Sunday Shot – Oriental Forget-me-not Butterfly

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At first thought, this beautiful purple-blue-silver-colored one looked like an insect. Some Google search indicates it to be a butterfly called the Oriental Forget-me-not butterfly (Catochrysops Strabo Strabo). Look carefully and you would see hues of many colors swiftly navigating from one color to another.

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Oriental Forget-me-not Butterfly
Oriental Forget-me-not Butterfly

Oriental Forget-me-not Butterfly

Look carefully and you would see hues of many colors swiftly navigating from one color to another.

And the hind leg-like-looking structures emanating from the hind wings appear to be some defense parts/mechanisms.

Info about the butterfly

This butterfly is scientifically called Catochrysops strabo, the forget-me-not is a small butterfly found in Asia that belongs to the lycaenids or blues family. Their wingspan is about 25-30 mm. They are common in herbaceous areas in the dry zones. It is a lowland species, normally found at elevations between sea level and about 800m. It often visits Lantana flowers wildly growing by the roadside in Goa and can be seen at rest on lower foliage in Sunlit areas.

When settled the wings are usually held erect, and the hindwings periodically oscillate causing the short tails to wiggle. They can be seen frequently changing the direction of their position. Should a bird attack the butterfly makes its escape in an unexpected direction thereby bemusing the bird without a meal.

Closed wings are greyish with brown lines having white borders. Two specific black spots in the hind wing. Hind wings are tailed and its bases have black spots with yellow caps. The open wings of the females are bluish-brown with white patches and that of the males are pale bluish.

What a wonderful creation of nature!

Recommend you have a look at the following travel blog on places to visit in Goa.

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