Tricolor Pied Flat (Coladenia indrani tissa )

Rather uncommon butterfly occurs all over the island from sea level to about 700m asl . It has a fast flight though often does not fly far when disturbed and settles under side of a leaf with its wings spread out flat. Its larva feeds on leaves of varies plants such as Pterospermum suberifolium [Fishing rod tree/වෙලං], Berrya cordifolia [Trincomalee wood/හල්මිල්ල], Grewia damine[දමිණිය], Grewia helicterifolia [බොරු දමිණිය], Grewia orientalis [වැල් කෑලිය/වැල් මැදිය], Microcos paniculata [කෑලිය/කොහුකිරිල්ල], Streblus asper, Grewia carpinifolia, Pityranthe verrucosa, Helicteres isora [ලීනිය] and Bridelia retusa [කැටකෑල] 

Tree Flitter (Hyarotis adrastus)

Rather rare butterfly with fast flight. As per Woodhouse and Ormiston it has been recorded from Haldummulla in July, the hills above Rathnapura in April, July, September and most frequently from the 'Kandy district' during these months as well as in February and March. Ormiston collected single specimen from Kottawa forest reserve (Ormiston W., 1924 & Woodhouse L.G.O., 1950). Its larval host plants are හීන් වේවැල්[Heen We-wal](Calamus rotang), Calamus ovoideus, Calamus zeylanicus and Calamus pseudotenuis

Ceylon Ace (Halpe homolea ceylonica)

Rather uncommon insect found in wet zone forests from lowlands to mid hills. Larva feeds on Bambusa vulgaris leaves.

Black Angle (Tapena thwaitesi)

"A great rarity, and I have never personally caught a specimen. A native collector has sent me specimens from Kandy, Deniyaya and Kottawa" - Ormiston W., 1924

Rare insect occurs in low country wet zone forests up to mid hills. Larva feeds on leaves of  Dalbergia pseudo-sissoo (බඹර වැල්) 

Above male specimen was photographed at Gileemale forest reserve in mid April.

Blank Swift (Caltoris kumara)

Blank Swift is a rare butterfly found in hill country above 300ft (Woodhouse L.G.O, 1950). Ormiston recorded it from Haldummulla and hills above Rathnapura and Woodhouse from Corbet's gap[most months of the year] and Madugoda [plentiful in March and Apri] (Woodhouse L.G.O, 1950 & Ormiston W., 1924). Above photograph was taken at Sinharaja World Heritage site (~1700ft a.s.l). Its larva feeds on Davidsea attenuata and also Bambusa multiplex only when offered.

Dark Palm Dart (Telicota bambusae)

Rare insect of mainly wet zone lowlands up to about 1500m. usually found settled on roadside grasses or weeds. Larval host plants are Schizostachyum brachycladum, Bambusa multiplex, Bambusa ventricosa, Bambusa vulgaris, Dendrocalamus giganteus, Bambusa bambos and Ochlandra stridula

Common Banded Awl (Hasora chromus)

Common Banded Awl is a rare butterfly found in forests all over the island but particularly common in the wet zone and hill country while comparatively scarce in the low country dry zone. It active at dawn and dusk though may be even appears day time in dull days. It rests on the underside of the leaves and usually fly short distance when disturbed to settle down again on the under side of another leaf with its wings close over the backs.  As per Ormiston it appears suddenly in great numbers during the north-east monsoon (October- December) and he believed it as a migratory butterfly since in October 1916 he noticed great flights of large Hesperiidae on several evenings just before dark, all going south (Ormiston W., 1924).  Its larval food plants are Pongamia pinnata(මගුල් කරඳ), Derris parviflora and Derris scandens (කල වැල් )

Smallest Swift (Panara bada bada)

An uncommon butterfly found in all climatic zones of the island throughout the year. Its larva feeds on paddy (Oryza sativa), Echinochloa crus-galli and Panicum maximum.

Common Banded Demon (Notocrypta paralysos alysia)

Rather rare butterfly found in wet zone jungles upto about 1500m a.s.l . It has a rather fast up and down flight with frequently settling on foliages. 

Larval Host Plants

Hellenia speciosa

Alpinia purpurata (Red ginger)

Alpinia zerumbet

Curcuma longa

Curcuma zedoaria

Hedychium coccineum

Hedychium flavescens (Yellow Ginger Lily)

Zingiber cylindricum

Zingiber officinale [ඉඟුරු/Ginger]

Zingiber wightianum

Zingiber zerumbet (වල් - ඉඟුරු/Wild Ginger)

Meistera fulviceps

Brown Awl (Badamia exelamationis)

Rather rare skipper found in all elevations of the country in all the year round while scarce in higher hills. It is a migratory species and sometimes appears in great numbers usually in company with Ceylon Banded Awl (Hasora badra lanka) and White-banded Awl (Hasora taminatus taminatus). It is less afraid of sun unlike other two and often visits flowers even on a bright day. The larva feeds on Terminalia bellirica and Hiptage benghalensis.

Bush Hopper (Ampittia dioscorides singa)

Common insect found in lowland paddy fields and grasslands up to about 500 m a.s.l. Its larva feeds on paddy (Oryza sativa),  Leersia hexandra (ලෙව්/Bareet Grass) and also on Carpet grass/පොටු තණකොළ (Axonopus compressus) when offered. 

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

Banded Redeye (Gangara lebadea subfasciata)

Very rare skipper found in lowlands of the island while females are much rarer than males. It is the second largest Hesperiidae of Sri Lanka. It flies dawn of the day and again late in the evening. W. Ormiston noted that “I have never seen a specimen alive….and the Kandy collectors brought me plenty in August, 1918 and 1919” (Ormiston W. 1924). No information available on its early stages in Sri Lanka.

Indian Palm Bob (Suastus gremius subgrisea)

Common insect of all zones up to about 1500m a.s.l. while more common in lower elevations especially in coconut plantations. Specimens from the hills are much darker than those from the lowlands. Its larva feeds on Rhapis excelsa, Borassus flabellifer, Caryota urens, Corypha umbraculifera, Cocos nucifera, Cyrtostachys renda, Phoenix pusilla and Saribus rotundifolius.

Common Grass Dart ( Tractrocera maevius)

Common butterfly found in all elevations up to about 1500m a.s.l. It is so small so that which can be easily overlooked as a house fly. Its larva feeds on Axonopus compressus and Cynodon dactylon of the family Poaceae. 

Ceylon snow flat (Tagiades japetus obscurus)

An uncommon butterfly occurs in lowland to mid hills of wet zone forests.  It is a migratory species and Ormiston noted of ‘flights’ of Ceylon snow flats with Water snow flats together at Haldummulla toward west (Ormiston 1924). But usually it flies a short distance and settles with its wings expanded on the under side of a leaf. Its larva feeds on Dioscorea trimenii, Dioscorea alata, Dioscorea bulbifera, Dioscorea oppositifolia, Dioscorea pentaphylla, Dioscorea tomentosa and Dioscorea koyamae of the family Dioscoreacea. Female has more white on its hind wings than male(figured here).

Small branded swift (Pelopidas mathias mathias)

A rare butterfly more likely to be found in low country. Similar species Little branded swift replace it from up country while both may be fly in intermediate mid-country.  Small branded swift is much smaller than Little branded and has complete arc of 5 spots in its under-side of the hind wings while it is incomplete of Little branded swift. Its larva feeds on Oryza sativa and Panicum maximum

Tropic Dart (Potanthus Confucius satra)

Common butterfly of all elevations of the island. Larva feeds on Panicum maximum and  Axonopus compressus (Only when offered) of family Poaceae.

Hedge Hopper (Baracus vittatus vittatus)

Common butterfly of patana grasslands above 1500m a.s.l.  Ormiston (Ormiston W. The Butterflies of Ceylon 1924) especially mentions it as a common insect on the Horton plains where above picture was also taken.  However he further says that it is occasionally taken along roadsides of Haldummulla (3000ft) and found common at Galaha near Kandy.  According to him those taken below 4500ft are usually smaller than those from the highest elevations. It is not uncommon in  Sinharaja (Guide to Sinharaja - IUCN) and some other lowland wet zone forest areas (personal observations). Its larva feeds on leaves of Garnotia exaristata and Ischaemum timorense.

Black Flat ( Celaenorrhinus spilothyrus )

Black Flat is a common butterfly usually found in jungles of wet lowlands to mid hills.  Woodhouse remarks that “At Corbet’s gap, near Madugoda, it can be taken all the year round and both sexes are plentiful there in March and April” (Woodhouse L.G.O. The Butterfly fauna of Ceylon 1950).  Male Black Flat of above picture was also taken at same area while on my way to  Dothalugala peak.  It has a habit of settling on the underside of a leaf with its wings spread out flat and  it seldom flies far even disturbed.  Its larva feeds on Barleria arnottiana, Barleria involucrata, Strobilanthes adenophora, Strobilanthes viscosa var. viscosa, Gymnostachyum sanguinolentum, Strobilanthes diandra, Strobilanthes lupulina, Strobilanthes rhamnifolia, and Strobilanthes vestita