Butterflying - Luthrodes pandava (Plains Cupid)

Luthrodes pandava (Plains Cupid)

Luthrodes pandava (Chilades pandava) is a widespread and fairly common species, found in countries such as India and Singapore. They are among the few butterflies that breed on plants of the cycad family.

This is a very small butterfly. The upperside of the male is light blue with narrow black markings, whilst the female has broader borders and is paler. The average wingspan of the butterfly is 13-15mm. There is a short white-tipped tail on each hindwing.

The Cycad Blue, as it's alternative name "Plains Cupid" suggests, is confined to the lowlands, being found mainly in gardens and parks, along roadsides, and other disturbed areas.

The butterflies are usually seen in one's and two's, either sitting on low foliage, or nectaring at the flowers of various wild or cultivated herbaceous plants. Sometimes however they can be quite abundant, with up to a dozen fluttering about at a patch of flowers. 

This active butterfly feeds on the flowers of herbs and shrubs. Males engage in mud sipping. Both sexes congregate around larval food plants when young shoots are available. They bask with partially opened wings. 

It is abundant in places where its larval food plants grow commonly. It is also found in home gardens where its larval food plants are grown as ornamentals. The larval plants are Cycas revoluta, Cycas nathorstii.

References : 

https://www.dilmahconservation.org

http://www.butterflycircle.com

Wikipedia

pictures:

Kerala (2018, 2019

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There is this plant 'Cycas revoluta' in my mother in laws garden. That is why this butterfly is very common in our place. Anytime of the day , you can spot one. But very restless and difficult to capture on camera at the same time.