All species from the genus Elymnias are
medium or large-sized and are very delicate and fragile.
This is especially true of their wings, which can be
easily broken at the slightest touch. Also, they have a
rather somber coloration and many are extremely rare.
The Common Palmfly is a common insect in the forest as
well as urban areas. It is particularly abundant where
plants of the species Palmae thrive.
Its flight can be best described as a slow flapping and
gliding motion. It has a propensity to rest on leaves
very often after each short flight. Due to its fondness
for shade, it is usually found flying under the cover of
trees amongst the undergrowth.
The Common Palmfly is bluish black with a series of blue
to purple submarginal spots on the forewing turning to
purplish brown on the hindwing. Its underside is a rich
brown filled with minute fasciae, with a ‘thumb-print’
of a lighter shade at the apex of the forewing. Usually,
there is a white spot in the centre of the costa on the
hindwing. The slightly larger female resembles the male
but is somewhat lighter in colour and has a few whitish
submarginal spots on the upperside of its hindwings.
Its pupa is green with yellow longitudinal stripes
outline in red |
