Image: Melanitis leda dry season form at Kadavoor

Description: Melanitis leda, 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. Melanitis leda is subject to a wide range of variation in the underside colouration and patterning, and exhibits pronounced seasonal dimorphism. The wet season morph is pale brown with numerous dark striations and prominent ocelli. In the dry season morph the ocelli are greatly reduced or may be entirely absent, and the ground colour varies from grey to light brown, mottled with tiny dark dots. "The Melanitis was there among dead leaves, its wings folded and looking for all the world a dead, dry leaf itself. The species of this genus when disturbed fly a little way, drop suddenly into the undergrowth with closed wings, and invariably lie a little askew and slanting, which still more increases their likeness to a dead leaf casually fallen to the ground." Adults feed mainly on nectar, and in rare cases visit rotting fruits.
Title: Melanitis leda dry season form at Kadavoor
Credit: Own work
Author: Jeevan Jose
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