Description
Wingspan 60-75 mm. The sexes are indistinguishable in flight. The small scent patch on vein 2 on the underside of the hind wing distinguishes the male. Though not readily discernable in flight, the males also have narrower forewing apices.

The upper side are a dull black with pale greenish blue markings. The markings are large and streaky towards the base but progressively shorter and narrower towards the outer margins.

On the under side, the ground colour is dull dark brown and its markings correspond to those on the upper side. The color of the markings on the forewing are pale greenish blue. Those on the hind wing are light gray. These contrasting colors distinguishes it from all other blue coloured tigers.

Similar species
Blue Tiger, Glassy Tiger, Dark Blue Tiger, Female Dark Wanderer and Common Mime. More information.

Status, distribution and habitat
Strictly a butterfly of the wet zone below 1500 feet elevation. It is restricted to a narrow strip of land on the south-west coast. Its range extends not more than 30 miles inland, but is most commonly found within five to ten miles of the coast. It is commonly seen at the Sinharajah forest reserve.

Habits
Its habits are very similar to the Blue Tiger. More information about Danaids

Early stages
Unknown. I once observed a female oviposting on a vine that had milky sap. I was unable to identify the plant but suspect that it was a member of the Apocyanaceae.

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Danaidae | Satyridae | Amathusiidae | Nymphalidae | Acraeidea | Libytheidae | Riodinidae | Lycaenidae | Pieridae | Papilionidae | Hesperidae