Common Butterflies of Sri Lanka
Common Butterflies of Sri Lanka
Common Butterflies of Sri Lanka
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S<br />
LC<br />
Gladeye Bush Brown Mycalesis patina<br />
White Four Ring Ypthima ceylonica<br />
S<br />
LC<br />
Nymphalidae<br />
The female is duller in appearance and bigger in size. The upper side is rusty brown.<br />
It has a black ‘eye spot’ with a white centre on the forewing. It is enhanced by a large<br />
crescent shaped orange-coloured patch just above the ‘eye spot’. The white patch<br />
near the apex varies in size. A bright-coloured patch is apparent on the cell end and<br />
extends towards the outer margin. The minute orange spots on the hind wing may<br />
be absent. Two marginal lines are distinct on the hind wing. The underside is highly<br />
variable both in background colour and pattern. The background colour is always<br />
paler than that <strong>of</strong> the upper surface and the ‘eye spots’ encircled in beautiful silver<br />
lines are very prominent. Dry zone individuals are much lighter in colour.<br />
It feeds on fallen rotting fruits, decaying matter on the ground, and flowers. It flies<br />
among shrubs and grasses in gloomy forests and it is easily disturbed. It occasionally<br />
basks under the morning sun with partially opened wings. When alarmed, it suddenly<br />
closes its wings and only flies away if the threat is still approaching.<br />
The upper side is greyish brown with a large white area on the hind wing. The<br />
forewing has a large circular black spot with two minute white spots inside and it is<br />
further outlined in a brownish yellow line. The white spots have light blue lustre in<br />
newly emerged individuals. The hind wing has two or three small ‘eye spots’ above a<br />
wavy sub-marginal band. The dull brown background <strong>of</strong> the underside <strong>of</strong> its forewing<br />
is striated in white, while the colours are inverted on its hind wing. Females expose<br />
more white on the hind wing. The forewing has a very large ‘eye spot’, while the hind<br />
wing always has four spots. The sizes <strong>of</strong> these spots vary.<br />
The White Four Ring frequently flies among grasses and rarely ascends to bushes. It<br />
feeds on grass flowers and also visits herbaceous flowers among the grasses. It flies in<br />
both shady and sunny conditions, and its flight is weak and slow. When it is alarmed,<br />
it suddenly opens up its wings to display the large ‘eye spots’. If the threat further<br />
proceeds, it flies into a thicket.<br />
Nymphalidae<br />
These butterflies can be found in shady places in the forest, but never in gardens. It is<br />
common in wetter parts <strong>of</strong> the island, but also appears in dry zone forests.<br />
<strong>Common</strong>ly found all over the country, their numbers are quite low in the highest hills<br />
and the northern region. It is an inhabitant <strong>of</strong> open vegetation and avoids forests.<br />
LFPs: Forest grass species including Cyrtococcum trigonum and Rilawal (ß,dj,a)<br />
LFPs: Grasses including Axonopus compressus (f.dx ;Kfld,), Cyrtococcum trigonum.<br />
92 <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> 93