Common Butterflies of Sri Lanka

S
VU
Black Prince Rohana parisatis
Nawab Polyura athamas
M
LC
Nymphalidae
Female
Male
Both sexes have a falcate forewing apex. The tips of its antennae are orange coloured.
Male: The smaller of the two sexes, its hind wing is elongated at the anal angle. The
upper side is dark brown with a dark blue sheen that can only be seen at a certain
angle. The three or four minute spots near the apex of the forewing are the only
markings on the upper surface. The underside takes on various shades of brown
ranging from red to black. Apical white spots are also present on this surface. Female:
The upper side is yellowish orange. The bases of both wings and the apex of the
forewing have black dustings leaving a brighter band in between. Minute white spots
are present near the apex. The underside is similar to that of the male, but is less vivid.
This butterfly is fond of feeding on fruits. Males engage in mud sipping. It is very
difficult to locate the male when it is perched on the ground among leaf litter with its
wings spread flat. Males perch on foliage at openings to look for females.
Females have much longer tails. The upper side is brownish-black with large sulphur
yellow areas in the middle continuing through both wings. The two sub-apical spots,
the row of sub-marginal spots on the hind wing and the tornal markings are the same
colour. Its tails are dusted with a light blue tint. The underside takes on cryptic brown
colours ranging from rosy brown basally to golden brown distally. Its sulphur yellow
markings have a greenish hue and are outlined in black in the basal end. A band of
brownish red markings adjoin the yellow band on the hind wing. A black line runs
across both cells and the forewing cell contains two black spots.
The Nawab is a very fast butterfly, flying amongst trees in search of tree sap and fruits.
It also comes to the ground for rotten fruits and eagerly feeds on toddy dribbled
under Caryota urens (ls;=,a) trees. It feeds on the faecal matter of otters which contains
the undigested parts of crabs and shrimps. They engage in ‘hill topping’ .
Feeding on sweat on
a camera strap
Nymphalidae
This butterfly is uncommon in the highest hills, but is spread around the lower
hills especially along streams where their larval food plant grows. It has an isolated
population in the Monaragala Mountain.
LFPs: Celtis timorensis (.=rekao)
The Nawab is not abundant, but is a regular in dry and intermediate zone forests
along streams with exposed boulders where otters excrete.
LFPs: Acacia caesia (ysÕ=re), A. pennata(f.dv ysÕ=re), Ventilago madraspatana (hlv
je,a).
82 Common Butterflies of Sri Lanka
Common Butterflies of Sri Lanka 83