19-11-2016 THA YET MIO - GLASSY TIGER BUTTERFLY (Parantica aglea)

Parantica aglea, the glassy tiger, is a butterfly found in Indomalayan realm that belongs to the crows and tigers, that is, the danaid group of the brush-footed butterflies family.

The Glassy Tiger prefers both scrublands and lush gardens full of flowers. It is common throughout the country but is quite low in number in the extreme north and the highest hills. 

This is a moderately fast, casual flier which feeds on flowers of herbs and scrubs. Males have a special attraction to dead Heliotropium indicum plants, since these plants provide the toxic requirement necessary for their survival and breeding process. Males extrude yellow coloured hair pencils from the back of their abdomen to attract females. It is a migratory species.

The sexes are alike, other than for the two scent pouches found on the hindwing of the male. These are faintly visible on its underside. The background of both sides of both wings is dark brownish-black in colour, with glassy white markings. The forewing cell only has a streak which divides distally. Two other broad lines arise from the base of the forewing below the cell. There are some dustings above the cell, but they never form a distinct line. 

Larvae feed on some Apocynaceae plants including Ceropegia candelabrum, Tylophora pauciflora, Heterostemma tanjorense.

19-11-2016 THA YET MIO - GLASSY TIGER BUTTERFLY (Parantica aglea)

Parantica aglea, commonly known as the glassy tiger, is a butterfly found in the Indomalayan realm. The species is a member of the Danainae subfamily of the Nymphalidae family.

 

Two subspecies are recognized but neither form is consistent in markings or habitat. In the collection of the British Museum, there are specimens of true Parantica aglea aglea from Myanmar, and others, inseparable from typical Parantica aglea melanoides, from Mysore.

The species is present in the Western Ghats, north-east India, Sri Lanka and the Malay peninsula.