Project butterfly Mankulam Division

Spalgis epius epius (Westwood, 1852) — Oriental Apefly Malayalam Name      : മർക്കട ശലഭം Common Name ; Oriental Ape Fly Order  : Lepidoptera Super Family             : Papilionoidae (Butterflies) Family               :  Lycaenidae Sub Family : Mitelinae DISTRIBUTION :  India STATUS :  Common HABITAT  :  HABITS : The pupae resembling face of apes, hence the name Ape Fly. Caterpillars are carnivorous, feeding largely on mealy bugs (Coccidae). The species unlike many other lycaenid butterflies is not myrmecophilous (it has no mutualistic associations with ants). Pupa IDENTIFICATION  FEATURES:  Small-sized butterfly with wingspan of 20 to 30...