Common Butterflies of Sri Lanka

M
LC
Commander Moduza procris
Clipper Parthenos sylvia
M
LC
Nymphalidae
The sexes are similar. The upper side is reddish brown. The cells of both wings and
interspace 1b of the forewing have a red bar outlined in black. The prominent
oblique white band depletes into patches towards the upper margin. A diffused band
consisting of red and dark brown markings is present exterior to the white band. The
dark brown marginal and sub-marginal bands are more pronounced in the hind wing.
The basal area of its underside is bluish grey, and turns to greyish brown distally. The
pattern is similar to the upper side, but lacks the red bar in the hind wing cell.
The Commander is mostly dependent on fruits and tree sap, but also visits flowers. It
feeds on the fruits of Melastoma malabathricum (uy fndaúáhd) along rain forest tracks.
Males engage in mud sipping but never congregate. Females make a great effort to
lay eggs at the tips of leaves, as it facilitates the related behaviour of the larvae.
This forest-dwelling species can be found in sunny openings such as forest paths
and streams. They are seen in gloomy areas, especially when searching for LFPs. It
is distributed throughout the country but is more abundant in the lower wet zone.
LFPs: Rubiaceae plants including Mussaenda frondosa (uqiaiekao), Wendlandia
bicuspidata (jk bo,), Mitragyna parvifolia (ye