Common Butterflies of Sri Lanka

T
LC
Lesser Grass Blue Zizina otis
Red Pierrot Talicada nyseus
S
LC
Lycaenidae
Male
It has no tornal tails. The male is a uniformly purplish blue butterfly with dark brown
outer marginal bands. The blue areas in the largely dark brown females are limited
to the wing bases, being almost non-existent in some individuals. The underside is
similar in both sexes, but shows some variations. Both wings have two sub-marginal
rows of cresecent-shaped markings which are prominent on the hind wing. The distal
band of the forewing consists of big black spots which are ringed in white. The spots
in the hind wing band are small and dull. These spots are not arranged in a regular arc.
Both wings have cell end patches and no other marks on the forewing cell.
It flies very low, not more than two feet above the ground and feeds on the nectar of
very small herbs. It basks in the morning and becomes very active, but rests during
the mid-day hours under the shade of hedges, only to come out again in the evening.
It is abundant in areas with very short weeds in the low country.
The female is slightly larger than the male, but otherwise both sexes look similar. The
upper side is black with a broad red band on the outer margin of the hind wing. Very
rarely this band can be in yellow in colour. The cilia are alternately marked in black
and white. The patches on its underside are highly variable. Though the number and
size of black patches on white area of the basal parts vary, both wings always have
cell end patches. There are white patches in the broad red marginal band on the hind
wing. This red colour only goes up to vein 6 and the band continues in black up to the
upper margin. The forewing has two rows of white patches on the black outer margin.
The cilia of both wings are marked alternately in black and white.
The Red Pierrot flies quite slowly among herbs. It feeds on the flowers of these
plants. Usually it is in closed winged position, but occasionally opens them partially
when basking. Males engage in mud puddling but do not congregate. It is active
throughout the day until late evening, but never goes into fully open sunny areas.
Lycaenidae
LFPs: Flowers and immature leaves of Desmodium heterophyllum (uy W÷msh,sh) and
D. triflorum (ySka W÷msh,sh). Butterflies are numerous around these plants in flowering
season since both the larvae and adults feed on them.
It is abundant in rocky outcrops where its larval food plant grows plentifully. It is also
attracted to home gardens with these plants.
LFPs: Internal tissues of leaves of Kalanchoe pinnata (wlalmdk).
118 Common Butterflies of Sri Lanka
Common Butterflies of Sri Lanka 119