Indian Sunbeam (Curetis thetis)

Indian Sunbeam female, recently ecloded

Fresh egg of Indian sunbeam on Derris scandens

         Indian sunbeam, share a "not common" status with some other butterflies on the campus. Mostly spotted on the lake side, due to unprecedented availability of its LHP, an evergreen climber named Jewel Vine (Derris scandens). Thanks Mr. Haneesh for identification. Sunbeam caterpillars were also found on the Pongamia pinnata (करंज), a pea family tree better known for bio-diesel extraction source. Teh tree also hosts for several other butterflies e.g. Common Banded Awl. Many eggs and caterpillars were observed at same time on both these plants . Caterpillar normally resides at the edge of the branch and prefers to eat fresh leaves. Due to its excellent camouflage technique it look like a part of leaf, it can remain unnoticed. Two horn-like structure on its rare part of the body is a special and noticeable feature.

            Indian sunbeam male and female have distinct UP. Male is bright orange and female with most of the part dull dark brown (Chocolate) colored with small white marking on upper-wing. According to Krushnmegh kunte's "Butterflies of Peninsular India", Males are much more frequently seen. However our observation inside the campus is other way round. Females were spotted often, specially near the host plants. Once female was spotted on bamboo tree sap. Just once Male was seen mud-puddling. Male and female both were shot on that same day behind the H-5/H-9 hostels besides the compound wall. Otherwise, one very few occasions male is seen that too in the flight.  Indian sunbeam is frequently found when we toured SGNP, yeoor, Nagla nad Tungareshwar WLS. There are two other subspecies, angled and toothed sunbeam, both spotted by us in Tungareshwar WLS. These two posses subtle deviation from Indian sunbeam and none of them are spotted in the campus. 

Quick Facts:

Name: Indian Sunbeam

Scientific Name: Curtis thetis

Wingspan: 40-50 mm

ID marks: Different UP . Male has orange and female Dark-brown UP wings.

Host plant: Pongamia pinnata, Derris scandens

Curetis thetis egg laying on Derris scandens

Indian Sunbeam Male

Female UP

Note the horn like body-part

Caterpillar, another view

Fresh pupa

Markings are developed on 4th day

Just before eclosion

Indian Sunbeam female on bamboo tree sap

Lime Blue (Chilades laius)

Fresh Lime Blue 

Lime Blue female egg laying on Lime

Lime Blue (Chilades laius) belongs to Lycaenidae family. It is small butterfly, grayish in color. We were able to observe its life-cycle. As its name suggest its larval host plants includes Lime plants. We observed its larva on small lime tree in Medical garden. Larva was easy to detect even though it is well camouflaged. Ants constantly follow larva, so in order to find Lime Blue's larva just follow the trail of ants. On the same plant we were able to find many empty pupa. This plant had many curled leaves. Lime blue caterpillar took advantage of this to make the pupa. Pupa were well concealed inside curled leaves of plant. It seemed that ants were attaining pupa also. We saw two pupa made very near to each other on same curled leaf. Lime Blue is seemed to be common in immediate post mansoon months. Again they were mainly encountered around Hill side. 

Lime Blue pupa in secluded leaf of lime, held on palm 

Key to ID this butterfly is the "L"shaped dots on its hind wings. Sex are dissimilar, female has black outlines on UP, which are absent in male. Here is a video Describing association of ants with lime blue caterpillar on lime tree.

Quick Facts:
Common Name: Lime Blue
Scientific Name: Chilades laius
Wingspan: approx 25-20 mm
Status: Locally Common.

Contributors: Paresh Kale and Abhay Soman.

Caterpillar of Lime Blue (Chilades laius)

Lime Blue

Female	Male
Early stage Pupa	Early Stage Pupa
Pupa just before eclosion	Pupa Just before eclosion
A different specimen

Blue Oakleaf

  

Blue Oakleaf - Open wing position

    Blue Oakleaf is an unusual shaped butterfly, known for its unparallel camaflouge technique. When closed, the wings of the oakleaf simulates shape of a dry leaf. Seating position , normally on trunk or branch of the tree, adds drama to it and looks as if a leaf of the tree. Blue Oakleaf settles in such position, blends with tree structure and makes it a challenging to find it out when one was not tracking it.

Quick Facts:

Common Name : South Indian Blue Oakleaf

Latin Name: Kallima Horsfieldii

Typical Wingspan : 85 to 120 mm
Geographical Distribution : Mumbai, Nashik towards south.
Status: Locally Common

Different individuals of Blue Oakleaf
showcasing variety and uniqueness of patterns

    However in flight, this beauty is easy to identify. Flashy blue, quick but erratic flight and large wingspan features makes it easy for ID. In IIT campus, this insect was abundant soon after rainy season. A sure shot sighting on a bamboo tree sap in hill side area. On every visit, we were able to spot at least 2-3 specimens. However, any other activity by it like mating, egg laying, courtship etc was never observed by us. Surprisingly, oakleaf population seemed declined in February. Not a single specimen was sited.

As far as geographical distribution is concerned, This  specie is restricted to South India, hence named, and is not yet recorded in North India. Likely upper boundaries are Mumbai and Nashik.

  Most interesting fact about this species is its under-wing pattern. According to Winter Blyth, no two oakleaf bare similar under-wing pattern, making every individual unique. A collage of different specimens recorded in and around Mumbai will suffice this fact.