It rarely visits home gardens or cultivated areas,
unless they are in very close proximity to a forest. In
the dry zone, it may be found in riparian forests and at
the foot hills but rarely elsewhere. March and April are
the best times to see it in the wet zone, while October
and November are the best times in the intermediate and
dry zones. The female is quite scarce and retiring.
This is a very striking butterfly that gets your
attention very quickly. It exploits all levels of the
forest and may be seen nectaring on blooms high up in
the canopy, on flowers of small trees or shrubs, or on
wild flowers in forest glades. It has the habit of
continuously opening and closings its wings as it feeds
on nectar. The males often settle on wet soil, bird
droppings and carrion. The males hill-top, especially in
hills and hillocks that are scattered in the
intermediate and dry zones.
The larvae feed on Adenia hondala, a member of the
passion family. Its fruits are poisonous to humans. . |
