Cigaritis vulcanus, the common silverline, is a species of lycaenid or blue butterfly found in Asia. It was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1775.
The wingspan is 26âÂÂ34 mm.
The subspecies of Cigaritis vulcanus are-
These butterflies are found in Sri Lanka, India, central Thailand, Vietnam and Java. In India, the species has been spotted in the territories of Maharashtra, Orissa, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. And in Vietnam, this species has only been recorded in Bình Phðá»Âc province (Monastyrskii, 2003).
Their numbers peak during the south-west and north-east monsoons. It inhabits scrub land with sparse vegetation, hedge rows, scrub jungles and secondary forest.
They are difficult to disturb when nectaring on flowers but are able to fly fast erratically. Even when disturbed they return to the same spot a moment later. Mainly, they are found near their host plants.
The larvae feed on jujube, Zizyphus rugosa, Ixora longifolia, Clerodendrum siphomanthus, C. inerme, Allophylus cobbe, Ixora chinensis and Canthium parviflorum.