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(Polyura delphis)
Butterfly populations are a very good indicator of the health of an area's ecosystem !!
   Polyura delphis is a butterfly found jn India and Southeast Asia that belongs to the rajahs and nawabs group. (The Charaxinae subfamily of the Brush Footed (Nymphalidae) butterfly family. 
  Their terrain preferences include forests, woodlands and tropical rainforests.
  The best time to find adults on wing is on warm and sunny days, preferably in the morning when they are most active.
  They have the unusual ability to regulate their body temperature by precisely angling their wings when basking in the sun.
   The dorsal side wing is white, and largely marked with brown at the apex of the forewings.
   The ventral side is metallic white decorated with yellow chevron lines and red marks.
  The front wings have a concave outer edge and the hind wings bear two tails. 
  They are a nectar feeding insect that inadvertently collects pollen on its body while feeding. As they move from flower to flower, they effectively transfer pollen, aiding in plant fertilization. (This intricate dance between flora and fauna is a beautiful example of nature's interconnectedness.)
   The caterpillars can cause a range of damage from mild to severe.
   By feeding voraciously on plant leaves, with no specific plant preference, they can denude foliage and compromise the plant's ability to photosynthesize, potentially leading to reduced growth and vigor.
   Known predators of adults are birds, primates, and spiders.
   Amazingly, they have a lifespan of about 12 months.  
Jeweled Nawab.png
Diet: caterpillars feed on some tree leaves and grass.
Diet: adults take nectar, honey, plant sap and some decaying organic matter.
Wingspan: approx. 7 cm / 2.75 “
Family: Nymphalidae
Caterpillar & chrysalis images
Jeweled Nawab caterpillar
Jeweled Nawab caterpillar
The single biggest threat to butterfly survival is habitat destruction!!
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