Sri Lanka is home to 245 species of butterflies with 23 of these being endemic to the island. [1] Of the 245 species, 76, are listed as threatened nationally, while the Ceylon rose is designated as critically endangered. [2]
Sri Lanka is home to 245 species of butterflies with 23 of these being endemic to the island. [1] Of the 245 species, 76, are listed as threatened nationally, while the Ceylon rose is designated as critically endangered. [2]
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The majority of species are found in the foothills (up to 3,000 feet (910 m) elevation). A much smaller number of species are found above 4,000 feet (1,200 m), while 20 species of butterfly are restricted to the low lying dry zone (below 500 feet (150 m) elevation). The number of butterflies peaks in two seasons during the year. The first of these is during the southwestern monsoon in the months of March to April. The second is during the northeastern monsoon which continues from September to October.
| Feature | Butterflies | Moths |
|---|---|---|
| Shape and structure of antennae | thin slender filamentous antennae which are club-shaped at the end | comb-like or feathery antennae, or filamentous and unclubbed |
| Wing-coupling mechanisms | lack a frenulum | have a frenulum which is a filament arising from the hindwing and coupling (matching up) with barbs on the forewing. The frenulum can be observed only when a specimen is in hand. Some moths have a lobe on the forewing called a jugum that helps in coupling with the hindwing. |
| Pupae | form an exposed pupa, also termed a chrysalis | moth caterpillars spin a cocoon made of silk within which they metamorphose into the pupal stage. |
| Colouration of the wings | bright colours on their wings | usually plain brown, grey, white or black and often with obscuring patterns of zigzags or swirls |
| Activity | diurnal | nocturnal and crepuscular |
| Structure of the body | have slender and smoother abdomens | have stout and hairy or furry-looking bodies |
| Scales | possess fine scales | larger scales on their wings which makes them look more dense and fluffy |
| Appearance of eyes | apposition eyes | superposition eyes |
| Resting posture | fold their wings above their backs when they are perched | rest with their wings spread out to their sides |
Within Sri Lanka, the latest revision of lepidopterans described 1903 species with 58 families of butterflies and moths. Out of these 1903 species, 208 species are butterflies and 1695 species are moths.
The family-wise number of butterfly species are: [2] : 53
| Family | Species |
|---|---|
| Papilionidae | 15 |
| Pieridae | 27 |
| Nymphalidae | 69 |
| Lycaenidae | 86 |
| Hesperiidae | 46 |
| Riodinidae | 1 |
The first studies of Ceylon butterflies were published by James Emerson Tennent in Ceylon, Physical, Historical and Topographical based on work by Robert Templeton and Edgar Leopold Layard active in the 1840s. In these early years William de Alwis made watercolour illustrations of life histories. Later in the century this was followed by The Lepidoptera of Ceylon by Frederic Moore which was published in 1880. Pioneering studies based on field observations were published by Walter Ormiston, a tea planter from Kalupahani, Haldumille, in 1924, Lionel Gilbert Ollyet Woodhouse and George Morrison Reid Henry in 1942 and by Woodhouse again in 1950. Bernard d'Abrera published The Butterflies of Ceylon in 1998 based on examination of specimens in the Natural History Museum in London. Recently, papers have been published on status of particular butterfly families, check-lists of various localities, life-cycles and natural history as well as butterfly migration. [2]
In 2008, Dr. Michael van der Poorten discovered a new species of Sri Lankan butterfly, the first such discovery in 60 years. [3] The species has been identified as Catopsilia scylla .
Habitat destruction and degradation, air pollution, over-usage of pesticides, and over-exploitation for ornamental trade are the main threats to butterflies in Sri Lanka. [2] Prolonged droughts and over-predation also pose a threat to them. Opportunistic predators such as ants and birds prey on butterfly eggs, caterpillars, pupae and adults. The Ceylon rose and Ceylon birdwing are presently included in the appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This United Nations initiative aims to protect these species against over-exploitation by restricting trade across borders.
A majority of endemic species are restricted to the wet zone forests. [2] The Ceylon birdwing is one of the largest endemics of the country and is found in large numbers in the Sinharaja Forest Reserve. [4]
| Common name | Binomial name |
|---|---|
| Ceylon tree-nymph | Idea iasonia |
| Ceylon tiger | Parantica taprobana |
| Ceylon palmfly | Elymnias singhala |
| Ceylon treebrown | Lethe daretis |
| Ceylon forester | Lethe dynsate |
| Cingalese bushbrown | Mycalesis rama |
| Sinhalese five-ring | Ypthima singala |
| Blue oak leaf | Kallima philarchus |
| Ormiston's oakblue | Arhopala ormistoni |
| Ceylon cerulean | Jamides coruscans |
| Milky cerulean | Jamides lacteata |
| Woodhouse's four lineblue | Nacaduba ollyetti |
| Pale Ceylon six lineblue | Nacaduba sinhala |
| Green's silverline | Cigaritis greeni |
| Clouded silverline | Cigaritis nubilus |
| Ceylon indigo royal | Tajuria arida |
| Ceylon hedge blue | Udara lanka |
| Lesser albatross | Appias galene |
| One spot grass yellow | Eurema andersonii |
| Ceylon rose | Pachliopta jophon |
| Common birdwing | Troides darsius |
| Black flat | Celaenorrhinus spilothyrus |
| Decorated ace | Halpe decorata |
source: srilankaninsects.net [1]
Sinharaja Forest Reserve is a forest reserve and a biodiversity hotspot in Sri Lanka. It is of international significance and has been designated a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Pachliopta jophon, the Ceylon rose or Sri Lankan rose, is a butterfly found in Sri Lanka that belongs to the swallowtail family. It was earlier classified as a subspecies of Pachliopta hector, the crimson rose.
Papilio polymnestor, the blue Mormon, is a large swallowtail butterfly found in south India and Sri Lanka. It is the "state butterfly" of the Indian state of Maharashtra. With a wingspan of 120–150 mm, it is the fourth largest butterfly of India.
Troides darsius, the Sri Lankan birdwing, is a species of birdwing butterfly found in Sri Lanka. It is the largest butterfly on the island and is also the national butterfly of Sri Lanka.
Lepidocephalichthys jonklaasi, known as the Jonklaas's loach or the spotted loach, is an endemic fish species restricted to the wet zone of Sri Lanka. The species was first recorded from the Wilpita area. It is currently known from 12 locations in the wet zone including Beraliya, Dombagaskandha, Madakada, Gilimale, Hiyare, Kottawa, Kanneliya, Weddagala, Nakiyadeniya, Pahiyangala and Boralugoda. It is recorded from a wide range of altitudes. Due to its restricted range and the threats to its habitat Lepidocephalichthys jonklaasi, is listed as an Endangered species. The species has already begun to disappear from some of the sites mentioned above due to destruction and fragmentation of its habitat and many other threats that are operating on the species.
The Ceylon tree nymph is a species of nymphalid butterfly in the subfamily Danainae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka. First described by John Westwood in 1848, the Ceylon tree nymph can be found in both wet and dry zones of Sri Lanka. It is the largest member of the family Danaidae in that country. It is listed as a near threatened species in the IUCN Red List.
Clinothelphusa kakoota is a species of crab in the family Gecarcinucidae, which is endemic to Sri Lanka. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical swamps, and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss, and is listed as a critically endangered species on the IUCN Red List. It is known from a single site with an area of less than 100 km2 (39 sq mi). Its nearest relatives are another Sri Lankan endemic genus of crabs, Ceylonthelphusa.
The wildlife of Sri Lanka includes its flora and fauna and their natural habitats. Sri Lanka has one of the highest rates of biological endemism.
Bundala National Park is an internationally important wintering ground for migratory water birds in Sri Lanka. Bundala harbors 197 species of birds, the highlight being the greater flamingo, which migrate in large flocks. Bundala was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1969 and redesignated to a national park on 4 January 1993. In 1991 Bundala became the first wetland to be declared as a Ramsar site in Sri Lanka. In 2005 the national park was designated as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, the fourth biosphere reserve in Sri Lanka. The national park is situated 245 kilometres (152 mi) southeast of Colombo.
Pethia cumingii, known as the Cuming's barb or the two spot barb, is a species of cyprinid fish endemic to Sri Lanka.
Rhinophis dorsimaculatus, commonly known as the polka-dot earth snake, is a species of snake in the Uropeltidae family. It is endemic to the scrub jungles of Sri Lanka.
Rhinophis drummondhayi, commonly known as Drummond-Hay's earth snake, is a species of snake in the family Uropeltidae. The species is endemic to Sri Lanka.
Uropeltis ruhunae is a species of snake in the family Uropeltidae. The species is endemic to Sri Lanka.
Lepidocephalichthys thermalis, known as common spiny loach or spotted loach, is a species of freshwater fish found in India and Sri Lanka.
Lasioglossum carinifrons, also known as the Lasioglossum (Evylaeus) carinifrons, is a species of bee in the genus Lasioglossum, of the family Halictidae.
Patellapis vincta is a species of bee in the genus Patellapis of the family Halictidae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka. The first specimen was found in the Peradeniya area.
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