
Community identification
Red Pierrot
Talicada nyseus
- Order & Family
- Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae
- Size
- 25 to 35 mm (wingspan)
Natural Habitat
Gardens, open scrubland, and semi-evergreen forests, primarily in India and Southeast Asia.
Diet & Feeding
Adults feed on floral nectar; larvae (caterpillars) are leaf miners that feed on Kalanchoe plant species.
Behavior Patterns
Characterized by weak, fluttery flight near the ground. They have a unique life cycle where larvae burrow between the layers of host plant leaves for protection.
Risks & Benefits
Benefits the ecosystem as a pollinator. It is generally harmless to humans and not considered a major agricultural pest, though it may damage ornamental Kalanchoe succulents.