Black Rajah (Charaxes solon cerynthus)

Rather uncommon butterfly flies throughout the year of all climatic zones. But it is much common below 650 m elevations, especially in the dry zone forests. It is less common in the intermediate zone and rare in the wet zone. In the dry zone its main flight season is start of the northeast monsoons in October and in other zones it is before the arrival of southwest monsoon in April. Black Rajah is a butterfly of forest canopy though it is often seen on animal droppings. Hill-topping phenomena is observed of male Black Rajahs*. Its larva feeds on leaves of Tamarindus indica (Tamarind/Indian Date/සියඹලා) and Croton tiglium (ජයපාල). The larva is active during the night.  

* Male flying up to and staying on a hill top waiting for females.