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