About Elymnias caudata Butler, 1871
Elymnias caudata Butler, 1871 is a butterfly species that exhibits sexual dimorphism, meaning males and females have distinct appearances. Males have black upperside forewings with small blue patches, and mimic species in the genus Euploea. Females mimic butterfly species in the genus Danaus. Compared to Elymnias hypermnestra, both sexes of this species have longer wings relative to their width, and a longer tail at the apex of vein 4 on the hindwing. On the upperside, males differ from E. hypermnestra in that their forewing subterminal and preapical spots are white, slightly suffused with dark scales; the terminal half of the male hindwing is tawny, more or less suffused with dusky black, which forms a distinct border along the termen in some specimens. Females are similar to female E. hypermnestra, but have more extended black markings; veins 2, 3, and 4 on the hindwing are broadly bordered with black. On the underside, females differ from E. hypermnestra by having a more conspicuous, broadly triangular white pre-apical patch on the forewing. The prominent broad tawny terminal half of the hindwing upperside shows through to the underside as a pale, sometimes pinkish brown color. Antennae, head, thorax, and abdomen are brown, paler on the underside, and much paler in females than in males. This species is endemic to South India. Its recorded food plants are: Cocos nucifera, Calamus pseudotenuis, Calamus rotang, Calamus thwaitesii, Phoenix loureiroi, Licuala grandis, Areca catechu, Arenga wightii, Livistona chinensis, Phoenix spp., Caryota urens, Phoenix loureiroi, and Licuala chinensis.
