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Common Name : Autumn Leaf     -       Scientific Name : Doleschallia bisaltide       -       Other Name : Yoda Kela-kolaya (S)
Between Nelum Wila and Panikkar Villu
05/22/2015

This is a beautiful nymphalidae butterfly found through out the oriental region except for some parts of China and in Australia where it is called leaf wing butterfly. Over 20 subspecies are known and the subspecies found in Sri Lanka is referred to as Doleschallia bisaltide ceylonica. It is known to occur through out the island up to an altitude of about 4500 feet but it is a rare butterfly.

The conservation status of this species is regarded as Endangered (National Red List 2012).

This is a species protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance as amended by Act No. 22 of 2009.

I have seen this butterfly at Meemure in the Knukles forest reserve and at Illukkumura.

The females of this butterfly lay its eggs on wild plants belonging to the Acathas family, which include Malabar False Eranthamum Pseuderanthemum latifolium and Asystasia chelonoides which belongs to the same genus as  Puruk or the Chinees Violet flowers Asystasia gangetica commonly seen at Wilpattu. The Malabar False Eranthamums is also a species found at locations such as Borupn Wila junction in Wilpattu.

This is a very rare butterfly at Wilpattu and I have seen it once between Nelum Wila and Panikkar Villu.