Butterflies of Sri Lanka

Similar Species - Crows (Genus Euploea)

The sex brand of the male of the Common Indian Crow, the Brown King Crow and the Double Branded Crow is located on the upperside of the forewing between the inner margin and the cell. It appears as a dark, single or double streak depending on the species. On the underside, these streaks are pale coloured. The female of these 3 species has no sex brand, but the underside of the forewing has markings that are similar to those of the male of her species.

The sex brand of the male Great Crow is on the upperside of the hind wing. It appears as a dull patch in and over the anterior edge of the cell.

Common Indian Crow
On the underside, the forewing cell and the hind wing cell each contain one white spot. Rarely one or both spots may be missing. On the underside of the forewing, the row of spots in the interspaces adjoining the cell is incomplete.

Male	The sex brand is a single narrow streak.
Female	The streak is not well defined and is more diffuse.

Brown King Crow
No spots in either of the cells on the underside.

Male

The sex brand is oval shaped, sometimes a short stub.

The lower margin of the forewing is not straight but more or less convex.

The area above the cell on the upperside hind wing is distinctly lighter coloured than the rest of the hind wing.

Female

The streak is not well defined and is more diffuse.

Double Branded Crow
On the underside, each of the cells contains a spot, as in the Common Indian Crow. However, unlike the Common Indian Crow, the row of spots in the interspaces adjoining the cell is complete.

Male	There are two parallel lines of sex brands on the upperside forewing. They are both longer and broader than in any other species.
Female	The streaks are not well defined and are more diffuse.

Great Crow
Distinctly larger than all other 'Crows'. Coppery bronze in colour. The spots on the upperside hind wing are much smaller.

Great Eggfly
Not a member of the 'Crows'.

Female

The margins of the hind wing are wavy or bluntly scalloped. The upperside forewing contains a row of metallic purple spots in the subapical area; the corresponding spots on the underside are a dull white. The median band on the underside hind wing is white.

Common Palmfly
Not a member of the 'Crows'.

Male	On the upperside, the broad yellow-brown band on the outer margin of the hind wing distinguishes it from all other butterflies. The underside is finely marked with interlacing lines.