Chestnut Bob (Iambrix salsala luteipalpus)

Common insect found in jungles and scrublands in all elevations of the island throughout the year (Gamage R., 2007).  More common in wet zone and probably scarce or absent in higher hills and northern part of the country according to the Ormiston (Ormiston W., 1924). The larva feeds on Axonopus compressus, Ochlandra stridula, Oryza sativa, Ischaemum timorense and Eragrostis viscosa

කුරුළුගොයා[Kurulugoya]/Shikra (Accipiter badius badius)

Common breeding resident throughout the island. It avoids dense forests and can be found in open areas, plantations, village gardens and even in towns with some trees. Shikra preys mainly on small birds and lizards. It usually perches high in a tree watching for a prey and flies down to catch it with talons. It breeds from March to May and probably again in August to September and build a nest with twigs and grasses place among foliage high in a big tree.

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එඬරු/තෙල් එඬරු/බෙහෙත් එඬරු[Endaru[Erandu]/Tel-Erandu/Beheth-Erandu]/Castor Bean (Ricinus communis)

Annual or perennial herb probably of East African origin, now widely cultivated and also naturalized in village gardens, secondary forests, scrub lands etc.  Seeds use for production of castor oil and whole plant is medicinal.

Common hourglass tree frog (Polypedates cruciger)

An arboreal frog of about 60mm snout to vent length of male and 90 of female. Endemic to Sri Lanka and distributed in both wet and dry zone up to about 1525m a.s.l though not much common in dry zone. It is much common around anthropogenic habitats and usually it is encountered inside bathrooms, overhead water tanks, banana groves and other such vegetation.

Milky Cerulean (Jamides lacteata)

Rare and endemic butterfly found in mid country. Ormiston recorded it from Haldummulla, Wellawaya, Monaragala, Ratnapura, Kandy and Deniyaya (Ormiston W., 1924).  Larva feeds on Lepisanthes erecta and Lepisanthes tetraphylla var. trichocarpa (දාඹු)

කොහිල/ඇඟිලි කොහිල/මහ කොහිල[Kohila/Engili-Kohila/Maha-Kohila] (Lasia spinosa)

A native herb grows in marshy places in moist low lands. It is also cultivated since inside of stems and tender leaves are used in curries.

Flower – Greenish brown to dark purple twisted spathe of 20-55 cm long. It is half open at the base.

බට්ටිච්චා[Battichcha]/Common Tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius)

Very common breeding resident found in wooded areas and home gardens both in villages and towns in al climatic zones of the island. It keeps in pairs and actively feeds on small insects, spiders etc. among foliage of trees and bushes, usually uttering its loud and rather monotonous call to keep in touch with its partner. It breeds probably throughout the year but the main season appears to be February to March. Common Tailorbird builds its nest in a cavity formed by sewing together either the sides of a large single leave or of two or more smaller leaves, where it lays 2-3 eggs. 

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Sweet broom weed/Licorice weed (Scoparia dulcis)

Common introduced perennial herb grows in roadsides and waste lands in both wet and dry lowlands. Native plant of tropical America.Flowering throughout the year.

Common Treebrown (Lethe rohria)

Common butterfly found in hills (Between 500 and 5000ft) throughout the year. Scarce in lower elevations. It only flies very short distance at a time. No records available on its larval host plant or on early stages in Sri Lanka.

ඇට්ටේරියා[Etteria]/Orange jasmine (Murraya paniculata)

An indigenous shrub or small tree of monsoon forest understory, rocky outcrops and also limestone substrates of both wet and dry zone lowlands up to about 1000m a.s.l. 

ගේ කුරුල්ලා[Ge-Kurulla]/House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Common breeding resident inhabiting close to the human habitations throughout the country. It feeds in flocks on seeds, insects and food wastes around human dwellings. House Sparrow breeds throughout the year and nest is a mass of grass, straws, etc., line with feathers and place in a cavity in a building. But usually people use to put up earthenware chatties on the walls of houses for these birds so that they can utilize them for nests.

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එරමුඳු/එරබඳු[Eramudu/Erabadu]/December tree/Malayan Dadap (Erythrina subumbrans)

Native tree of tropical Asia. Introduced (Native? >>) into Sri Lanka in 1852 from Java for shade and green manure in tea and cocoa estates. Flowering from June to January. Bright red flowers attract varies hill country birds such as  whiteeyes, bulbuls, sunbirds etc.

Indian Fritillary (Argynnis hyperbius taprobana)

An uncommon butterfly found in hills above 1500m throughout the year. It usually encounters in Patana lands close to forests. Its larval host plants are Viola betonicifolia (Violet) of family Violaceae, a very common weed of tea plantations. It also feeds on Viola pilosa of the same family. Indian Fritillary sometimes basks on pathways and streams, wings outstretched flat and usually coming to the same spot or flies short distance if disturbed. 

හීන් ඇඹුල් ඇඹිලිය/රට ඇඹල[Heen-embul-embiliya/Rata-embala]/Common Sorrel, Indian Sorrel (Oxalis corniculata)

Very common introduced herb found all over the island in cultivated grounds, wastelands, roadsides etc.. Native plant of European Mediterranean region. Flowering throughout the year and flowers open around 9.00AM and close early afternoon.

Black Bulbul (Hypsipetes leucocephalus)

Black Bulbul is a common breeding resident of forests and nearby well wooded home gardens and plantations of wet zone lowlands to hills, while local and rare in dry lowlands (Mostly found in dry zone riparian forests) and higher hills. It feeds mainly on fruits, berries, figs and insects in canopy as small flocks keeping up a continual noisy conversation. Its main breeding season is from March to May and possible second brood occurs again from July to September. The nest is a small cup place on a tree fork where it lays two eggs.

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