Cruiser

Vindula erota saloma ( Swinhoe) NYMPHALIDAE

( =Cynthia erota ( Swinhoe))

Adult

Upperside male yellowish brown. Base and apex of FW and terminal area of HW dark. Two wavy black lines on the outer margin and one irregular line across the disc in both the wings. FW produced and with a few black lines across the cell. HW with black centered ocellus andmargin produced into a tooth like tail. Female bluish green or dark greenish brown with similar markings as in male and with a prominent white band across the disc. Underside female with markings and basal half pinkish in both wings. FW with silvery white spots in the apex and brown subterminal lines. Wingspan 72-110mm.

Shows seasonal forms, occurring in the evergreen forests below 2500m in south India and up to 1500 m in the north western Himalayas. Abundant during wet months. Visits flowers of lantana and others between 9am and 10am during the rest of the day, flies high, often out of reach and often the male basks. Fond of damp patches and occasionally to carnivore droppings and even rotten crabs.

Larva

Pale olive green, darker between segments. Head dark brown with 2 long spines. Body with six short yellow based spines on each segment, the 2 upper ones much longer.

Feeds on passion flowers.

Distribution

India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Sulawesi and the Sunda Islands.