON : Rapala rubida Tytler, 1926
OD : J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 31(3): 590, pl.1, fig.18,♂.
TL : "Naga Hills" [Nagaland, N.E.India].

Distribution : Nagaland, Myanmar (N.Shan States), N.Thailand.

Synonym

Virachola rosacea Tytler, 1915 : J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 24(1): 138. TL. "Naga Hills" [Nagaland, N.E.India]. (Junior secondary homonym of Rapala rosacea Nicéville, 1889)

Records taken from Literature

[ THAILAND ]
Virachola rubida ; Pinratana,1981 : 145, pl.33, figs.12,♂,13,♂(Un), shown as Rapala nissa ranta. (no loc. [Doi Suthep])
Ralapa rubida ; Ek-Amnuay,[2007] : 710, pl.324, figs.L406,♂,♂(Un). (Doi Suthep)
Virachola rubida ; Ek-Amnuay,2012 : 752, pl.345, figs.L423,♂,♂(Un). (Doi Suthep)
Virachola rubida ; Kimura et al.,2014 : 134, figs.♂,♂(Un). (Doi Suthep)

Specimens Examined

[ THAILAND ]
Mae Hong Son : 6♂.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Chiang Mai : 10♂ 2♀ (incl. photo and photo by D.Sargeant), (1♂ genitalia dissected).

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Notes

Only one record of the species was known from Thailand (1♂, 20.Mar.1977, Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai. S.Yamaguchi & T.Aoki) for 42 years. In 2019-20, it was rediscovered in several districts of Chiang Mai province. The butterfly is locally not rare in semi-dried montane forests at moderate elevations (Alt. 700 - 1400m) and is often found around hilltops. Males are territorial on shrubs or trees.
Based on morphological characteristics such as the UpH androconial patch, we consider this taxon to belong to the genus Virachola rather than Rapala. Further taxonomic study is needed.

The name Virachola rosacea Tytler, 1915 is a junior secondary homonym of Rapala rosacea Nicéville, 1889 under ICZN Code Article 59.3.

Literature

Tytler, H.C.,1915 : Notes on some new and interesting Butterflies from Manipur and the Naga Hills.
J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 24(1): 119-155, pls.3,4, 29 figs.

Tytler, H.C.,1926 : Notes on some new and interesting Butterflies from India and Burma.
J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 31: 248-260, pl.1,4 ; (3):579-590, pl.2, 3-5.

Cantlie, K.,1963 : The Lycaenidae portion (except the Arhopala group) of Brigadier Evans' The Identification of Indian Butterflies 1932 (India, Pakistan, Ceylon, Burma).
Bombay Natural History Society (1962):[i] + vi + 159 [-172] pp, 5 pls.

International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature [ICZN],1999 : International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. 4th Edition.
The International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature, London, xxix + 306 pp


♂ (territorial behaviour), Chiang Mai, Thailand.

♂ (territorial behaviour), Chiang Mai, Thailand.	♀, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

♂ (territorial behaviour), Chiang Mai, Thailand.	♂ (territorial behaviour), Chiang Mai, Thailand.

♂ (territorial behaviour), Mae Hong Son, Thailand.	♀, Chiang Mai, Thailand. (photo by D.Sargeant)

1999.07.21 - 2026.04.30.