Butterflies of the Indian
subcontinent
Lime Blue
Chilades
lajus
STOLL, 1780
Family -
LYCAENIDAE
subfamily -
POLYOMMATINAE
Tribe - POLYOMMATINI
Chilades
lajus,
female,
Hambantota, Sri Lanka
Introduction
There are 23 species in the genus
Chilades, distributed variously from Africa and
India to China, and south through from Malaysia and the islands of south-east
Asia to Australia.
The genus Chilades
includes one of the smallest known butterfly species on Earth - the Madagascan Grass
Blue Chilades ( Freyeria
) miniscula, which has a wingspan of only 9mm.
Chilades
lajus is a very widespread and common species, found from India and Sri
Lanka to the Philippines.
Chilades lajus, male, Weligaththa, Sri Lanka
Habitats
This is a common species, mainly associated with dry forest and acacia
scrub on the lowlands.
Lifecycle
The caterpillar is pale green with a series of broken dark lines on the back, and a
brown head. It is attended by ants which milk it to obtain a sugary fluid
secreted from a gland on the back.
The larval foodplants do not appear to be
recorded ( larvae of other Chilades species use a
wide variety of herbaceous plants ).
Chilades lajus, female,
Hambantota, Sri Lanka
Adult behaviour
Both sexes commonly nectar at wild flowers including
Tridax and various Lamiaceae. They usually hold
their wings erect when feeding or at rest, but will sometimes bask with them
held half open in cloudy weather conditions.
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