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Grass Demon - Ancistroides Folus - Animal India

The Grass Demon (Ancistroides folus) is a small yet prominent butterfly found across Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Myanmar, China, Indochina, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, the Malay Peninsula, Singapore, Borneo, and Indonesia. It typically inhabits deciduous and semi-evergreen forests and belongs to the skipper family, Hesperiidae. Considered an occasional pest of ginger and turmeric plants, this butterfly is most abundant in the open regions of hilly jungles. The Grass Demon prefers forest edges or clearings with dappled light, which may explain its distinctive black-and-white coloration. This pied pattern helps the butterfly blend effectively with its surroundings, making it difficult to spot once settled. When basking, it perches on the upper side of leaves with its hindwings pressed flat against the surface and its forewings held half-open at an angle above the hindwings. This unique posture sets it apart from other butterflies in Peninsular India. Additionally, on August 27, 2024, a Grass Demon was observed in Tehatta, West Bengal, India, sitting on a basil leaf or brick wall and feeding on the droppings of a Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis) using its long proboscis, while occasionally mixing in some watery matter from its excretory organ.(Photo by Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto)

Photo ID	#11518774
Date Taken	27 August 2024
Location	N/A
Photographer	Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto
Category	Human Interest
Copyright	© 2026 NurPhoto - Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto

Grass Demon Ancistroides folus butterfly Sri Lanka India Nepal Myanmar China Indochina Taiwan Japan Thailand Malay Peninsula Singapore Borneo Indonesia deciduous forests semi-evergreen forests skipper family Hesperiidae pest ginger plants turmeric plants hilly jungles forest edges clearings dappled light black-and-white coloration pied pattern camouflage basking leaves hindwings forewings Peninsular India Tehatta West Bengal basil leaf brick wall Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis proboscis excretory organ Soumyabrata Roy NurPhoto.