PAINTBRUSH SWIFT

The Paintbrush Swift Baoris farri, is a common species in lowland-midland riparian regions of the southern ghats.This species also has a mangroove/marsh association its because its foodplant Ochlandra is found in such areas.It also feeds on a number of other bamboos and Tiger bamboo seems to be a local favourite.
Caterpillars are green with black and white head with a single oval black spot on each lobe face.
The Males have a tuft of paintbrush like hair on hindwing cell on upperside hence the name.
A similar species Baoris penicilliata is found in Srilanka.

COMMON REDEYE

The common redeye Matapa aria,as the name suggests is a common skipper here,especially where its larval hostplants, which are anykind of Bamboobs, are plenty.Femles are seen more active in dawn and dusk mostly around hostplants. The eggs are small and when laid are covered with abdominal hairs.The spiral cell of the yellow-headed larva is characteristic.

INDIAN SKIPPER

The Indian Skipper is a diminutive little butterfly which usually keeps to low ground. Scientifically its called Spialia galba.The larvae is usually found in Sida sps,


a herb found in open places,roadsides and disturned habitats.A new food plant was added by us to this list which was Melochia(Kalesh& Satya 2004 in press).

THE HAMPSON'S HEDGE HOPPER

HAMPSONS HEDGEHOPEPR OR BARACUS HAMPSONI,IS ONE OF THE SEASONALLY COMMON SKIPPERS OF OUR HIGLANDS. MANY A TIME ITS LARVAE HAS BEEN REARED BY US.THE BREIFNESS OF ITS ADULTS PRESENCE MAY WELL BE A SUGGESTION TO STRONG MIGRATORY INSTINCTS.

AN INTRODUCTION

This Blog is about the butterflies of Southern Western Ghats of Peninsular India, and is primarily dedicated to the butterflies of family Hesperiidae-The Skippers.

We- Kalesh and Satya, are from Kerala in south western India.A doctor and Engineer by profession, studying butterflies of Family Hesperiidae is our second passion since the last 6 years.The posts in this Blogseries is based on our field observations on butterflies in and around the Ashambu Hills in South Western Ghats in Southern Kerala.