Little Maplet 060713 2

Chersonesia peraka peraka
Little Maplet
Details
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Cyrestinae
Genus: Chersonesia
Species: peraka peraka
Common Name: Little Maplet
Wingspan:
Forms:
Status in Singapore:
Life History: complete
This butterfly can be found in: •Singapore
Hostplant(s): Ficus aurantiacea

Description
This species is very localised in distribution in Singapore, and has been observed over have a dozen occasions at a particular location in the northern part of the Central Catchment Reserves. A close relative of the Wavy Maplet (Chersonesia rahria rahria), which has not been seen in Singapore for the last decade at least, Chersonesia peraka peraka is of a much smaller size at around 14-17 mm.

Habitat & Habits
The butterfly has a feeble but erratic flight and alights with its wings opened flat when stopping to feed as shown in the photo above where it was feeding on a damp seepage along a forest path. It also has a peculiar habit of stopping on the undersides of leaves with its wings opened flat when disturbed.

Source: ButterflyCircle