Plains Cupid Butterfly - BirdForum Opus

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Photo by Alok Tewari
DTU Campus, Delhi, India, 10 Sept. 2015

Common Name: Plains Cupid

Chilades pandava

Identification

25-35 mm; hind wing has white-tipped tail; blue above and brown below, more bright males.

Distribution

India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar

Habitat

Prefers moist well wooded regions. Males more on damp patches and also on flowers and female fly near grasses. Seen up-to some height in Himalayas.

Behaviour

Caterpillars attended by ants.

References

1. Kehimkar, Isaac. The Book of Indian Butterflies. 2011 Reprint. Bombay Natural History Society. Oxford Univ. Press. ISBN (13): 978019569620 2
2. Nelson, Rodrigues. Butterflies of Mumbai. MMR Environment Improvement Society. Anitha Art Printers. ISBN-978-81-926884-0-4