Dear Nature Lovers,
Greetings from oikos !
Tawny Coster is one of the common butterflies from India.
Name refers to the orange-brown or yellowish brown color.
Scientific name : Acraea violae, Family : Nymphalidae (Brush-footed butterflies)
Commonly seen in peninsular India. Always seen in forests clearings and open areas
and in gardens wherever there is Passion flower vine.
This butterfly avoids shade and dense vegetation.
It does not fly high, but seems to keep within 3 m of the ground.
Adaptation of escape threats :
Tawny Coster is one of the boldest fliers in India, quite confident about its unpalatibility.
It flies unaffected in the same careless fashion even after attacks from predator.
When caught it feigns death and exudes an obnoxious yellowish fluid.
This fluid is nauseous. Furthermore butterfly has tough skin and is hard to kill.
Once left alone, the ‘dead’ butterfly takes off immediately.
Larval Food plants : Passiflora edulis, Passiflora foetida, Aporosa lindeleyana
कृष्ण कमळ - Passiflora edulis
Commonly planted in gardens for its beautiful purple flowers.
These vines are also made climb on on thatch roof which keeps the structure cooler. |
