male on ixora species in kolkata, west bengal, india
male upperside: ground colour clear pale blue of deeper tint in p. avatar, moore; veins defined black. forewing: costa broadly, apex , terminal margin broadly black, black on termen narrowed towards tornus, , traversed transverse subterminal series of bluish-white spots variable in number; spot in interspace 3 shifted inwards; posterior 2 spots of series joined onto streaks of ground colour between veins. hindwing: dorsal , costal margins broadly whitish: terminal margin broadly black, @ apex, black area covered, except @ tornus, specialised opaque-looking scales. underside: paler blue, terminal margins of wings obscurely fuscous, traversed subterminal, indistinct, transverse series of whitish lunulated spots. forewing: veins more or less broadly bordered black, edging broadened towards termen; apex broadly, terminal margin decreasingly tornus, suffused obscure pearly-while lustre. hindwing: subcostal vein , veins 6, 7, , 8 broadly, rest of veins narrowly edged black; fine black line in interspace 1. cilia of both forewings , hindwings narrow , white. antennae black, head, thorax , abdomen fuscous, thorax clothed long bluish hairs; beneath: palpi, thorax , abdomen pale silvery bluish-white.
female:
female dimorphs
female on bougainvillea species in kolkata, west bengal, india
first form. upperside: black; markings bluish white. forewing: cell 2 streaks, anterior 1 extreme base, posterior 1 end of basal third, extending beyond anterior streak; below , beyond cell series of streaks in interspaces; streaks irregular in length, in interspace 1 longest, angulated anteriorly , divided longitudinally near base, streak in interspace 3 short , broad forming elongate spot, in anterior interspaces more or less obliquely placed; beyond these streaks follows subterminal transverse series of spots, of spot in interspace 3 shifted inwards , opposite apex curved backwards. hindwing: costa , dorsum broadly white; cell , interspaces beyond series of streaks , sub-terminal spots, more or less in forewing more regular; streak in cell , interspace 1 divided longitudinally, subterminal series of spots evenly curved. underside: similar upperside, ground colour dull, dusky , diffuse, markings broader less defined; apical area on forewing obscured powdering of whitish scales. antenna, head, thorax , abdomen in male darker.
second form. first, markings both on upper , under sides similar, ground colour on upperside of hindwing @ base of interspace 1a, on whole of interspace 1, area of cell , @ base of interspace 2 suffused bright yellow. on underside same areas dull ochraceous. extent of bright yellow colour on upperside , of dull ochraceous tint on underside variable, in specimens more restricted, in others spreads further towards costa. common form of female mimics glassy tiger avoid predation. philomela form rare , identified yellow colouration @ base of wings. form reported more in north-east india. according mark alexander wynter-blyth form mimics danais aspasia, not found west of myanmar. rejects assumption wagtail carries eggs of d. aspasia india. seems in bygone era d. aspasia might have been found in india in past along common wanderer , later eliminated.
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