Junonia orithya
WINGSPAN 4 to 5.5cm (1⅝ to 2⅛in)
HABITAT Open grassy wasteland, parks and fields
DISTRIBUTION Native to Africa and found in Southern parts of Asia and Australia
LIFESPAN 14 days
MALES AND FEMALES The males have bright blue hindwings and the females have a brown upperside
This sun-loving butterfly can be seen visiting tiny flowers and gliding through the air at speeds of around 12 miles per hour. All butterflies are coldblooded, which means they cannot regulate their body temperature, so you’ll often find them basking in the sun with wide-open wings. Although it might look as though they’re sunbathing for pleasure, this practice is essential as the veins in the wings absorb heat and carry it to the rest of the body.