THE SMALL BRANDED SWIFT

The Small Branded Swift Pelopidas mathias,is the commonest of the Branded swift group.The males have a linear stigma /brand on uppersides of their forewings ,which gives it the name.

Underside has a cell spot which diffenciates thsi species from Rice swift Borbo cinnara ,a very close insect for confusion in field.

COMMON SPOTTEDFLAT

RATHER UNCOMMON!

BUT IS THE COMMONEST OF THE THREE SPECIES OF SPOTTED FLATS CELAENORRHINUS Sps.FOOD PLANTS ARE SMALL HERBS RELATED TO STROBILANTHES.

LARVAE ARE NOT RARE IN THIS REGION

CONTIGUOUS SWIFT

Unlike the Paintbrush swift the Contiguous Swift Polytremis lubricans is more of a sunlover.The males are very territorial ,patrolling their coveted territories chasing away all intruders.This species is very common in monsoon months especially in some specific pockets of this region,the Aakulam lake in the suburbs of Trivandrum is a good place where they can be observed commonly,commoner then even than the ubiqutous Rice Swift Borbo cinnara !

THE PYGMY SCRUBHOPPER

The Pygmy scrubhopper Aeromachus pygmaeus ,is our smallest skipper; grasslands are its favourite haunt.This tiny little butterfly is easily overlooked in field; so very rightly said 'our eyes see what the mind knows'!

A similar species called Dingy Scrubhopper Aeromachus dubius, is found in oour highlands.

THE BUSHHOPPER

The Bushhopper Ampittia discoroides, is an interestiing little orange and brown skipper that we may encounter in open spaces and grasslands especially at lower elevations of the Kerala state .Males may be seen sitting on vantage points low on ground chasing away intruders.This species may be commonly seen in ricefields,for Oryza is one of its numerous foodplants.