Orange Oakleaf (Kallima inachus)

About Orange Oakleaf (Kallima inachus)

• The Kallima inachus is a nymphalid butterfly.
  • It is also known as the orange oakleaf, Indian oakleaf or dead leaf.
• Scientific name: Its scientific name is Kallima inachus.
• Habitat: They usually flies in dense forests with good rainfall, amongst undergrowth and along stream beds.
• Distribution: They are found in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Myanmar, down to Tenasserim Hills. In Southeast Asia it occurs in southern China, Thailand, Laos, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
  • In India, the butterfly is widely distributed across the Himalayas, central India, and the Western and Eastern Ghats.
• Characteristics:
  • Appearance: The butterfly wings are shaped like a leaf when in the closed position.
    • When the wings are closed, only the cryptic underside markings are visible, which consists of irregular patterns and striations in many shades of biscuit, buff, browns, yellow, and black.
    • The veins are darkened and resemble the veins of a leaf.
    • The resemblance to a dried leaf, a masquerade, is extremely realistic and gives the genus its common names, the oakleaf or dead leaf.
    • When it spreads its wings, it reveals bright orange, jet-black and deep velvety blue colours.
    • There are two white oculi, one along the margin of the apical black band, and the other bordering the orange and deep blue areas.
    • The hindwing is more uniformly blue but diffused with brown patches along the termen.
    • Wingsize: The wingspan of the butterfly ranges from 85 to 110 mm (3.3 to 4.3 in).
  • Behaviour:
    • They are powerful flier.
    • The are attracted to tree sap and over-ripe fruit, and is also known to mud-puddle.
  • Diet: The larvae are polyphagous, meaning they feed on a variety of plants belonging to different families.
• Conservation: They are generally classified as “not rare” in India (though considered “rare” in parts of China).