History of studies on butterflies
The first work dealing with Sri Lankan butterflies was that of Frederic Moore in 1880, followed by pioneering stuidies based on field observations by Ormiston[disambiguation needed] in 1924, Woodhouse[disambiguation needed] and Henry[disambiguation needed] in 1942 and byWoodhouse[disambiguation needed] in 1950. Bernard d'Abrera published his work 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.
Endemism
The Ceylon Birdwing is one of the largest endemics of the country and is found in large numbers in the Sinharaja Forest Reserve.[3] Eleven families of the order are represented in Sri Lanka, viz. Danaidae, Satyridae, Amathusiidae, Nymphalidae, Acraeidae, Libytheidae, Riodinidae,Lycaenidae, Pieridae, Papilionidae and Hesperiidae.[1]
New species
In 2008, Dr. Michael van der Poorten discovered a new species of Sri Lankan butterfly, the first such discovery in 60 years.[4] The species has been identified as Catopsilia Scylla.
Conservation
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 adult individuals. The Ceylon Rose and Ceylon Birdwing species 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.
Endemic species
| 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 |
| Jewel Four-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 | Spindasis greeni |
| Clouded Silverline | Spindasis 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
