1. Very small to medium size butterflies. characteristic by their metallic colours (Picture 01), quick flight and greate affinity for sunshine
2. Many members have one, two or three pairs of hair-like 'tails' (hair-streaks)
| |
 |
|
 |
| |
Picture 02.a - three pairs of hair-streaks |
|
Picture 02. b - one pairs of hair-streaks |
3. Forelegs in both sexes are slender.
4. Sex marks appear on the wings of males in some genera as
- either sex brand and associated hair tufts
- or microscopic androconial scales
5. Generally females have rounder forewing than males.
6. Females have duller upper surface and broader distal margin than males
| |
 |
|
| |
Picture 02. - Chilades lajus male has narrover distal margin than female. |
|
7. Sometimes sexual dimorphism is intense and both sexes are completely different.
8. Many Lycaenidae show seasonal dimorphism.
9. Larvae are onisciform (woolouse-shaped); with or without hairs, many larvae prefer to feed at night.
| |
 |
|
 |
| |
Picture 04.b. - onisciform (woolouse-shaped) larva without hairs (Lime Blue - Chilades lajus lajus). |
|
Picture 04.c. - Lycaennidae Pupa (Lime Blue - Chilades lajus lajus) |
10. Food plants belong to various families are hosted.
Family Lycaenidae in Sri Lanka
There are 85 species in Sri Lanka with eight endemic species
Table. Number of Species from each genus
| Genus |
Group |
Number of Species |
Endemic |
| Acytolepis |
Hedge Blues |
2 |
|
| Arhopala |
Bushblue/Oakblues |
4 |
1 |
| Azanus |
Babul Blues |
2 |
|
| Chilades |
Cupids/ Lime blue |
3 |
|
| Jamides |
Cerulians |
5 |
2 |
| Nacaduba |
Six Lineblues/ Four Lineblues |
8 |
2 |
| Prosotas |
Lineblue |
3 |
|
| Rapala |
Flash |
|
|
| Spindasis |
Silverlines |
5 |
1 |
| Tajuria |
Royals |
3 |
1 |
| Tarucus |
Pierrot |
2 |
|
| Udara |
Hedge Blue |
3 |
1 |
| Virachola |
Guava Blue |
2 |
|
| Other |
|
39 |
|
Species Account
>>> Click here
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Indian Cupid Everes lacturnus parrhasius |
| |
 |
|
DISTRIBUTION |
- |
Up to 1500 m. |
| |
SIMILAR SPECIES |
- |
None |
| |
STATUS |
- |
Uncommon |
| |
HABITS |
- |
|
| |
FEEDING PLANTS |
- |
Family Fabaceae |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Plains Cupid Chilades pandava lanka |
| |
 |
|
DISTRIBUTION |
- |
Wet zone up to 1000 m. |
| |
SIMILAR SPECIES |
- |
Small Cupid, Gram Blue |
| |
STATUS |
- |
Common |
| |
HABITS |
- |
|
| |
FEEDING PLANTS |
- |
Cycas spp. [Madu] |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
PAGE[1] PAGE [2] PAGE [3] PAGE [4]PAGE [5] |
