Orange Migrant (Catopsilia scylla)

 The Orange Migrant was probably introduced to Sri Lanka accidentally with Senna surattensis plants imported from Thailand, Singapore or Malaysia for roadside planting in the early 1990s. It was first recorded in Sri Lanka in 2008. Since then, it has become widely distributed across both urban and rural areas, and is particularly common in and around Colombo. Its only known larval host plant in Sri Lanka is Senna surattensis.

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

 The Painted Lady is the most widely distributed butterfly in the world. In Sri Lanka, however, it is an uncommon species, occurring mainly in the hill country above 1,500 m above sea level. Nevertheless, there are occasional records from several lowland localities, including Galle, Matara, Kalutara, Colombo, Jaffna, Mannar, Arippu, Digana, Trincomalee, and Bandarakoswatta.

The accompanying photograph was taken on 19 June 2026 at Pitawala Patana in the Matale District, where two individuals were observed basking on a rocky outcrop.

In the hill country, the Painted Lady can be found in sunny open areas along railway tracks, at the edges of tea estates, on steep embankments bordering forest footpaths and roads, and in home gardens. Its larvae feed on the leaves of Artemisia dubia and Anaphalis subdecurrens. 

Eumelea ludovicata

Location - Ukuwela

Reference - https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/199156-Eumelea-ludovicata

Painted Meal Moth (Pyralis pictalis)

Location - Bambarakanda

Wingspan - 15-34 mm

Reference - https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/124756-Pyralis-pictalis

Herochroma baibarana

Location - Mirigama

Reference - https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/543719-Herochroma-baibarana

Scopula emissaria

Location - Anavilundawa

Wingspan - 28 mm

References - 

• Jayawardana, N.C. (2020) A Handbook to the Moths of Sri Lanka Vol. 01
• https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/244421-Scopula-emissaria

Asota plana

Location - Pidaligannawela Waterfall (B339 Road)

Wingspan - 5.5 cm

Host Plants - Ficus racemosa, Ficus hispida, Artocarpus heterophyllus

References - 

Jayawardana, N.C. (2020) A Handbook to the Moths of Sri Lanka Vol. 01

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/202258-Asota-plana

Pachynoa spilosomoides

 

Location: Kukulugala

Reference: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/521419-Pachynoa-spilosomoides

Hypospila bolinoides

 

Location - Nilgala

Wingspan - 36 - 44 mm

Reference - https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/416510-Hypospila-bolinoides

Sri Lankan Moon Moth (Actias selene taprobanis)

Location - Ilukkumbura

Host plants - Lannea coromandelica, Terminaliacatappa, Terminalia arjuna, Annona muricata

Wingspan - 12 - 16 cm

References - 

• Jayawardana, N.C. (2020) A Handbook to the Moths of Sri Lanka Vol. 01
• https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/68366-Actias-selene
• Aluthwattha S.T., (2013) Family Saturniidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Sri Lanka: An overview. Lepcey - The Journal of Tropical Asian Entomology 02 (1): 01– 11

Polydesma boarmoides

 Location - Narapadu - Mannar

Reference - https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/244072-Polydesma-boarmoides

Seven-spotted Handmaiden Moth (Amata cysseus)

Location - Ekgal Aru

References - 

• Jayawardana, N.C. (2020) A Handbook to the Moths of Sri Lanka Vol. 01
• https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/281571-Amata-cyssea

Anoba pectinata

 

Location - Kanneliya Forest

Reference - https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/481661-Anoba-pectinata

Tropical Anomis (Anomis flava)

Location - Bambarakanda

Reference - https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/213715-Anomis-flava

Wingspan - 28 mm

 

Bastilla joviana

 

Location - Polgasowita

Wingspan - 50 mm

References - 

Jayawardana, N.C. (2020) A Handbook to the Moths of Sri Lanka Vol. 01

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/199561-Bastilla-joviana

Lamprosema tampiusalis

Location - Bamunakotuwa (Kurunegala District)

References - 

• Jayawardana, N.C. (2020) A Handbook to the Moths of Sri Lanka Vol. 01
• https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/318437-Lamprosema-tampiusalis

Mung Bean Moth (Maruca vitrata)

Location - Bambarakanda

References - 

• Jayawardana, N.C. (2020) A Handbook to the Moths of Sri Lanka Vol. 01
• https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/122668-Maruca-vitrata

 

Achaea serva

Location - Polgasowita

Wingspan - Males: 70 - 82 mm , Females: 62 - 80

References - 

• Jayawardana, N.C. (2020) A Handbook to the Moths of Sri Lanka Vol. 01
• https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/244053-Achaea-serva

Hydrillodes lentalis

 

Location - Bambarakanda

length of the forewings - 24–30 mm

Reference - https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/244668-Hydrillodes-lentalis

Cispia punctifascia

 

Location - Ekgal Aru

References - 

Jayawardana, N.C. (2020) A Handbook to the Moths of Sri Lanka Vol. 01

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/470655-Cispia-punctifascia