<> Chilades lajus (Stoll, 1780) <>

the Lime Blue ผีเสื้อฟ้าหนอนมะนาว

Click on any photo to see all photos full size in Lightbox

Additions and corrections to the information provided on this page is always welcome. Please use the Contact form.

Photo taken at Lamnamkok N.P., Chiang Rai, Thailand 450m a.s.l.

Chilades lajus is widespread across most of the SE Asia region. The sexes are visually similar with just slight differences on the upper wings. It is therefore difficult to differentiate between the two in the field as the upper wings are only rarely seen. Like many others in this subfamily it is a fast flyer and always very active.

The species is multivoltine and there are a number of broods per annum. The female lays her eggs singly on the underside of young leaves on the host plant. Around 6-12 eggs are laid, each on a different leaf. After hatching the larva eats the eggshell as its first meal.

Synonyms and previously used names: Papilio lajus, Polyommatus varunana, Polyommatus kandura, Hesperia cajus, Lycaena athena, Lycaena brahmina

Taxonomy: Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Lycaenidae - Polyommatinae - Chilades - lajus

Regional subspecies: Chilades lajus athena (E.Malaysia, Philippines), Chilades lajus cromyon (Sulaweai-Indonesia), Chilades lajus lajus (India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Yunnan-China), Chilades lajus tavoyana (S.Myanmar, S.Thailand, W.Malaysia)

Regional Distribution: Nepal, Bhutan, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines

Habitat: Chilades lajus is found in dry and moist deciduous, semi evergreen, and evergreen forest and also lowland scrubland. It is not uncommon in citrus plantations or gardens. It has been reorded at elevations up to 1400m a.s.l.

Flight time: all year depending on location Wingspan: 20-28mm

Life History: egg 2-3 days instar1 2 days instar2 2 days instar3 3 days instar4 5 days instar5 n/a pupa 4-10 days Total egg to adult 21-28 days
All times are approximate and can vary depending on the season and on the host used.

Larval Hosts: Atalantia buxifolia, Atalantia ceylanica, Atalantia monophylla, Atalantia racemosa, Citrus x aurantiifolia, Citrus hystrix, Citrus x limetta, Citrus x limon, Citrus maxima, Citrus medica, Glycosmis mauritiana, Glycosmis pentaphylla, Limonia acidissima, Murraya paniculata, Naringi crenulata, Zanthoxylum acanthopodium (Rutaceae), Mangifera indica (Anacardiaceae), Pongamia brandisiana (Fabaceae).
Actual host plant used depends upon location and availabilty of plant species.

Adult Food Sources: Nectar - Ziziphus mauritiana (Rhamnaceae), Anaphalis contorta, Bidens alba, Bidens pilosa, Cyanthillium cinereum, Emilia sonchifolia, Erigeron karvinskianus, Galinsoga parviflora, Parthenium hysterophorus, Taraxacum javanicum, Tridax procumbens (Asteraceae), Sida acuta, Urena lobata (Malvaceae), Oenothera rosea (Onagraceae), Fragaria nubicola, Prinsepia utilis (Rosaceae), Oxalis latifolia (Oxalidaceae), Jasminum mesnyi (Oleaceae), Oplismenus undulatifolius, Poa annua (Poaceae), Hylodesmum repandum, Tephrosia purpurea, Trifolium repens (Fabaceae), Gentiana quadrifaria (Gentianaceae), Citrus medica, Skimmia arborescens (Rutaceae), Osbeckia nepalensis (Melastomataceae), Boerhavia diffusa (Nyctaginaceae), Tribulus terrestris (Zygophyllaceae). Other - mud puddling, animal dung