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Common Name : Common Hedge Blue     -       Scientific Name : Actyolepis puspa felderi       -       Other Name : Gomu Neelaya (S)
Weli Ela
09/18/2015
Weli Ela
09/18/2015
Weli Ela
09/18/2015

This is a small butterfly species that belong to the Lycanidae family. Other in Sri Lanka this butterfly is found in India, Myanmar, Thailand, the Philippines, Borneo and New Guinea.

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

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

This butterfly is usually found flying close to the ground. I have always found them settled on damp soil or feeding on the nutrients off animal droppings. I have seen it at Meethirigala, Morapitiya, Sinharaja, Nilgala and Kandalama. The species of plants on which the Common Hedge Blue lays its eggs include Keta Kela (S) Bridelia retusa, Path Kela (S) Bridelia moonii and Kone (S) Schleichera oleosa.

This is not a commonly seen species at Wilpattu. I saw this species for the first time in September 2015 at Weli Ela, close to the park entrance, settled on a pile of fresh Elephant dung.