Common Leopard

Scientific name: Phalanta Phalantha

Local Name: Chitta

Field Characteristics:

Wing Span: 50 to 60 mm

  It is a bright tawny butterfly with black spots. Underside is paler and glossy.

  Distribution and Habitat:

This butterfly is most common in scrub and dry deciduous forests. Also seen around clearings and edges of moist deciduous forests.

  Activity: It is abundantly found in pre and early monsoons. Frequency of sightings is less for the rest of the year.

  Habits:

Avoids shady places and is active in the noon sun. Flies at moderate speed but with rapid wing beats. Settles often on branches of small trees. Flaps wings for a few times on settling. It feeds from flowers but does not settle for long time. Basks with wings spread or half open. It is territorial in nature.

  Food:

This butterfly feeds on nectar of flowers such as lantana and other wild flowering plants.