Blue Admiral

Blue Admiral

Kaniska canace viridis Evans NYMPHALIDAE

(=Vanessa canace (Johanssen))

Adult

Upperside indigo-blue with paler blue discal band on both wings. Band broader in female. In FW, the band tapers down towards apex and a short, oblique, broad blue bar beyond the apex of the cell. In HW, band broader, bearing a series of black spots along its outer border. Terminal border in both wings with an undulating black line. Underside brownish black marked densely with dark fine streaks. Basal half very dark, bordered with a wavy black line. Discal band pale brown from the apex in FW. Small, creamy yellow spot in the cell of both wings and along the dorsum near the tornal angle of FW. Terminal margin irregular and scalloped. HW with a prominent tail-like projection in the middle. Wingspan 60-75mm.

A resident of wooded country in the hill regions, found up to 3000 m in the Himalayas and up to 1000-1200m in the hills of South India. Present always close to the vicinity of water, it makes straight, fast flight up and down the stream beds, roads, paths, etc. with half open wings, frequently settles on the ground, on rocks or stones. Generally rests in the same spot and rarely visits flowers. Fond of damp patches, ripe fruits and tree sap. Active throughout the year in most parts of India and from early spring to autumn in the Himalayas.

Larva

Pale red with segments alternately orange and white having numerous black spots on the orange and black streaks on the white segments. Orange area of segments with 7-8 longitudinal rows of white, branching, black tipped spines. Feeds on Wild Yams and Smilax spp.

Distribution

India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and a few countries in the temperate Asia.