Red Helen (Papilio helenus)

Red Helen is a rare butterfly found in wet zone forests in all the year round. The males are fond of settling on damp earth on the roads and stream beds. When resting with open wings the forwing is drawn back over the yellow color patches of the hind wing as shown in the picture above, probably to avoid unwanted attraction of predators. Larva feeds on Zanthoxylum tetraspermum, Citrus japonica, and Kudumiris[කුඩුමිරිස්] (Toddalia asiatica) in the field.(Larva also fed on Citrus madurensis [නස් නාරන්] and Citrus sinensis leaves when offered in the lab.)