Common Evening Brown

Description:

Melanitis leda, the Common Evening Brown, is a common species of butterfly found flying at dusk. The flight of this species is erratic. They are found in Africa, South Asia and South-east Asia extending to parts of Australia.

Habitat:

Likes to stay in places with dead brown leaves, e.g in plantain grooves, under hedges.

Notes:

I had a very memorable encounter with the Common Blue Charaxes (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dotun55/975...) whose photo I put up recently. It was enjoyable to watch a butterfly enjoy its food without getting unduly distracted by activities in the immediate environment. It provided a golden opportunity for a 'fly paparazzi'. I was prepared for this one and learned from it. Another butterfly visited sometime after the Charaxes left. I had no idea what the species was. Its brown under-wings were bordered with white scallop patterns. I guessed it was another Charaxes species because it was as large as the former. It is unfortunate that I didn't get a shot. It fled before I got close enough. I think I was more carried away ascertaining whether it was the previous butterfly or not. Articles on the Charaxes (Emperor butterflies) confirmed the characteristic flight pattern and feeding behaviour I witnessed. It was interesting to know this amongst other methods butterfly collectors employ to ensnare this bold bird. If I were to set anything up, it wouldn't be to capture this butterfly. It would only be for clean close ups. A few days ago, I prepared a little something- a favourite- for the Charaxes. I kept it above ground a little safe from lizards that might want to tamper with it. It was afternoon, about the same time I spotted the first one. I checked regularly. Nothing. By evening when I checked, the bait had diminished (small reptile bite marks all around). I didn't bother to secure the bait again. I just kept looking whenever I was free. This was what I found the evening of the following day. It was as engrossed in the moist decaying plantain peel as a Charaxes would over a whole plantain. Wasn't a bad catch. Spotting 300