Admittedly, some groups of the Sri Lankan fauna are well known. This is especially true for the birds, large mammals, snakes and butterflies. It is unlikely that there will be significant additions to the checklists of these animals. Yet, much remains to be known as regards the biology and ecology of many of these species, especially the ones endemic to Sri Lanka. For example, although almost 30 species of butterfly are endemic to Sri Lanka, we do not know the food plants of more than half of them, whether in the adult or caterpillar stage.
All butterflies begin life as caterpillars which feed only on one or a select few plants.
If the plant becomes rare or extinct, however good our conservation efforts for the butterfly may be, the insect will disappear. Conservation of butterflies depends entirely therefore on the conservation of the Endemic, but next to nothing is known of the biology of this splendid Blue Oakleaf butterfly, Kallima philarchus. Without regular scientific monitoring, it is impossible to tell. Conservation planning depends entirely on scientific research and monitoring. Without such research, for many species it is probably already too late.