Male Yellow Palm Dart

First identified in Sri Lanka in July 2009 by Dr. George (Michael) van der Poorten.

Description
34-36 mm. The sexes are indistinguishable in the field. The female is slightly larger than the male. The Yellow Palm-dart is remarkably similar in appearance to the Pale Palm-dart and the Dark Palm-dart. It differs from them in not having a sex brand in the male, and having a large tornal spot on the UNH in both sexes. The tornal spot is completely covered by the anal fold and is not visible when the butterfly is at rest with its wings folded up. So, its identification requires netting and examining the specimen closely. Click on the thumbnails below for a larger photo.

Similar species
Dark Palm Dart, Palm Palm Dart

Status, distribution and habitat
This species is endemic to the Australian region and it is not clear how and when the butterfly made its first appearance in the island. It is likely to have arrived here on some palms brought in by the horticultural trade. It is now well established in the northwestern province. It is particularly abundant in coconut plantations that have young palms where it is often a serious pest. It is a frequent visitor to home gardens with nectaring plants.

Habits
It has an exceptionally swift flight and nectars on common garden and weed plants such as Duranta repens and Abelmoschus moschatus.

Early stages
Eggs are laid on palms, young coconut palms being a favorite. The larva makes a tube shelter for itself by bringing the leaf surfaces on either side of a mid-rib together with strands of silk. It also pupates within this shelter. Click on each thumbnail below for a larger photo.

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Danaidae | Satyridae | Amathusiidae | Nymphalidae | Acraeidea | Libytheidae | Riodinidae | Lycaenidae | Pieridae | Papilionidae | Hesperidae