Scientific Name : Acraea terpsicore
Tamil Name: Pattam poochi
Description: The tawny coster is a medium sized butterfly with an attractive tawny red coloration. It has a distinctive wing shape. The wings are tawny red color with random black spots and black borders. A series of white spots in the hind wing is noticeable. Both sexes are similar.
Distribution and status: It is a common species found in India and Sri Lanka.
Habitat: The tawny coster is common in grasslands, scrubs, plains and hill hilly regions. It prefers open spaces in all types of vegetation and avoids shade and dense vegetation.
Habits: It is a lazy flier which flies unhurriedly but in a long sustained manner. When disturbed it flies in a fast erratic manner. When basking it keeps its wings closed or flatly open. While feeding the butterfly balances by moving its body slowly.
Food: Flowers area the main sources of food for this butterfly.
Life cycle: It lays 20 to 100 eggs yellow in color. The fully grown caterpillar is reddish brown on the upper side and a yellowish white on the underside. Each body segment bears a number of branched spines. The pupa boldly marked with colors, advertising the fact that this is an unwholesome object if eaten.
Role in the environment: Passion flowers are host plant of this species. It is commonly seen in grasslands.
Photo source: Mr. B. Vinoth and Mr. N. Muthu Karthick