Blue Clipper

Description:

These butterflies are grayish blue with exquisite markings, forming streaks and scallops in black and white. The underside of the wings is pale grayish green, faintly reflecting the markings of the upper side. The female is larger in size than the male.

Habitat:

Higher the altitude it flies, more active it gets and swifter its flight. It is a fast flying butterfly and has a habit of flying with its wings flapping stiffly between the horizontal position and a few degrees below the horizontal. It flies from the sea level to about 3500 feet and is quite common. It is spotted in the wet zone forest areas. Though the butterfly usually flies at mid canopy level, it tends to circle a specific area and settle on the same spot. But there has been an interesting observation that it changes its flight depending on the elevation, with those seen over 2500 feet being less inclined to settle. It has a very distinctive flight consisting of a sharp clipping of wings following by a glide. It is generally a frolicking in groups.

Notes:

The larvae feeds on Modecca and Adenia palmate.