Malabar Flat

Malabar Flat

Celaenorrhinus ambareesa ( Moore) HESPERIIDAE

Adult

Upperside dark olive-brown. Both wings with yellowish brown and white hairs at their base. FW with 3 subapical, semi-hyaline white spots, a discal band of 6 spots and a submarginal series of small lunular yellowish brown spots. HW with 3 rows of pale yellowish spots, the inner 2 rows obscured by long hairs. Both wings with checkered fringe. Underside paler with markings similar. Antennae yellowish brown anteriorly with an yellowish white stripe below the club. Female similar to male but antennae without markings. Wingspan 45-55mm.

Abundant in jungles in the high rainfall, hilly regions ( up to 1700m) comes out of shade only during cloudy days. Visits flowers and rests mostly on the undersurface of leaves. Frequently seen on the underside of rocks and boulders and along the overhanging sides of densely shaded banks. Also known as the Malabar Spotted Flat.

Larva

Black ( young ) to dark olive brown ( grown up) with a large black head. Body shiny, swollen at segment 2 and with a pair of lateral white lines, a dark dorsal longitudinal line and a white marginal line.

Feeds on Strobilanthes callosus

Distribution

Endemic to India.