Sri Lanka Butterflies

Butterflies are a group of common insects well known to everyone. They are easily recognised by their diverse colours. Butterflies have beautifully colored wings which are covered in hundreds of thousands of tiny scales. The colors are determined by the layering and overlapping of the scales.

Sri Lanka is home to 245 species of butterflies with 23 of these being endemic to the island. Of the 245 species, 76, are listed as threatened nationally, while Ceylon Rose is designated as critically endangered.

The majority of species are found in the foothills (up to 3,000 feet (910 m) elevation). A much smaller number of species are found above 4,000 feet (1,200 m), while 20 species of butterfly are restricted to the low lying dry zone (below 500 feet (150 m) elevation). The number of butterflies peaks in two seasons during the year. The first of these is during the Southwestern monsoon in the months of March to April. The second is during the Northeastern monsoon which continues from September to October.

The family-wise number of butterfly species are

Family	Species
Lycaenidae	86
Nymphalidae	69
Hesperiidae	46
Pieridae	27
Papilionidae	15
Riodinidae	1
Total	244

Sri lankan butterflies list 

A majority of endemic species are restricted to the wet zone forests.

The Ceylon Birdwing is one of the largest endemics of the country and is found in large numbers in the Sinharaja Forest Reserve.

Common name	Binomial name
Blue Oak Leaf	Kallima philarchus
Black Flat	Celaenorrhinus spilothyrus
Common Birdwing	Troides darsius
Ceylon Tiger	Parantica taprobana
Ceylon Palmfly	Elymnias singhala
Ceylon Treebrown	Lethe daretis
Ceylon Forester	Lethe dynsate
Cingalese Bushbrown	Mycalesis rama
Ceylon Rose	Pachliopta jophon
Ceylon Tree-Nymph	Idea iasonia
Clouded Silverline	Cigaritis nubilus
Ceylon Indigo Royal	Tajuria arida
Ceylon Hedge Blue	Udara lanka
Ceylon Cerulean	Jamides coruscans
Decorated Ace	Halpe decorata
Green's Silverline	Cigaritis greeni
Lesser Albatross	Appias galene
Milky Cerulean	Jamides lacteata
Ormiston's Oakblue	Arhopala ormistoni
One Spot Grass Yellow	Eurema andersonii
Pale Ceylon Six Lineblue	Nacaduba sinhala
Sinhalese five-ring	Ypthima singala
Woodhouse's Four Lineblue	Nacaduba ollyetti

Ceylon Tree-Nymph

Name          : Ceylon Tree-Nymph

Binomial name : Idea iasonia

The Ceylon tree nymph has a wingspan of 110–155 mm, making it the largest member of the family Danaidae in Sri Lanka. Both its wings have similar patterns and colouration. The wings are of a translucent silvery-white colour. The forewings are almost twice as long as their width. The female is larger than the male, and the males have narrower forewings than the females.The surface area of the Ceylon tree nymph's wings is relatively large when compared with its weight; this allows it to fly with little effort and stay aloft for long periods of time. Ceylon tree nymphs from the dry zone of the country are usually larger in size and lighter in colour than ones from the wet zone.

The Ceylon tree nymph (Idea iasonia) is a species of nymphalid butterfly in the subfamily Danainae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka. First described by John Westwood in 1848, the Ceylon tree nymph can be found in both wet and dry zones of Sri Lanka. It is the largest member of the family Danaidae in that country. It is listed as a near threatened species in the IUCN Red List.

Ceylon Tiger

Name          : Ceylon Tiger  

Binomial name :  Parantica taprobana

The Ceylon tiger (Parantica taprobana) is a species of nymphalid butterfly in the Danainae subfamily. It is endemic to Sri Lanka. Restricted to central mountain forests in Sri Lanka. The upper surface of both wings is rich in dark chocolate brown with bright greenish white markings. The forewings have two distinct streaks starting at the base of the wings and the hind wing has similar markings.Both upper wing surfaces have a number of rounded spots towards the outer margins. The markings on the underside correspond to those on the upper surface but are lighter in color.

It is noticeably faster flier than any other Danaid. It flies commonly near to tree canopy and get nectar on wayside flowers. It hangs on the flowers at an incline with wings partly open while feeding. It flies lazily along pathways and road sides. Not easy to approach and will fly away albeit slowly at any sudden movement. At very sunny days this species used to be seen flying slowly about the flowers in parks.

Lepidoptera Specialist Group 1996. Parantica taprobana. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 31 July 2007.

Ceylon Palmfly

Name : Ceylon Palmfly 

Binomial name : Elymnias Singhala

A rather shy butterfly that inhabits dark dense forests and feeds on over-ripped fruits, the Ceylon Palmfly is an endemic butterfly of srilanka. It can often be seen fling as couple and individual females can be seen hovering near its host plats.

Ceylon Treebrown

Name         : Ceylon Treebrown   

Binomial name : Lethe Daretis

A rather common endemic butterfly restricted to hill country forests above 1500 m a.s.l. It flies all the year round though much common from March to April. Its larva feeds probably on leaves of a bamboo species (Sinarundinaria debilis) occurs at the higher elevations (Only egg laying observed so far) 

It may often be seen settled on the ground by the side of forest paths. Though it usually flies away when disturbed, it does not venture too far away and resettles in the undergrowth where its camouflage makes it difficult to spot.

Male

It is a medium-sized, mostly dark brown butterfly having a series of dark sub-marginal spots on the hind wing. The underside is lighter with more vivid markings. The Ceylon Tree Brown can be distinguished from all other similar looking species by the eye-spots on the underside of the hind wing. There are six eye-spots which are similar in size, shape and color pattern. The eye-spots are smaller of the male and the yellow band is absent.

Female

The female is larger and less brighter than the male. The undersides are similar in both sexes. The upper side of the female has a yellow band across the center of the forewing and a well-defined set of large eye-spots on the hind wing. It has a series of white streaks that form a diagonal line from the post discal area of the fore wing and a series of large spots faintly outlined in white on the hind wing.

Ceylon Forester

Name     : Ceylon Forester 

Binomial name     :  Lethe dynsate

A rare endemic butterfly which exists between 1200 and 800 feet where bamboo trees are found.

Male 

Dark brown with upper surface of the wings being unmarked except for faint dark eyespots on the sub marginal areas and tornal areas of the hind wings. Underside is heavily shaded and the sub marginal area of the wings carry a series of eye spots which are framed in speckled purple and helps to distinguish the butterfly from the tree browns.

Female

Paler than the male with creamish brown sub apical stripe on the forewing and series of large eye spots and waves at the sub marginal area of the hind wings. Underside is similar to the upper side except they are diffused.

Cingalese Bushbrown

Name          : Cingalese Bushbrown

Binomial name :  Mycalesis rama

Mycalesis rama, the Cingalese bushbrown, is a species of satyrine butterfly of family Nymphalidae. It is a very shy animal, distributed in bamboo forests. It is endemic to Sri Lanka. The wingspan is about 56mm. Dorsal surface is dark brown with two eyespots at the sub marginal area. Lower eyespot is large, prominent and ringed with orange. Ventral surface is dull orange brown. Larval host plants include Ochlandra stridula and Bambusa species.

Sinhalese five-ring

Name             : Sinhalese five-ring 

Binomial name     :  Ypthima singala 

Ypthima singala, the jewel four-ring or Sinhalese five-ring, is a species of Satyrinae butterfly. It is endemic to Sri Lanka And south India.

Commonly found all over the country, their numbers are quite low in the highest hills and the northern region. It is an inhabitant of open vegetation and avoids forests. Adult Ypthima singala show sexual dimorphism. 

The White Four Ring frequently flies among grasses and rarely ascends to bushes. It feeds on grass flowers and also visits herbaceous flowers among the grasses. It flies in both shady and sunny conditions, and its flight is weak and slow. When it is alarmed, it suddenly opens up its wings to display the large ‘eye spots’. If the threat further proceeds, it flies into a thicket.

Male 

specimens, the dorsal surface of both wings is brownish and one large eye-spot and a series of smaller eyespots are found on the ventral surface of the forewing. This large eyespot can be seen very faintly on the dorsal surface. 

Female 

specimens, a prominent eye-spot is found on the dorsal surface of the forewing. Few small eyespots are found above the outer margin of the hind wing. Larval food plant is Axonopus compressus.

Blue Oak Leaf

Name     : Blue Oak Leaf

Binomial name     :  Kallima philarchus  

This is an iconic butterfly in gloomy wet zone forests, only coming out in openings within forests. Its distribution extends to the intermediate zone and occasionally to dry zone forests along shady streams.  

The forewing apex is pointed and the hindwing is elongated at the anal angle to resemble a leaf in closed wing position. Most of its upper surface is shiny blue in colour. The forewing has a small light blue patch on a broad, blackish brown apical band. A light blue band runs along the interior of the apical band. The female has the same colour pattern, but lacks the brilliance. The female’s hindwing is also scattered with brown scales. The markings on its underside remarkably mimic a dried up leaf due to the unique enhancements in the shape of its wings. These characteristics vary across individuals and no similar markings are shared. A dark line runs from the apex of the forewing to the anal angle of the hindwing in the likeness of the mid rib of a leaf. Both wings are marked in several dark and light patches to resemble fungi. 

The Sri Lankan Blue Oak Leaf only feeds on overripe fruits and tree sap. Males perch on foliage in an opening at a stream to search for mates. This is a migrant species.

Larval Food Plants : Strobilanthes species including S. lupulina and S. diandra.

Black Flat

Name     : Black Flat

Binomial name     :  Celaenorrhinus spilothyrus

The Sri Lanka black flat, (Celaenorrhinus spilothyrus) is a butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in India and Sri Lanka.

Ceylon Rose

Name : Ceylon Rose 

Binomial name :  Pachliopta jophon

Similar to Common Rose but streaks on forewings fewer, broader; white patch in discal cell more extensive. Uncommon; forest-loving lowland wet zone species; strays into home gardens. Main flight season Apr–Aug. A regular at Bodhinagala. Flies high in the canopy to feed on forest blooms; descends to feed on shrubs. Flies leisurely, protected from bird predation by disagreeable chemicals accumulated as a larva.

Male

upperside is black. The forewing has three or four broad white streaks in a cell and a variable number of similar somewhat broader streaks that are bifid along their apical half in the interspaces beyond; these streaks do not reach the terminal margin and become obsolete towards the costal margin of the wing. The hindwing is in the apical half of the cell and short apically truncate streaks in the interspaces beyond white; these broad streaks broad are divided only by the black veins, followed by a subterminal curved series of crimson lunules irrorated with black scales. The underside is similar, the markings more distinct and more sharply defined; the discal white streaks and the subterminal series of crimson spots are each seven in number. The antennae, head, thorax, and abdomen above up to the pre-anal segment are black; the head in front and beneath, the thorax at the sides and the apical half of the abdomen crimson, the last with one or two black lateral spots.

Female 

similar, but the forewing is broader, the white and crimson markings larger and more conspicuous

This butterfly flies at medium elevations (615-1230 m) in the wet, south-western zone of Sri Lanka .Here the rainfall is over 2000 mm per year with no month completely dry and two main rainy seasons, from March to May and June to September. The natural vegetation is tropical evergreen rain forest, which is restricted to these south-western regions. The drier and more seasonal climate of the eastern and northern regions supports tropical savanna vegetation. Below 900 m the rain forest has a closed, dense canopy at 22-27 m with emergents to 45 m. Typical trees include species of the genera Dipterocarpus, Shorea, Mesua, Doona, Hopea, Palaquium, Pygeum and others . From 900 to 1500 m montane semi-evergreen forests grow to 18-24 m, with emergents to 30 m . The boundaries beween these two forests and the montane wet evergreen forests above 1500 m are indistinct.

The butterflies tend to fly low in the early morning and in the forest canopy later in the day. The eggs are yellow-brown, believed to be laid on the undersides of young leaves of Aristolochiaceae, as is the case in Atrophaneura pandiyana. The caterpillars are purple-black with crimson tubercles and cream bands. Although usually rare and local, where it does occur it has been recorded as fairly numerous.

Common Birdwing (National Butterfly of Sri Lanka)

Name     : Common Birdwing

Binomial name    :  Troides darsius

Troides darsius, the Sri Lankan birdwing, is a species of birdwing butterfly found in Sri Lanka. It is the largest butterfly on the island and is also the national butterfly of Sri Lanka.

Among the largest and most gaudy of the Ceylon Lepidoptera is the great black and yellow butterfly (Ornithoptera darsius, Gray); the upper wings, of which measure six inches (15 cm) across, are of deep velvet black, the lower, ornamented by large particles of satiny yellow, through which the sunlight passes, and few insects can compare with it in beauty, as it hovers over the flowers of the heliotrope, which furnish the favourite food of the perfect fly, although the caterpillar feeds on the aristolochia and the betel leaf and suspends its chrysalis from its drooping tendrils.

The Sri Lankan Birdwing flies very high in strong wing beats. While this butterfly is fond of feeding on flowers at higher levels, it will occasionally descend down to flowers at lower levels even though it does not typically fly within this range. A special attraction to Mussaenda frondosa flowers has been observed. Females prefer to lay eggs on high-climbing vines. This is a migrant species.

Male: 

Jet black throughout on both sides; large golden yellow patch on the hindwing separated by black veins.

Female: 

Typically bigger than the male; chalky black butterfly with white dustings beside the forewing veins; a variable golden yellow patch on the hindwing is reduced to form a separate, central patch and a submarginal row of patches. Distinct red patches on the thorax are seen in both sexes.

Larval Food Plants : Its sole larval food plant is Aristolochia indica.

Clouded Silverline

Name     : Clouded Silverline

Binomial name    :  Cigaritis nubilus

Sri Lanka Clouded Silverline (Spindasis nubilus) is a species of lycaenid or blue butterfly. It is considered as an extremely uncommon butterfly found in the low country dry zone up to 100m particularly in the North. It has an extremely rapid flight but settles often, upon which it can be approached easily. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.

Ceylon Indigo Royal

Name :  Ceylon Indigo Royal

Binomial name :  Tajuria arida

Tajuria arida, the Ceylon indigo royal, is a species of lycaenid or blue butterfly. Once classified as a subspecies of Tajuria jehana, it is endemic to Sri Lanka.

Wingspan is about 24–26 mm. Sexes similar on dorsal aspects. Generally a silver colored butterfly. On the ventral side, there is a prominent broken sub marginal black line in male

Both sexes are very similar to Plains Blue R. in wing pattern and color on both sides, but has a much rounded fore wing outer margin. In both these species, female has an indistinct distal row of streaks on hind wing, but the male lacks the same. Color of the eye is not known. This butterfly has not been recorded since 1920’s except for the wings of a dead individual at Soragune in 2005. LFPs Not yet recorded.

Ceylon Hedge Blue

Name                  :  Ceylon Hedge Blue

Binomial name          :  Udara lanka

It prefers rather wet habitats such as forests and verdant gardens and it also appears in scrublands with sparse trees in the rainy season.

Male

uniform purplish blue; an extremely narrow bordering of black to the termen of both the forewings and hindwings present in a few specimens, absent in most; also the hindwing is slightly shaded with dusky black along the costa. Underside: shining silvery white. Forewings and hindwings with the usual Cyaniris markings but the postdiscal transverse series of abbreviated pale brown lines on the former almost in line one with the other, the whole series placed slightly obliquely on the wing and appreciably curved. On the hindwing the markings are small and regular, the lower discal series of spots bisinuate. The transverse lunular line beyond the discal markings that is comparatively distinct in most forms, is in this barely indicated on both forewings and hindwings. Antennae, head, thorax and abdomen dusky black; beneath: the palpi, thorax and abdomen snow white.

Female:

differs from the male in the ground colour which is slightly paler and on the forewing by the very broad costal and terminal blackish-brown border; on the hindwing by the similar border to the costal margin, the slightly broader black anteciliary line and a posterior subterminal series of somewhat indistinct black spots. Underside, antennae, head, thorax and abdomen as in the male.

In males, the upper side is shiny metallic blue with black marginal bands. The female has broad marginal bands and the blue is restricted to the bases. Its basal area is brighter, becoming whitish distally.  It has a thin black outer margin on the hindwing. Both wings have varied white dustings on the centre.The forewing has an irregular distal band consisting of thick brown lines and a cell end patch. The hindwing has a sub-marginal row of crescent-shaped marks. The underside is similar in both sexes and the patches are usually larger than in other Hedge Blues. It has a sub-marginal row of distinct spots and an internal band of crescent-shaped markings on both wings. The hindwing has many brown and black patches. It always has a small black spot at the intersection of 8th vein and cell vein which is located basally to large black spots.  

As the name implies, the Common Hedge Blue flies busily around hedges. It feeds on flowers and males engage in mud sipping. It is a migratory species. 

Larval Food Plants : Hiptage benghalensis, Bridelia retusa, Schleichera oleosa.

Ceylon Cerulean

Name                  :  Ceylon Cerulean

Binomial name :  Jamides coruscans

It is found in all the habitats, but is restricted to openings when in dense forests.

The male is the lightest shade of blue in relation to other ceruleans. It is greyish blue in colour, while the sub-marginal areas of both wings are relatively brighter. The black outer margin is of uniform width along the forewing. The hindwing has a submarginal row of black spots. In the female, the black boarder is wider at the apex, and goes up to the upper margin of the forewing. The hindwing has a sub-marginal row of crescent-shaped markings. The undersides of both sexes are light brownish grey. Its two sub-marginal rows form continuous bands of straight, thick white lines. The marginal white band also forms a continuous line and is clearly separated from the outer sub-marginal band. Both the third and fourth white bands from the base of forewing are regular. The ‘>’ on the hindwing is deep. The tornal spot is usually heavily capped in orange.

Its resting behavior is similar to that of the Dark Cerulean. They feed on the nectar of herbs and small bushes. Males visit damp patches on the ground for mud sipping.

Larval Food Plants : Flowers of various Fabaceae plants including Abrus precatorius, Vigna unguiculata and Flemingia macrophylla. 

Decorated Ace

Name                 :  Decorated Ace

Binomial name :  Halpe decorata

Thoressa decorata, the decorated ace, is a butterfly belonging to the family Hesperiidae. It was first described by Frederic Moore in 1881 and is endemic to Sri Lanka in the Indomalayan realm.

Green's Silverline

Name         :  Green's Silverline

Binomial name :  Cigaritis greeni

The Green's Silverline, Cigaritis greeni, is a species of lycaenid or blue butterfly. It is endemic to Sri Lanka. It is common in dry zone scrublands, especially towards the coast. It is a very fast flyer, and is seen to dart among herbs and shrubs. It tolerates a lot of disturbances when feeding on nectar of certain plants like Vernonia zeylanica. It has two hairy tails on the hindwing. 

The upper side of the male is dark chocolate brown, often without any shiny blue scales. Rarely, blue scales can be seen on the hindwing, but the colour is different to that seen among other Silverlines. The female is similar but is of a duller hue with some lead-coloured scales. The orange coloured markings on the centre of the forewing vary in both sexes and the patch at the tails extend along the outer margin in some females. The underside varies in pattern irrespective of the sex. They have red bands on a pale yellow background. There are silver patches embossed within these bands. The outer margin of the forewing is always red. The second red band from the outer margin is usually not divided by the black outline apparent on the forewing.  Bands 2 and 3 on the hindwing have a larger gap leaving a greater yellow area. Its abdomen is barred in red or black.

Lesser Albatross 

Name     :  Lesser Albatross

Binomial name     :  Appias galene

They are found in the Oriental region such as Sri Lanka. This is an endemic butterfly to Sri Lanka.  It is abundant in the dry zone, but can also be seen in the wet zone and in the hills in some numbers, especially during migration. 

Male has white dorsal surface with black patch towards margins of the forewing. This black patches are absent in dry season forms. Forewing apex and the hind wing lower surface are creamy, which become brighter in wet seasons. In female, there is a broad black band on margin of the dorsal surface of forewing. This band consists three white spots. On ventral surface, a broad black band found around the upper portion of the cell of forewing. Rarely in some forms, the ventral surface is yellow in color. Larval food plants are Drypetes sepiaria and Drypetes gardneri.

Many individuals take part in migration and both sexes can be seen gregariously puddling in mud patches during this flight. Sometimes these migrations can last for weeks. They prefer mid height levels for nectar feeding, but climb up for laying eggs.  

Milky Cerulean

Name                 :  Milky Cerulean

Binomial name :  Jamides lacteata

Jamides lacteata, the milky cerulean, is a small butterfly found in India that belongs to the lycaenids or blues family. It is found up to 500m of the mid country and are also spread throughout the country. It is extremely active, fluttering around plants for a long time before it settles. It is also jittery and will take flight when senses any disturbance. When encountered, it is usually in the company of others of its kind.

Male

The Upperside consists of a uniform pale, shiny, purplish blue. Fore and hind wings are very slender black with anticiliary lines. Fore wing is narrowly fuscous at apex. The hind wing is a very slender terminal white thread before the anticiliary black line and a small black sub terminal spot. Cilia of both wings are brown, with on the hind wing a white line at the base. The tail is black tipped with white. The underside is a pale uniform greyish brown. The discal and inner markings on both forewing and hind wings, Terminal markings on both wings differ only in the two transverse sub terminal white, lunular lines.

Female

It is similar as the male, but the ground-colour on the upper side is nearly white suffused with purplish blue towards the base of the wings and the black area on the apex. On the underside the markings are as in its male.

Ormiston's Oakblue

Name              :  Ormiston's Oakblue

Binomial name     :  Arhopala ormistoni

Arhopala ormistoni, the Ormiston's oakblue, is a species of lycaenid or blue butterfly. It is endemic to Sri Lanka. His butterfly is found in the low country wet zone. 

One Spot Grass Yellow

Name     :  One spot Grass Yellow 

Binomial name     :  Eurema andersonii

Eurema andersonii, the one-spot grass yellow or Anderson's grass yellow, is a small butterfly of the family Pieridae, that is, the yellows and whites, which is found in India and other parts of Asia. An endemic butterfly of Sri Lanka. It has rounder wings compared to other grass yellow butterflies and a one spot at the base of fore wing cell.

This butterfly is commonly found in open vegetation such as grasslands and home gardens. Although they dislike forests, they can be seen in lit up forest paths with herbaceous flowers. It is commonly distributed throughout the country, but the number is quite low in the highest hills.

It always prefers to fly near the ground and around small scrubs, and has not been observed to open its wings on any occasion when settling. It perches on the underside of leaves to elude both the hot sun and the rain. This is a migratory species.

Wet form: Male. Upper-side. Fore-wing with the outer marginal band moderately broad, the medial portion inclined slightly inward, and the lower portion very slightly inclined obliquely-outward. Hind-wing with a moderately broad outer band. Underside with slightly defined ordinary markings. Fore-wing with two cell-marks, basal obsolescent. Female not seen.

Dry form (fig. 2a, b). Male. Upper-side similar to the wet form. Underside with the ordinary markings distinct. Fore-wing with a medial cell mark, and a more or less well-defined sub-apical patch.

Female. Upper-side paler. Fore-wing with slightly broader outer band. Hind-wing with a moderately broad outer band. Underside similar to the male.

Pale Ceylon Six Line Blue

Name                 :  Pale Ceylon Six Line Blue

Binomial name :  Nacaduba sinhala

These forest-dwellers are also found in disturbed forest-adjacent areas, which tend to be a good habitat for its larval food plants. Common in the wet zone, it extends its range to the intermediate zone.  Preferring to fly around bushes in the sub-canopy, they feed on flowers. Males descend to the ground for mud sipping. The females are usually sedentary and stay around their larval food plants.

The upper side of the male is shiny blue throughout. The blue of the female takes on a greyish tint and is restricted to the basal parts of the largely dark brown wings. The tornal spot is faintly visible on the upper side. Its black tornal spot is fairly distinct. The underside is similar in both sexes. The forewing has four bands of short white streaks which are narrow and well defined in comparison to other Four Line Blues. The hindwing has six rows of such bands which are not clearly separated.  These lunules in the outer row touch the marginal line.Both its wings have two sub-marginal rows of crescent-shaped markings. The black tornal spot is not particularly elongated and is capped in orange. Its antennae are striped in white, while the tip is completely black.

Larval Food Plants :  Immature leaves of Symplocos cochinchinensis.

Woodhouse's Four Line Blue

Name     :  Woodhouse's Four Line Blue

Binomial Name    :  Nacaduba ollyetti

These butterflies are mostly found in forested areas in the mid country. It is endemic to Sri Lanka. They are known to mud sip. The wingspan is about 30–32 mm.

Male

It has a particular tint of purple blue or deep purple on the upper sides. It can be distinguished by its similar species from their more brownish and translucent upper surface.  Also the underside has a tornal spot on the hind wing which is larger. The discal bands are not collectively ‘Y’ shaped.

Female

The upper surface is a blue color shade and tint. It can be distinguished by its similar species from their paler metallic blue on the upper surface.