These Caterpillars are unusual in that they make noises. They are able
to make clicking sounds. They are green with a brown pattern on their
back. They live in a silk shelter between curled leaves of a food
plant.#
and they are attended by the green ants :
Citrus Ants ( Oecophylla smaragdina,
and grow to a length of about 2.5 cms.
They pupate in their larval shelter. The pupa is green with brown
markings. Its length is about 2 cms. The pupae also are able to make
clicking noises.The adult butterflies are far from dull The males are a
brilliant metallic purple, and the females a brilliant blue. The hind
wings each have a little tail. The females have a black border around
each fore wing. The butterflies have a wing span of about 4 cms.
The eggs are laid in groups of one to three on twigs of a foodplant
bearing a nest of their attending ant species. The eggs are pale grey
and flattened, with a diameter of about 0.7 cms. |
