Plain Banded Awl

[Vikram Gupchup]

This one is from Amboli . I think it is the Plain Banded Awl. These are very fast fliers ,have a tendency to perch at inconvinent locations , and dont allow photographers to approach close :)

[Jitendra Katre]

i like this one,,,was the flash used?

[Vikram Gupchup]

This was under trees so had to use flash. The skipper appeared very suddenly . So had no time to change any exposure settings (Aperture f 5.6) . just popped the flash and shot off. Not a nice way to approach photography....

[Mrudul Godbole]

Nice colours and details. I liked the eye contact. Thanks for sharing.

Some information about Plain Banded Awl from wikipedia -

Hasora vitta, commonly known as the Plain Banded Awl,[2][3] is a butterfly belonging to the family Hesperiidae which is found in India and parts of Southeast Asia.

The butterfly, which has a wingspan of 45 to 55mm, is dark brown above. It resembles the Common Banded Awl Hasora chromus, except in the case of having a broad white band on the under hindwing which is outwardly diffused; also, its wings are more prominently glossed.
Other differentiating characteristics are:
Male: The upperforewing hasan apical spot, sometimes with another in 3. The upperforewing has no brand.
Female: The apical spot in the case of the female is larger, and there is an additional spot in 2.

[Sabyasachi Patra]

The flash takes away attention from the eyes. The shutter speed was quiet low (1/80th of second). I wish you had time to put on something before the flash to diffuse it. the eyes look nice.

Can you confirm the distribution? Are they found throughout India?

[Vikram Gupchup]

Distribution as per Book of Indian Butterflies is -
India ( Western Ghats - Maharashtra southwards , Sikkim to Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast , Andamans.
Bangladesh and South Myanmar.

Status : Not Common.

Habits: Prefers hill forests, Flight swift. Active at dusk and dawn . Visits flowers