Indian Fluffy Tit

 Zeltus amasa amasa (Hewitson, 1865) 

Malayalam Name     

:

 ചുരുൾ വാലൻ

Common Name

;

Indian Fluffy Tit

Order 

:

Lepidoptera

Super Family            

:

Papilionoidae (Butterflies)

Family              

: 

Lycaenidae

Sub Family

:

Theclinae

DISTRIBUTION :  The species found distrubted in Indo Malayan region. The butterfly is found in India, specially the Western Ghats, Sikkim to Assam.

DISTRIBUTION:
STATUS: Not very rare
HABITAT: The genus is mostly found at hot, wet forest areas. It flies feebly. The male Zeltus rarely visits flowers, and stays on wet or damp patches, or on the leaves which are about 10 feet (3.0 m) above the ground. The female mostly stays inside deep forest and is rarely seen.
HABIT:  Zeltus amasa has false eyes, legs, and antennae on the hindwing, which resembles and diverts attention from its real head. If it is attacked, its starts flying in an unexpected direction
IDENTIFICATION FEATURES: 
LARVAL HOST PLANT: Ixora spp. (Rubiaceae).
MORE IMAGES   

Male

female

Indian Fluffy Tit
Pradeep Krishnan
കേരള വനം വന്യജീവി വകുപ്പ്  
മാങ്കുളം ഡിവിഷൻ

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