Anthene Emolus - Ciliate Blue Butterfly - Animal India

Anthene emolus, the ciliate blue, is a small butterfly found in India and Southeast Asia that belongs to the lycaenids or blues family. Male Upperside dull purple; bases of the wings suffused with blue; both forewings and hindwings with well-marked jet-black anticiliary lines, that on the forewing expand slightly at the apex. Female Upperside brown, the bases of the wings glossed with pale violet-blue on the forewing, in some specimens extended for two-thirds the length of the wing. Butterflies throughout South Asia are at increasing risk of extinction, mimicking a global trend. Scientists in South Asia are working to prevent the extinction of these pollinators, which are threatened by habitat loss, climate change, and pesticide use. A Ciliate Blue or Bengal Common Ciliate Blue butterfly (Anthene emolus) sits on a leaf in a forest with a beautiful view of natural light bokeh of the forest behind at Tehatta, West Bengal; India on 10/11/2024.