Cigaritis lohita - the Long-banded Silverline

Lamnamkok N.P., Chiang Rai, Thailand

 

Family : Lycaenidae

Subfamily : Theclinae

Species : Cigaritis seliga

 

This forest dweller is found in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, peninsular Malaysia, and Borneo. The genus to which it belongs is instantly recognisable from the distinctive pattern of red-bordered silvery stripes on the underside. If you look quickly at the photo above you will find that the pattern draws your eye towards the tornus of the butterfly and this is one of nature's clever tricks to divert predators away from the butterfly's head, and towards its backend. The orange tornal spot, and the white-tipped tails which are wiggled like antennae when the butterfly is at rest, add further to the back-to-front illusion. A predator intending to attack a butterfly will always try to anticipate the direction in which it will try to escape. They therefore aim their attack just ahead of what they believe to be the head of the insect, but the back-to front illusion fools them into aiming at the tail, allowing the butterfly to make it's escape in the opposite direction.

This beautiful but uncommon species is quite small, despite its name, and has a wingspan of 25-33mm. They are usually seen perched on sunlit foliage well above the ground but occassionally males will come down to ground level to 'puddle' for minerals on patches of damp ground. When at rest or puddling they usually have their wings closed, hiding the rather dull and uninteresting upperside.

 

All my insect pics are single, handheld shots of live insects.

 

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