89. Prosotas nora ardates (The Common Lineblue)

Number: 89

Family: Lycaeniidae
Sub-Family: Polyommatiinae

Species: Prosotas nora ardates (Moore, 1875)

Common name(s): The Common Lineblue

Photography location: Cuc Phuong N.P. (Ninh Binh Prov.)

The genus Prosotas comprises a group of small-sized Polyommatine Lycaenids widely distributed in the Oriental and Indo-Australian regions.

Around 20 species are currently placed in this genus. Most species have restricted distributions, but two of them, P. nora and P. dubiosa, are particularly abundant and widespread across nearly the entire distributional range of the genus.

According to Monastyrskii  & Devyatkin (2016), 7 Prosotas species are currently known in Vietnam: aluta, bhutea, gracilis, lutea, pia, nora & dubiosa - the 2 latter being the most widespread and also the only ones recorded in the north of the country.

P. nora is a common Lycaenid to be found along forested paths and roadsides where a big number of males can be found congregating at moist spots. In a good light, the undersides of males wings display an almost metallic ochreous golden sheen.

The male's upperwings are deep iridescent purple-blue in colour