Stunning destination for nature lovers. IT has something in every season. water falls and flowers in monsoon. Butterflies in pre and post monsoon season. Charming birds in winter season. Racket tailed drango, Asian Paradise flycatcher, Verditor are few notables.
To reach Tungar, take bus from Main gate to Andheri railway station. Frequent locals from Andheri drops u at Vasai road. Take share auto to "Tungar Phata" and then start walking towards WLS. Entrance is at about kilometer inside from the main road. No ticket is charged presently and no permission required for nature walk. One can either follow the water streams or the road. Another part of Tungar WLS is Chinchoti waterfall. Alight at Naygaon station, catch share auto to reach Chicnhoti fata.
Water stream, Chinchoti during December
Tungar WLS and Chichoti waterfall
Woods are lovely dark and deep.....Tungar WLS
Swapnil and Abhay sharing lite moents at Chichoti water fall
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.
