New locality record of Anthene lycaenina villosina in Negros!
A male POINTED CILIATE BLUE, Anthene lycaenina villosina Fruhstorfer 1923 (Lycaenidae; Lycaeninae; Polyommatini) was photographed and documented by Dr. Romana Pahilanga Delos Reyes in Murcia, Negros Occidental while vacationing with her grandson, Jacob on January 16, 2016. The ID was suggested by Agnes Adique Talavera and confirmed by Ja-a T. Badon as correct and a new locality record. It is an uncommon species.
Anthene lycaenina is a small butterfly that belongs to the Lycaenids or Blues family. The subspecies A. lycaenina villosina (Fruhstorfer, 1923) was previously recorded only in the islands of: Balabac, Cebu, Dumaran, Leyte, Luzon, Mindoro, Mindanao, Palawan, Panay and Tawitawi.
Larval host plant in other Asian countries is Bridelia retusa from Phyllanthaceae family which can be found in primary and secondary forests. Species of Bridelia which can be found in the Philippines are B. pustulata and B. stipularis.
Dr. Romana Pahilanga Delos Reyes is an author, social scientist and retired educator from Ateneo De Manila University. She currently resides in Bago, Negros Occidental.
