Common Posy 200908

The Common Posy is a relatively common forest butterfly, usually found individually in localised areas. It can usually be found along jungle paths near sunlit spots. It returns to a same leaf to rest, time and again. The males have bright blue hindwings above whilst the females are greyish white on the hindwings above. The underside of the forewing is orange, and the distinctive black-barred hindwings distinguish it from the Branded Imperial. The butterfly has 3 tails, of which the middle one is the longest.

The Common Posy may also often be seen resting with its wings closed, as in this specimen photographed, with its tails in motion. It seems probable that the tails and hindwing pattern serves as a decoy to fool predators into mistaking the tails for the antennae.

The Common Posy may be mistaken for two other close relatives, the Dark Posy (Drupadia theda thesmia) or Drupadia rufotaenia rufotaenia. Both look almost similar to the Common Posy, except for some differences on the hindwing. These species, however, are rare in Singapore.