Butterfly populations are a very good indicator of the health of an area's ecosystem !!
Polyura eudamippus is a large and beautiful butterfly who's female is significantly larger than the male.
Apart from the size, both sexes look very similar and are easily distinguishable from other similar species by the Y-shape end to the yellow central band on the ventral side of the wings.
Although they spend much of their time flying around the tree tops they do come down to feed and, like other Charaxinae species do not usually visit flowers, preferring instead animal dung, tree sap, and rotting fruit.
The males are also avid mud puddlers, sucking up minerals to pass on as a kind of gift to females when mating.
When the males are feeding they are almost oblivious to humans and make good photographic models.
When this species settles it usually closes its wings and only rarely opens them to bask in the sun.
The Great Nawab can skillfully maneuver in flight due to their deeply forked hindwings, which offer increased aerodynamic efficiency.
They are attracted by the vibrant color and unique shape of flowers.
This pollinator often consumes pollen and may accidentally carry pollen on its body while feeding, thus pollinating other flowers. Their role in the ecosystem is invaluable for the reproduction of many flowering plants.
Their life expectancy is about 12 months.
Diet: Caterpillars feed on Fabaceae family leaves, Dalbergia latifolia leaves, Pongamia pinnata leaves, Albizia lebbeck leaves and Mimosa pudica leaves.
Diet: adults prefer tree sap, rotting fruit and animal dung, and take flower nectar when it is available.
Wingspan: 9.8 – 12.1 cm / 3.9 – 4.8 “
Family: Nymphalidae
The single biggest threat to butterfly survival is habitat destruction!!
