Common Butterflies of Sri Lanka

T
LC
Malayan Megisba malaya
Plains Cupid Chilades pandava
T
LC
Lycaenidae
The male is dark brown with a bluish tint on the upper side. It has white scaling on
the centre of the fore wing, which is enlarged in its dry season form. The female lacks
the bluish tint and is larger in size. The underside is similar in both sexes. It has sharp
cresecent-shaped marks in its sub-marginal bands. The forewing has an irregular
distal band consisting of greyish brown patches and has much darker patches along
the upper margin. The distal patches on the hind wing are much lighter and thicker
than those on the forewing. It has two similar sized black spots at the upper margin,
another one at the cell, and others near the lower margin of the hind wing.
Males are regularly seen on wet patches on the ground together with similar looking
Hedge Blues and Quakers. It usually outnumbers these other species. Females are
rarely seen other than when they are feeding on nectar or laying eggs. It only exposes
itself to the morning sun and occasionally engages in basking with slightly opened
wings and lives in the shade during the day. Its flight is fast in relation to its size.
In males, the upper side is shiny blue with dark brown margins. Its black tornal spot
is slightly capped in orange and has a marginal row of white streaks. The female has
broader margins with lighter blue basal parts. Its tornal spot is distinctly capped and
has a sub-marginal row of cresecent-shaped markings. The underside has two submarginal
bands which consist of white lines on the forewing and white lunules on the
hind wing. The black tornal spot is capped in orange and a similar looking but smaller
spot is apparent near the anal angle. Its distal bands consist of dark brown lines which
are outlined in white on either side. Both wings have cell end patches. It has five black
spots ringed in white on the hind wing. Two of them are situated close to each other
in the basal area at the centre. The spot at the lower margin is sometimes absent.
This active butterfly feeds on the flowers of herbs and shrubs. Males engage in mud
sipping, sometimes in large numbers. Both sexes congregate around LFPs when
young shoots are available. They bask with partially opened wings.
Female
Lycaenidae
It prefers shady habitats such as forests and lush gardens. The Malayan population
greatly increases during the monsoonal rains in the dry zone.
It is common except for in dense forests. It is abundant at Nilgala, where its LFP grows
commonly. It is also found in home gardens where its LFPs are grown as ornamentals.
LFPs: Flowers of Mallotus philippensis (yïfmß,a,) and Allophylus cobbe (fldínE).
LFPs: Cycas revoluta (uvq), Cycas nathorstii (uvq).
122 Common Butterflies of Sri Lanka
Common Butterflies of Sri Lanka 123