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Japanese Oakblue Butterfly
(Arhopala japonica)
Native to Indochina, Japan, Ryukyu Islands, Korean Peninsula and Taiwan.
Wingspan ranges from 30 - 40mm (1.1 - 1.5in).
Its Caterpillar form feeds on Leaves. Adults sip Nectar, Tree Sap, or even eat Fermenting Fruit and Bird Droppings for minerals.
Lives for about 1 year.
Similar to Blue Morpho Butterflies, their iridescent blue wings are not from pigment but from microscopic structures on their wing scales that reflects light!
The Caterpillar of the Japanese Oakblue secretes sugar droplets that attract Ants. Once the droplets are eaten, these Ants become "mind-controlled" guards for this Caterpillar. Whenever the Caterpillar everted its tentacles the ants would move around rapidly and start acting aggressively!
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