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Ceylon Silverline
Description
A small 'blue' with a wingspan of 25-30 mm. The sexes are
similar but there is great deal of variation
in the size and intensity of the markings between dry and
wet season forms. The gorgeous brilliant shot-blue on
the upper side of the hind wings of male is unmistakable. It is entirely
lacking in the female. The shot-blue
always extends to the lower margin of the forewing
in varying degrees - in the wet season forms it stops at
vein 1 while in the dry season forms it may extend all
the way to vein 3.
The orange markings on the upper side of the forewings are also variable, being largest in the wet season
and smallest or absent in the dry season.
This is the most variable of all Silverlines in the island.
Similar species
Common Silverline
and Plumbeous Silverline. More
information.
Status, distribution and habitat
A common butterfly of the dry and intermediate zones. It is also found in the drier hills of
the Uva. Its habitat is principally the open spaces of scrub jungle.
It is the commonest Silverline in Yala National park.
Habits
This is an exceptionally fast butterfly on the wing and is hard to follow
once air-borne. Once settled it can be
approached quite closely. The males often sits on a twig or the
edge of a leaf, sometimes a few inches above ground, and wait for females
to come by. At the first sign of a female, it takes to the air
explosively from its perch in pursuit. After
a brief chase, if unsuccessful in initiating courtship, it comes back to settle
on a perch near by. General
information.
Early stages
Unknown.
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