Dark Blue Tiger

Description:

It flies at all heights, but mostly above ten to fifteen feet above ground. It has a characteristic slow meandering flight and moves forward with a few wing beats followed by a spell of gliding. The wings are held in a 'V' shaped angle during the glide. It is often encountered feeding on flowers or at damp spots (or on drying heliotrope Heliotropium strigosum, or H. indicum). The males visit wet soil and muddy patches but not very frequently. In the evenings, they roost in large numbers inside the canopy of trees by hanging onto dead twigs or small bare branches. On windy or particularly hot, dry days, one will often see a Blue tiger resting, wings folded back and down, on the tip of a twig, or even sticks poking out of the ground, in shady spots around paddy field. When foraging, the males are irresistibly attracted in large numbers to dead plant parts of Heliotropium indicum or the pods of Crotalaria pallida. When threatened they take to the air, their wings often hitting against each other or the vegetation to produce a rustling sound. While feeding, they frequently open and close their wings in a slow and controlled manner. They’re known to take part in migrations.

Habitat:

Commonly found all over the island, especially at the lower elevations but less above 3000 feet. Frequently found in the company of the Blue Tiger. It is disturbed areas with secondary vegetation and forest borders.

Notes:

larvae feeds on plants of family Asclepiadaceae or the Apocynaceae.