''Telicota ancilla'', the dark palm dart, is a

butterfly Butterflies are winged insects from the lepidopteran superfamily Papilionoidea, characterized by large, often brightly coloured wings that often fold together when at rest, and a conspicuous, fluttering flight. The oldest butterfly fossi ...

belonging to the family

Hesperiidae Skippers are a group of butterflies placed in the family Hesperiidae within the order Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies). They were previously placed in a separate superfamily, Hesperioidea, but have since been placed in the superfamily Papilion ...

. These species form a complex and exact species identity can only be determined by examination of the genitalia. The larvae feed on various grasses, such as ''

Imperata cylindrica ''Imperata cylindrica'' (commonly known as cogongrass or kunai grass ) is a species of Perennial plant, perennial rhizomatous grass native to tropical and subtropical Asia, Micronesia, Melanesia, Australia, Africa, and Southern Europe. It has al ...

'', '' Paspalum urvillei'' and ''

Sorghum halepense Johnson grass or Johnsongrass, ''Sorghum halepense'', is a plant in the grass family, Poaceae, native to Asia and northern Africa. The plant has been introduced to all continents except Antarctica, and most larger islands and archipelagos. It re ...

''. Other hosts recorded include '' Ochlandra travancorica'', '' Bambusa striata'' and '' Bambusa wamin''.

Subspecies

*''Telicota ancilla ancilla'' (Herrich-Schäffer, 1869) – greenish darter (New South Wales and Queensland) *''Telicota ancilla baudina'' Evans, 1949 (Northern Territory and Western Australia) *''Telicota ancilla horisha'' Evans, 1934 (southern China, northern Vietnam, Taiwan) *''Telicota ancilla lanka'' (Sri Lanka) *''Telicota ancilla mamba'' (Mambare River) *''Telicota ancilla minda'' Evans, 1934 (Philippines) *''Telicota ancilla santa'' Evans, 1934 (Philippines) *''Telicota ancilla volens'' (Timor)

References

Taractrocerini Butterflies described in 1869 Taxa named by Gottlieb August Wilhelm Herrich-Schäffer Butterflies of Australia Butterflies of Sri Lanka Butterflies of Indochina Butterflies of Indonesia Lepidoptera of the Philippines {{Hesperiinae-stub