Another new butterfly for Sri Lanka

[Michael and Nancy van der Poorten]

Another new butterfly for Sri Lanka

The discovery by Dr. Michael (George) van der Poorten of a species of 
butterfly (Cephrenes trichopepla) new to Sri Lanka marks the 245th 
species for the island. C.  trichopepla is endemic to the Australian 
region where it is called the Yellow Palm-dart. It is a small brown and 
orange-yellow skipper with distinct markings. It probably arrived in Sri 
Lanka many years ago on a palm plant brought in from that region but 
went unnoticed because of its very close resemblance in the field to our 
native skipper, the Pale Palm-dart (Telicota colon). The new species may 
be distinguished from the Pale Palm-dart by the presence of a large 
black spot on the hind wing of both sexes, and the lack of a sex mark on 
the forewing of the male. The Yellow Palm-dart is now widespread in the 
northwestern province in plantations with very young coconut palms where 
it is a pest. We will continue to study this butterfly and to map its 
distribution in the island. For more details and photos, please go to: 
www.srilankaninsects.net. Michael & Nancy van der Poorten.


 
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