Dark Evening Brown
Common NameDark Evening Brown
Scientific NameMelanitis phedima
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilySatyrinae
Wingspan (mm)65
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsdark brown, purplish-brown, black
HabitatForests, forest edges, clearings, bamboo thickets
Geographic RangeSouth and Southeast Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, southern China, Malaysia, Indonesia)
Host PlantsOplismenus compositus, Paspalum conjugatum, Setaria palmifolia, various grasses (Poaceae)
Flight PeriodYear-round in tropical regions, often crepuscular (dawn/dusk)
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host grasses. Larvae feed on grasses, pupating into a chrysalis that often blends with its surroundings.
Identification TipsKey features include the distinctive dead-leaf mimicry on the underside, the dark coloration, and the row of small, ringed eyespots on the hindwing, especially when at rest with wings closed.
Description
A medium-sized butterfly with a dark, cryptic underside, typically dark brown to purplish-brown, mimicking a dead leaf, featuring a series of small, ringed eyespots on the hindwing.
