Tawny Coster

Tawny Coster

Acraea violae - ( Fabricius ) - ACRAEIDAE

( = Telchinia violae ( Fabricius ))

Photo by Amber Habib

Photo by Amber Habib

Adult:Upperside

Photo by Amber Habib

Male

brick red. FW with black apex and prominent black spots and streaks. HW with a marginal black border having a row of pale yellow spots.

Female

Pale coloured with broad markings and marginal bands
Blue Mormon

Underside

Male

Glossy red. HW with a cluster of 5 black-ringed white spots in the base and the marginal band with larger yellowish white spots and inner border

Female

Dull coloured HW with large spots in the marginal band. Wingspan 50-65 mm.

The only south Indian representative of the large family. Common throughout the country in areas of heavy rainfall. A slow flier, fluttering unsteadily, close to the ground. Often found basking in the early morning hours. Exudes an yellowish, bad smelling, oily liquid when disturbed, perhaps for protection. Visits flowers of Land-Caltrops, Lantana, Chinese Chaste tree, Tall Chaste tree, Monk’s Pepper tree etc.

Larva

Reddish brown with 6 rows of long, branched spines in each segment. Feeds mostly on plants of Passifloraceae and Urticaceae, including passion fruit, Edible Passion fruit, Stinking Passion fruit, Adenia hondala and other plants like Mango, Cucurbits, Mesta, Banana etc.

Distribution

India and Sri Lanka.