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Evening Brown Butterfly (Melanitis Lead) Camouflage To Resemble A Dead Leaf
The dry-season form of the Common Evening Brown butterfly (Melanitis leda) is seen camouflaged as a dead leaf while feeding on the juice of a fallen fruit in Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on November 4, 2024. This butterfly, known for its erratic flight at dusk, is native to regions including Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and parts of Australia. In the wet season, its forewings feature two large subapical black spots with smaller white-centered spots, bordered by a ferruginous lunule on a brown background. In the dry season, however, the butterfly’s ocelli are reduced or absent, with its color shifting from grey to light brown, helping it blend with dead leaves for effective camouflage. (Photo by Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto)
Photo Details
| Photo ID | #11743283 |
|---|---|
| Date Taken | |
| Location | N/A |
| Photographer | Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto |
| Category | Human Interest |
| Copyright | © 2026 NurPhoto - Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto |
Related Keywords
Common Evening Brown
Melanitis leda
butterfly
dry season
camouflage
dead leaf
feeding
fallen fruit
Tehatta
West Bengal
India
November 4
2024
erratic flight
dusk
native
Africa
South Asia
Southeast Asia
Australia
wet season
forewings
subapical black spots
white-centered spots
ferruginous lunule
brown background
dry season form
ocelli
reduced
absent
grey
light brown
blend
effective camouflage
Soumyabrata Roy
NurPhoto.
2026 NurPhoto. All rights reserved.
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