Metallic Caerulean

Jamides alecto manilana Toxopeus, 1930, called the Metallic Caerulean. Lycaenidae, Polyommatinae, Polyommatini. Listed distribution in the Philippines: Luzon, Catanduanes, Marinduque, Mindoro, Samar, Masbate, Panay, Negros, Dinagat, Mindanao, Leyte, Cebu.

Jamides alecto is a common and very widespread species, occurring in Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi and Java. When feeding, the butterfly's head is usually dipped. The pattern of white striations diverts the eyes of avian predators away from the real head, and towards the orange-rimmed black ocellus and 'false-antennae' tails. Attacking birds aim their beaks towards the area in which they predict a butterfly will try to make its escape, i.e. in front of the head. The markings on the wings trick them into aiming just behind the butterfly instead, allowing it to make its escape in the opposite direction. (http://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/)