Common Butterflies of Sri Lanka

T
LC
Indian Cupid Everes lacturnus
Common Hedge Blue Acytolepis puspa
T
LC
Lycaenidae
Male
Dwarf individuals are not uncommon. In males, the upper side on both wings is shiny
light blue. The black outer margin is thicker than the upper margin on the forewing,
but sometimes the upper margin has no trace of black. All the margins on the hind
wing have black bands. In females, the upper side is dark brown with some dispersed
greyish blue scales. Some individuals entirely lack blue scales. It has two black
tornal spots capped in orange in the sub-marginal band of greyish blue, ill-defined
cresecent-shaped marks. The colour of underside varies from pure white to buff white.
It has two black tornal spots which are heavily capped in orange. Both wings have
uniform distal bands and cell end patches consisting of narrow brown lines. On the
hind wing it has two black spots near the upper margin, one on the cell and another
one near the lower margin which is absent in some individuals.
It prefers to feed on herbaceous flowers and males engage in mud puddling. Its flight
is rather weak and it always flies near the ground.
It is common amongst herbaceous weeds in habitats such as wayside vegetation.
In males, the upper side is shiny metallic blue with black marginal bands. It has a thin
black outer margin on the hind wing. Both wings have varied white dustings on the
centre. The female has broad marginal bands and the blue is restricted to the bases.
Its basal area brighter, becoming whitish distally. The hind wing has a sub-marginal
row of cresecent-shaped marks. The underside is similar in both sexes and the patches
are usually larger than in other Hedge Blues. It has a sub-marginal row of distinct spots
and an internal band of cresecent-shaped markings on both wings. The forewing
has an irregular distal band consisting of thick brown lines and a cell end patch. The
hind wing has many brown and black patches. It always has a small black spot at the
intersection of 8th vein and cell vein which is located basally to large black spots.
As the name implies, the Common Hedge Blue flies busily around hedges. It feeds on
flowers and males engage in mud sipping. It is a migratory species.
It prefers rather wet habitats such as forests and verdant gardens and it also appears
in scrublands with sparse trees in the rainy season.
Male
Lycaenidae
LFPs: Desmodium heterocarpon (we;a W÷msh,sh) – most preferable, D. uncinatum,
D. triflorum (ySka W÷msh,sh).
LFPs: Hiptage benghalensis (mqjla f.äh je,a), Bridelia retusa (leglE,), Schleichera
oleosa (fldaka).
120 Common Butterflies of Sri Lanka
Common Butterflies of Sri Lanka 121