Purple Sapphire
Heliophorus epicles, Lycaenidae
22.7733, 100.971
Field Notes
Description:
The name Purple Sapphire may seem inappropriate for this pretty butterfly, but it refers to the colour of the upper surface of the wings not the bright yellow and red underside.
Although this stunning little butterfly has a rather hairstreak-like appearance, it is in fact a member of the tribe Lycaenini - commonly known as Coppers.
Both sexes are similar in appearance, except that the orange markings on the forewing are larger in the female.
Habitat:
Heliophorus epicles occurs in India, Burma, Thailand, West Malaysia, Bhutan, Java, Sumatra, China and Taiwan, but is curiously absent from Borneo.
Notes:
Most aspects of their lifecycle remain unknown. The males spend long periods perched on bushes, usually with the wings held slightly apart. If two males meet, they engage in a very lively aerial sortie, twisting and turning in tight circles until one of the pair is shaken off, at which time the other returns to his perch. The loser of the battle very rarely learns from his lesson however, and often strays back into the other’s territory, getting chased away several times in succession.
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