Common Butterflies of Sri Lanka
Common Butterflies of Sri Lanka
Common Butterflies of Sri Lanka
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T<br />
LC<br />
Chestnut Bob Iambrix salsala<br />
Grass Demon Udaspes folus<br />
S<br />
LC<br />
Hesperiidae<br />
Male<br />
Male<br />
The male is completely chestnut coloured on the upper side without any markings.<br />
The female is the same colour, but has a distal band <strong>of</strong> white spots on the forewing.<br />
The number <strong>of</strong> spots is variable. Its underside is also chestnut in colour in both sexes,<br />
except for the hidden area <strong>of</strong> the forewing which is dark brown. Usually the male<br />
has one or two very small white spots on both wings. The female has more patches<br />
and they are bigger than those <strong>of</strong> the male. Again the number <strong>of</strong> spots varies. Its<br />
abdomen, thorax, head and legs also take on the shades <strong>of</strong> chestnut.<br />
Though its flight is jerky, it is not fast as bigger Hesperiids. It basks in the morning by<br />
keeping its hind wing spread flat and its forewing perpendicularly. They are fond <strong>of</strong><br />
feeding on flowers <strong>of</strong> herbs among grasses. They come out in the morning and the<br />
evening. During the mid-day hours they fly under dappled sun light.<br />
It is found in all habitats with short grasses but is reduced in numbers in vast open<br />
areas. It is common amidst roadside vegetation which has shady trees nearby.<br />
LFPs: Various grasses including Axonopus compressus (f.dx ;Kfld,), Ochlandra<br />
stridula (ng) and Oryza sativa (f.dhï).<br />
The sexes are alike. The upper side is dark brown. It has scattered white patches on<br />
the forewing which are smaller in the distal parts than in the basal part. The hind wing<br />
has a large white patch on the centre. The underside is dark reddish brown which is<br />
somewhat obscured by the pure white scales that cover most <strong>of</strong> the hind wing. The<br />
margin <strong>of</strong> this white scaling continues up to its snout along the thorax and eye in the<br />
form <strong>of</strong> a straight line. The forewing is also slightly washed with white scales interior<br />
to the sub-margin. The white patches are the same as on the upper side. The dorsal<br />
area <strong>of</strong> its abdomen, thorax and head are dark brown.<br />
It has quite a rapid flight, but is distinct due to its pied colouration. When it settles, its<br />
wings appear to rotate around a hinge at its thorax. It is active at dawn and dusk, and<br />
in gloomy conditions. It feeds on the nectar <strong>of</strong> flowers that have long corolla tubes<br />
such as Tabernaemontana divaricata (j;=iqoao) which are inaccessible to other species.<br />
While it was considered a very rare butterfly in 1950s, it is now commonly seen around<br />
home gardens.<br />
LFPs: Zingiberaceae plants including Kaempferia galanga (ysÕ=re msh,s), Curcuma<br />
longa (ly), Curcuma zedoaria (wrkaly).<br />
Clearing the<br />
proboscis by its<br />
own leg<br />
Hesperiidae<br />
130 <strong>Common</strong> <strong>Butterflies</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Sri</strong> <strong>Lanka</strong><br />
<strong>Common</strong> <strong>Butterflies</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Sri</strong> <strong>Lanka</strong> 131