Description
Wingspan 55-65mm. In flight, the beautifully contrasting  fluorescent blue and black is unmistakable. The sexes are similar and cannot be distinguished in flight. The upperside is black and has a greenish-blue central band that runs from the lower margin to the costal margin of the forewing. There is a similar band on the hind wing, and a row of spots of similar colour towards the termen. The tails are very short and indistinct. The female is a duller greenish-blue. 

Similar species
None.

Status, distribution and habitat
It is commonest in the wet zone at low elevations, much less common in the dry zone, and virtually absent from the north. It ascends the hills to at least 5000 feet elevation. Since cinnamon is one of its larval food plants, it is sometimes very common in cinnamon plantations of the wet zone. However, it has not been recorded as being a pest. It is not uncommon in home gardens and secondary forests. 

Habits
Its habits are very similar to those of the Tailed Jay. It is a very skittish butterfly that is difficult to approach, either on flowers or on wet roads. 

Early stages
The larvae feed on Cinnamomum zeylanica, Litsea sebifera, Machilus odoratissima and the introduced Cinnamomum camphora. The larvae are very sluggish and do not move about a great deal. They stay at the center of the leaf, quite well concealed by  their green camouflage. Pupation occurs on the underside of a leaf, stalk or small branch.

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Danaidae | Satyridae | Amathusiidae | Nymphalidae | Acraeidea | Libytheidae | Riodinidae | Lycaenidae | Pieridae | Papilionidae | Hesperidae