Indian Fritillary (Male)

Description:

It is sometimes flies in the company of the Indian Red Admiral and the Painted Lady. It is a strong flyer, but likes to travel for only short distances and is often chanced upon lying with wings outstretched flat, sunning itself on fences, on road ways, or brick pathways in domestic gardens. Its flight is very similar to that of the Common Leopard. However, but does not incessantly move its wings when settled. The female flies slower than the male. Its male is more abundant than the female and may be seen day after day in the same location. Larval stages are mostly found in hills or tea estates where its’ host plants are abundant. It often settles on gravel roads through tea estates or forests.

Habitat:

It is essentially a butterfly of the hills, being found in the high elevations such as 4 500 feet. It is a Palearctic species that survives in a few relict races at the highest ‘non-tropical’ (temperate) elevations. It is not uncommon along the edges of tea fields bordering forests that support its larval food plant. It is most abundant in April.