Species Details

@Syed Abbas,Birdwing,Bangladesh

Spotted Palmfly Did you see this animal?

Scientific Name : Elymnias malelas
Family : Satyridae
Order : Lepidoptera
Class : Insecta
Phylum : Arthropoda
Habitat : Forests,low bushes
 
Description : The males of this species exhibit striking features on their upper sides. Their wings are adorned with a dark brown color, showcasing an enchanting iridescent purple sheen. Near the apex of the wing, there is a distinctive spot, and scattered across the wing are several discal spots, along with a series of light purplish-blue post-discal spots. Moving to the hind wings, they are predominantly very dark brown, occasionally displaying a series of obscure bluish-white spots after the discal area.

On the undersides, both wings of these butterflies display a rich chestnut-brown hue. Towards the terminal half of the wings, you can observe fine white transverse lines that add a delicate touch to their appearance.

Females of the species share similar characteristics to the males, but with some distinctions. The iridescent purple color is more concentrated on the apical half of the forewings, while the spots appear almost white. Moreover, the forewings of females feature a dull white streak along the dorsum and a broader streak in inter-space 1. The hind wings of females also showcase white streaks in the inter-spaces, with round black spots crossing them pre-apically. The terminal margin of the hind wings is dark brown.

When viewed from the underside, the females' wings appear paler than those of the males, and they are more profusely covered with the fine white transverse lines. Additionally, the forewing appears overspread on the underside.
 
Distribution in Bangladesh
References:
description written by:Zarin Tasnim,Department of Zoology,University of Dhaka;information source:IUCN Red List Bangladesh-2015, photo credit & copyright: Syed Abbas,Birdwing,Bangladesh.more information please contact with us.