Different Patterns Seen on Evening Browns
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanitis
Common Evening brown with three different patterns seen together - Bangalore - Nov MMXVI
Though different patterns on same species of butterflies are common due to seasonal forms, sexual dimorphism and mimetic behaviour, when it comes to some species like Evening browns (genus Melantis) and rings (genus Ypthima), the number of patterns are numerous.
Shown here are different patterns seen on Evening browns in South India. These butterflies usually resemble a dry leaf on the ground and it is believed that the colour variation in different seasons is a camouflage technique to avoid predators. They usually fly low and hide in thickets / bushes.
The three species of Melanitis seen in South India are
Melanitis leda Linnaeus, 1758 - Common Evening Brown
Melanitis phedima Cramer, 1780 – Dark Evening Brown
Melanitis zitenius Herbst, 1796 – Great Evening Brown
Shown here are different patterns seen on Evening browns in South India. These butterflies usually resemble a dry leaf on the ground and it is believed that the colour variation in different seasons is a camouflage technique to avoid predators. They usually fly low and hide in thickets / bushes.
The three species of Melanitis seen in South India are
Melanitis leda Linnaeus, 1758 - Common Evening Brown
Melanitis phedima Cramer, 1780 – Dark Evening Brown
Melanitis zitenius Herbst, 1796 – Great Evening Brown
Common Evening Brown documented from Bangalore in Jan MMXVII
Common Evening Brown documented from Wayanad in Nov MMXVI
Common Evening Brown documented from Bangalore in Feb MMXVI
Common Evening Brown documented from Bangalore in Feb MMXVI
Common Evening Brown documented from Bangalore in Dec MMXV
This record will be updated as and when possible.
All photographs are taken by the author unless mentioned otherwise.
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