Butterflies of Sri Lanka

244 species of butterflies occur in Sri Lanka, of which about 20 are endemics. Their habitats range from the hottest areas in the arid zones to the coolest areas in the forested hills. Some butterflies can be seen all year round while others are seasonal. In size, they range from the large, aptly named Bird-wing butterfly to the tiny, just as aptly named, Grass Jewel.

The highest number of species of butterflies occur in the foothills up to 3000 feet elevation. About half a dozen species occur above 4000 feet. Twenty species are strictly confined to the dry zone below 500 feet. There are two major seasons in which the butterfly numbers peak. These correspond to the onset of the south-west monsoon in March-April and the north-east monsoon in September-October.
The eleven families found in Sri Lanka are Danaidae, Satyridae, Amathusiidae, Nymphalidae, Acraeidea, Libytheidae, Riodinidae, Lycaenidae, Pieridae, Papilionidae and Hesperiidae.