Satyridae from Meghalaya

The Banded Tree Brown – Lethe confusa Aurivillius Colour: Brownish black A somewhat common butterfly of 50-55 mm. Upper surface of wings brown in colour. Fore wing with a white band and with pale spot on the apex. Under surface of the hind wing with a large circular mark on the upper margin and with a series of smaller circular marks on the outer edge. Found in forest where bamboo abounds. Recorded from Nongpoh and Barapani during May.
The Straight Banded Tree Brown – Lethe verma (Kollar) Colour: Brownish black A common butterfly of 55-60 mm. Upper surface of the fore wing with a white band but without apical pale spot. This butterfly can be found settling on bark of trees. Recorded from Shillong during January, March, April and September – November.
The Dusky Labyrinth – Lethe yama (Moore) Colour: Brown Considered to be a rare butterfly of 70-95 mm. Upper surface of wings dark brown, plain and spots obscurely marked. This butterfly visits shady roadside banks and is attracted by animal refuse. Recorded from Shillong, Umtyngar, Mawphlang and Laitlyngkot during April, May and August.
The Black Forester – Lethe vindhya (C-Felder) Colour: Brown A somewhat rare butterfly of 65-70 mm. Upper surface of wings brown. Hind wing with a small tail like projection. Upper surface of hind wing with prominently pale ringed eye spots. Under surface of the wings beyond the middle area paler lilac. This butterfly inhabits forested areas of hilly terrain. Recorded from Shillong during June – September.
The Common Evening Brown – Melanitis leda ismene (Cramer) Colour: Dark Brown A very common butterfly of 60-80 mm. Upper surface of wing dull dark brown with two large prominent black spots on the fore wing; over each black spot a small white spot is present. Apex of the fore wing projecting outwards and hind wing with a small tail like prominence. This is a very common Indian Butterfly which is attracted to the lights in the evening and active at dark and found throughout the year. Recorded from Umran.
The Dark Evening Brown – Melanitis phedima (Stoll) Colour: Blackish brown A somewhat common butterfly of 60-80 mm. Upper surface of the wings blackish brown usually without any markings or with obscure markings. Under surface of wing with prominent marks, usually with pale purplish lines. Hind wing with a small tail like extension. Always found in jungles. Recorded from Umphyrnai and Shillong during October.
The Great Evening Brown – Melanitis zitenius (Herbst.) Colour: Brown Considered to be a rare butterfly of 80-95 mm. Dark brown, leaf like, flying generally in the evenings. Fore wing is produced and angular. Hind wing is tailed. Upper surface of the fore wing with obscure to somewhat prominent black spots encircled by ochreous area. This butterfly inhabits deep jungles. Recorded from Nongpoh during May.
The Large Three Ring – Ypthima nareda (Kollar) Colour: Deep brown A very common butterfly of 40-60 mm. Wings brown with one eye spot like marking each on the upper surface of the fore and hind wing. Under surface of the hind wings with three eye spots more or less in a line. Under surface of the wings with prominent striations. Commonly found in grassy places flying close to the ground. Recorded from Laitkor and Shillong during January, May, June and August – September.
The Himalayan Five Ring – Ypthima sakra Moore Colour: Deep brown A common butterfly of 45-55 mm. Wings brown in colour with eye like markings having two minute white spots. Upper and under surface of the fore wing with one eye mark and under surface of hind wing bearing five eye marks with the two at the tip much larger than the rest. They are found in grassy places flying close to the ground. Recorded from Shillong, Mawphlang, Lawsohtun, Barapani and Laitkor during June – October.
The Common Palm Fly – Elymnias hypermnestra Linnaeus Colour: Blackish brown or Reddish brown A common butterfly of 65-80 mm. Upper surface of the wings of male blackish brown with a purple gloss. Fore wing with a series of blue spots around the area a little away from the wing edge. Upper surface of the hind wing of males with a broad chestnut border and the hind wing is toothed. Females with reddish brown wings with apex and borders dark brown, spotted with white. Forewing with a broad white band below apex. Commonly found in jungles under shade. Recorded from Nongpoh during July.
The Spotted Palm Fly – Elymnias malelas (Hewitson) Colour: Dark brown with blue spots A somewhat common butterfly of 75-100 mm. Upper surface of the wings of the male, dark brown. Fore wing blue shot and with mauve spots. Upper surface of the hind wing brown without any markings. Hind wing without a tail like projection. Under surface dark brown with faint white striations. Female forewing with the blue shot area reduced. Spots whiter. Hind wing with white streaks between the veins and without a tail. Under surface pale, closely covered with fine dark brown striations. This butterfly inhabits shaded areas of forest. Recorded from Nongpoh during August.
The Dusky Diadem – Ethope himachala (Moore) Colour: Dark brown A somewhat common butterfly of 60-85 mm. Wings dark brown in colour and rounded in shape with a complete row of prominent eye spots towards the outer edge. Wing margins paler and bears three prominent dark lines. This butterfly can be seen generally near streams. Recorded from Nongpoh during October.