Tajuria mantra mantra

This butterfly was recently rediscovered in Singapore at the end of 1999.  Due to a chance observation of an egg-laying female on a Dendropthoe bush, the caterpillars of this species were found.  The males of Tajuria mantra mantra are an iridescent greenish-blue above, whilst the females are greyish blue.  Both sexes have a broad black apical border on the forewings. It is a beautiful Lycaenid which is of the same size as the Peacock Royal (Tajuria cippus maxentius) which is more often encountered in Singapore. The underside of the butterfly is a drab greyish brown with a pair of orange-crowned eye spots at the tornus of the hindwing.  The hindwings bear a pair of white tipped tails. The rather distinctive caterpillar has its anterior segments forming a carapace-like shield coloured a light buff.  The posterior segments are reddish buff and have a flattened shield-like shape which the segments in between are green.  Overall the caterpillar appears rather ugly.  It does not attempt to hide itself and moves rather slowly on the the upper surfaces of the host plant leaves and along the stalks.

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