Celaenorrhinus Leucocera - Habits

Habits

The Common Spotted Flat flies in the wet jungles of the peninsula and the Himalayas. It is a shade-loving insect, rarely venturing out of the forest, except early in the morning, late in the evening or when it is overcast.

It visits flowers and rests on the undersides of leaves. Its long proboscis permits it to feed from flowers having long tubular corollas. It visits Impatiens, Asystasia, Blepharis, Peristrophe, Crossandra and other acanthaceaous shrubs and herbs which are abundant in the dappled environs of the forest edge where this butterfly is most likely to be found. The butterfly can also be spotted mud-puddling occasionally.

When active, the Common Spotted Flat alternates between sun and shade, flying in the open patches for a while and resting a while when in the shade. As it is a wary butterfly which rarely settles on the top of bushes, resting instead mostly on the undersides of leaves, it is difficult to get a good look at the Common Spotted Flat in the field. Its fast, zig-zagging flight also makes it difficult to track while in the air. It flies fast and low, usually below 6 feet, and aggressively defends its territory from other butterflies. When disturb, it buzzes in circles around before settling down, near to where it was perched before.

This species, like others of its group, is distinguished by its habit of keeping its wings spread flat, which behaviour gives these butterflies their name.