Butterflies of Sri Lanka.

Disna Nishanthini Mahagamage.

WHAT IS A BUTTERFLY?

A Butterfly is an insect that has two pairs of wings with dust .

It has huge eyes with which to see

Two club-shaped antennae that help it to touch,

smell & feel and mouth that is like straw [PROBOCIS] ( when it is resting or flying this straw curled up like coil)

On a butterfly’s wing may be able to see raised lines . these are veins that carry blood to the wings.

Difference Between Butterflies & Moths

Butterfly Moth

•Most fly by day.•Most are brightly colored.•Hold their wings up togetherbehind their bodies whenthey rest.•Club-shaped antennae

•Most fly by during the night.•Whereas most moths are dull.•Most moths spread their wings.•Feathery antennae.

Largest & Smallest

In Sri Lanka: Largest- Ceylon Bird wing.95-135mm

: smallest-Grass Jewel8-13mm

In the World: largest- Queen Alexandra bird wing.(found in New Guinea)

280mm: smallest- Sinai Baton Blue

(found in high mountains in Southern Egypt)5mm

Largest Moth in Sri Lanka & World –Atlas Moth

Life cycle of a Butterfly (Metamorphosis)

Egg

CaterpillarPupa

Butterfly

Nectar Plants & Host Plants

Butterfly feed on nectar and are attracted to brightly colored flowers, plants with showy, colored flowers with nectar are like magnets to butterflies! Such plants are called NECTAR PLANTS. (Rathmal/ Ixora, Blue snakweed , Lantana, Shoe Flower, Mussaenda, Jetropha)

Female Butterflies very carefully choose the plants on which they lay their eggs . the female butterfly ‘tastes’ the leaf with its legs , and if the plant is suitable, lays her eggs . These Plants on which butterflies lay their eggs and which caterpillars eat are called HOST PLANTS.(Wara, Citrus plants, Sapsanda, Katu Anoda, Cinnamon )

CLASSIFICATION(Papilio crino)

• Phylum: Arthropoda

• Class: Insecta

• Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies & moths)

• Sub-Order: Ditrysia

• Superfamily: Papilionidea

• Family: Papilionidae

• Genus: Crino

• Scientific name: Papilio crino

Endemic butterflies

26 endemic

245 species of butterflies.

Butterfly Behavior

• PUDDLING: they need extra nutrients such as salt, which are not found in flower nectar.

• BASKING : to adjust their body Temperature.

• ROOSTING : they also need rest during the night.

• PATROLLING : to attract female.

• HILLTOPPING : to attract female.

• SPIRALLING : males mark out areas for themselves & then defend these territories from other males.

Butterflies of Sri Lanka.Blue Mormon

Common CrowCommon Grass Yellow

Tailed Jay

Common Sailor Peacock Pansy

BluebottleClipper

Plain TigerBlue Admiral

Banded PeacockFive Bar Swordtail

Nigger

White Orange TipRed Pierrot

) Blue Oak Leaf (Endemic)

Ceylon rose

(Kallima philarchus), Ceylon Tiger

Ormiston's Oakblue

ceylon Birdwing

Common Cerulean

Pioneer

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