Butterflies

Common Mime butterfly

Chilasa clytia

The Common Mime (Chilasa clytia) is a South Asian swallowtail butterfly famous for mimicking toxic milkweed butterflies to protect itself from predators. atesian Mimicry: It imitates toxic milkweed butterflies (specifically Crows and Tigers) so birds and other predators avoid eating it. Two Main Forms: Form dissimilis – features a black body with blue-white or pale yellow stripes, mimicking the Blue Tiger (Tirumala limniace). Form clytia – features dark brown wings with pale spots, mimicking the Common Crow (Euploea core). Habitat & Range: Native to South and Southeast Asia, commonly spotted in open forests, gardens, and hilly regions. Host Plants: Its caterpillars feed primarily on plants of the Lauraceae family, such as Cinnamomum (cinnamon) and Litsea species.