Rather rare butterfly inhabits coastal areas
of north of Chilaw and Tangalla to Hambantota of extreme south. However sometimes
it occurs further inland
in north. Those from southern areas are larger, darker
and very richly colored. Its only known larval food plant in Sri Lanka is Maerua arenaria of the family
Capparaceae. W. Ormiston noted of a specimen taken at cart road at Haldummulla,
at least 50 miles from its usual haunts and he believed that it had pupated on
a Hambantota salt cart and hatched out on the way to Haputhale. Similarly he
doubted of specimens of etrida race might brought over from India on the native
boats because in Mannar district specimens that are very close to typical
etrida may be taken in company with
typical limbata.
