The Silver Royal Ancema blanka blanka (deNicevilee 1894) A male specimen of the Silver Royal feeding on the flowers of a Syzygium tree in an urban park.

Scientific Data and Other Important Notes Family : Lycaenidae SubFamily : Lycaneninae Genus : Ancema (Eliot 1973) Common Name : Silver Royal Wingspan: 35mm   Host Plant:  Loranthaceae spp. Similar species: None   Status in Singapore: Very rare Habitat : In parks and open areas.  Usually found high in the treetops.

Description :  The genus Ancema has been described as easily recognisable by their silver undersides, marked as in Pratapa.  The male of the Silver Royal is deep shining silvery blue with a broad black apical border on the forewing, bearing internervular blue streaks.  Females are duller blue above.  In Corbet & Pendlebury 4th Edition, it was mentioned that a smaller form (possibly a distinct species) with the upperside a deeper and duller blue and without blue streaks on the forewing border occurs more rarely.  The specimen photographed above seem to bear the characteristics of this smaller form. 

Habitat & habits : This species has been observed only once and the specimen photographed above was seen feeding on the flowers of a Syzygium tree in an urban park.   

Other Observations :  Nil

Early Stages : Known to feed on Loranthaceae.
  FURTHER READING AND WEB RESOURCES

• Elamon, Suresh & Zak, Thomas : "Butterflies of Kerala", Checklist of Butterflies of Kerala - Ancema blanka
• Kunte, Krushnamegh : "Checklist of the Butterflies of Anamalais" - Checklist
• Inayoshi, Yutaka : "Checklist of Butterflies in IndoChina", Specimen shots of Ancema blanka blanka from Thailand

Next Species