About Hypolycaena erylus (Godart, 1823)
This butterfly species, Hypolycaena erylus, has consistent underside characteristics across both sexes. The underside of both males and females is pale greyish brown, and the underside of the hindwing does not have a spot in the basal area of section 7. The species has two tails: one 6 mm long tail at V1, and a 5 mm long tail at V2. Its wing markings include a double bar at the end of the cell, a regular discal line on the forewing, and a broken, less regular line on the hindwing. Male Hypolycaena erylus are pale blue to dark brown on the upper wing surface, and appear dark shining purple depending on lighting conditions. Males have a black border, and their upper forewing has a large black discal area made of modified scales. Female Hypolycaena erylus are dark brown on the upper wing surface, and their hindwing has a white disconnected discal band above the tornus. Both sexes also have a white-edged black tornal spot in section 2 of the wing. This species is found in Bangladesh, Nepal, Sikkim, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, southern Yunnan, Java, Lombok, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, the Andamans, Nias, Sulawesi, the Philippines, Sula, Bachan, Halmahera, Obi, the Bismarck Archipelago and Waigeu. It has been recorded feeding on Meyna pubescens in India.
