Dark Blue Tiger

Tirumala septentrionis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Nymphalidae

Also called: Dark Blue Tiger Butterfly

No source yet on danger. We have no source yet on whether it bites, stings or damages anything.
Dark Blue Tiger
Photo: unknown, CC0

The dark blue tiger butterfly has a wingspan of about 80 to 115 mm and is darker on the upperside than the similar T. limniace, with narrower, bluish semi-transparent markings. It is a common migratory species in southern India, making up roughly 78 % of the butterfly population during the migration season. Its range covers the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia, from the Himalayas through the Western Ghats, Nilgiris, Sri Lanka and into Myanmar, Cambodia and beyond.

Source: Wikipedia

How to recognize it

Compared with T. limniace, the dark blue tiger’s upperside is darker and its semi-transparent markings are narrower, more distinct and have a bluish tint. Wing patterns can vary widely due to genetics.

Source: Wikipedia

Size

Its wingspan ranges from 80 to 115 mm.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it lives

During the migratory season in southern India it dominates the butterfly community, accounting for about 78 % of individuals.

Source: Wikipedia

What it eats

Caterpillars feed on Vallaris dichotoma, as reported by MacKinnon and de Nicéville. Other recorded host plants include Cosmostigma racemosa, Heterostemma brownii and species of Cocculus.

Source: Wikipedia

Life cycle

The caterpillar looks similar to that of T. limniace. Its larvae also feed on Vallaris dichotoma.

Source: Wikipedia

When you see it

It is a dominant species during the migration season in southern India, making up about 78 % of the butterfly population.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it comes from

It is found across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, including the Himalayas, Assam, Myanmar, Cambodia, the Western Ghats, Nilgiris, Sri Lanka and other regions.

Source: Wikipedia

Same family (Nymphalidae)

MonarchMonarchDanaus plexippusRed AdmiralRed AdmiralVanessa atalantaPainted LadyPainted LadyVanessa carduiGulf FritillaryGulf FritillaryDione vanillaeSpeckled WoodSpeckled WoodPararge aegeriaEuropean Peacock ButterflyEuropean Peacock ButterflyAglais io

Sources

  • Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tirumala_septentrionis

Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia

Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.

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