Is this a grass jewel??

[ajmal]

Found at Dubai Pivots this Friday, this tiny (1-2 cm) butterfly was plentiful and difficult to photograph as it was not landing easily. It looked like a grass jewel to me initially but the lack of the four typical spots on its hind wings perplex me. Any expert advise will be much appreciated. Ajmal

[ajmal]

Sheesh, its an Indian (Small) Cupid, Chilades parrhasius.... ma bad........... ;)

[Huw]

Hi Ajmal

ID-wise, I think you're right, based on the Larsen books. There's an interesting feature about these in Butterflies of Saudi Arabia. Apparently, at the larvael stage these have a symbiotic relationship with a species of ant (Camponotus sericeus). The ants feed on sweet secretions from one of the glands, but don't kill them. In fact they protect them, and the larvae benefits by having ant guards. Not sure to what extent they are migratory, but maybe interesting to see if they lay eggs in the Pivots..

I'm not going to twitch a tiny butterfly though (that would be sad!), but if there are some good birds there as well, I'll be there!

BTW Painted Ladies are going though at the moment (about 20 J Hafeet yesterday). Interesting to hear reports from other parts of the UAE..

Huw

[ajmal]

Gee, thanks Huw for your comments and the information provided. Yep, there were lots of these flutterin about at Pivots earlier along with some blue spotted arabs...... Thats cool info to know about the ant-butterfly larvae symbiosis......

Pivots and Al Warsan, I reckon, are still a good bet for birdies with us coming across BW stilt, crested lark, many lil green bee eaters, indian roller, one Black tailed godwit (at the roundabout near Al Warsan Lake opposite Morocco cluster of Int'l City), lots of bank mynah, and ?Grey heron?. There were more birdies that are still not registered in my bird brain yet so this is just a snippet of what I know for sure!!!

Regards,

Aj

[ajmal]

Addendum-Also some West. pgymy blues spotted.......

Rgds,