Common Butterflies of Sri Lanka

M
LC
Common Palm Fly Elymnias hypermnestra
Apefly Spalgis epeus
T
LC
Nymphalidae
Female
Male
Male: Dark brown on the upper side with a broad golden brown band on the outer
margin of the hind wing. This band is divided by dark brown lines along its veins.
Sometimes, the forewing has shiny blue spots or streaks towards the upper margin
of the forewing. A sex brand is visible along the hind wing cell. Its reddish brown
underside is striated in grey-brown increasing towards the outer margins. There is a
small white spot above the hind wing cell. Female: Its upper side resembles that of
the Common Tiger. Its basal parts are orange coloured, while the surrounding areas
are dark brown. The forewing has a broad white sub-apical band and it extends in the
form of spots along the outer margin. The hind wing has a distal row of distinct white
spots. The underside is similar to that of the male but is lighter in colour and often
reveals traces of white markings on the upper surface.
Though the female mimics the Tiger, it never perches with open wings to expose its
colour pattern.
Common in open vegetation throughout the lowlands, it is abundant in coconut
plantations.
LFPs: Cocos nucifera (fmd,a), Areca catechu (mqjla), Caryota urens (ls;=,a).
Dry season individuals are smaller. Males have pointed forewings, but otherwise the
sexes look similar. The upper side is dull brown. The forewing has a white patch at the
centre. The size of the patch varies to a great extent, being almost absent in some
butterflies. The underside is a light brownish grey, and is marked with numerous wavy,
dark brown lines. Its legs and abdomen are marked to suit the pattern of the wings,
but its eyes are distinct due to their golden yellow colour. Its antennae project upright
and forward and are set close to each other. It has long upright labial palpi.
The tiny Apefly frequently flies around small trees and many of its typical activities
including feeding and basking are done at this level. Females never perch steadily
on plants to lay eggs, but instead dash to the plant to lay an egg and quickly returns.
This habit allows them to escape the ants that tend to inhabit the places where they
lay eggs.
This butterfly is common throughout the country and is abundant in fruit plantations.
It avoids both extremes: dense forest and vast openings.
LFPs: Larvae of this butterfly are carnivorous and never feed on plant material. They
entirely feed on mealy bugs (msá ul=Kd).
Lycaenidae
94 Common Butterflies of Sri Lanka
Common Butterflies of Sri Lanka 95