Higher classification Arhopala | Scientific name Arhopala bazaloides Rank Species | |
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Similar Arhopala, Arhopala atrax, Butterfly, Arhopala amantes, Arhopala abseus | ||
Arhopala bazaloides, the Tamil oakblue, is a species of lycaenid or blue butterfly found in Asia. Also known as Lycaenidae, they are members of the superfamily Papilionoidea, the true butterflies. This family has approximately 4,700 species that are unevenly distributed throughout the world, however the distribution of the Tamil oakblue is limited only to southern India and Sri Lanka.
The adults are small, often brilliantly coloured with electric blues, reds, and oranges. Females lay single, sea urchin shaped eggs on host leaves or flower buds; the resulting caterpillars are typically slug shaped. In many species, caterpillars depend on ants for protection, so caterpillars produce sugary secretions that are collected by the ants, in a symbiotic relationship. Most individuals overwinter in either the egg or pupal stage.