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| Acytolepis puspa (Common Hedge Blue) newly emerged. |
This is small butterfly predominantly
white with series of black spots on its underwing. It belongs to
Lycaenidae family. It is not very common in our campus. It can be
seen on damp patches and around its host plant Peltophorum ptecocarpum (Copperpod tree). There
are many Copperpod trees on both sides of main road. I have seen
female laying eggs on such trees once near Canara Bank ATM (near H-6)
and near H-8. We also found eggs on another Copperpod tree near Main
Building. Female lay egg singly on tender shoot or very young leaves.
Eggs is more or less round, bluish green in colour, it turns white on maturity. A caterpillar does not eat its egg
shell. It is tiny and extremely camofludged. It exclusively eats
tender leaves of plant. After reaching maturity caterpillar turns
pinkish-red in colour. One of the caterpillar made pupa on upperside
of leaf and the butterfly emerged was male.
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| Basking Acytolepis puspa (Common Hedge Blue) Female. |
Similar species is Tailess Malayan (
Megisba thwaitesi), compare following photo for similarities and differences between Common Hedge Blue and Tailess Malayan. Tailess Malayan is seen while mud-puddling.
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| Egg of Acytolepis puspa |
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| Pre-pupation |
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| Pre-pupation |
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| Pupa just before emergence |
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| Peltophorum ptecocarpum (Copperpod tree) |
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| Acytolepis puspa (Common Hedge Blue) mudpuddling |
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