 This
long-tailed Lycaenid is relatively common in Malaysia, but rare in
Singapore. It frequents the forested areas and flies in the same fashion
as its more common relative, the Branded Imperial. The wings above are
brownish purple in the male and dark brown in the female. The underside
is white, with most of the forewing and apical area of the hindwing shaded
orange.
The butterfly has two tails on
each hindwing, with the one along vein 2 being the longer - attaining a
length of up to 25 mm. The tails trail behind the butterfly elegantly, as it flits from perch to perch. |
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