Western blue-banded forester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Western blue-banded forester |
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The western blue-banded forester (scientific name: Euphaedra eupalus) is a beautiful butterfly. It belongs to the Nymphalidae family, also known as brush-footed butterflies. This butterfly lives in several countries in West Africa, including Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Togo.
You can usually find these butterflies in wet forests. Adult western blue-banded foresters love to eat fallen fruit.
What Does the Western Blue-Banded Forester Look Like?
This butterfly has a wingspan of about 90 millimeters (a little over 3.5 inches). Its body parts like the antennae, head, and main body are mostly dark.
The Top Side of Its Wings
The top side of the wings is quite striking.
- Front wings: These are dark reddish-brown. They have white tips. Near the body, they show a purplish color. There's also a dark yellow stripe near the tips, slanting across the wing.
- Back wings: These are also reddish-brown. However, towards the middle and near the body, they have a beautiful purplish-blue color. This blue color can look different depending on how the light hits the wings.
The Under Side of Its Wings
The under side of the wings has different colors and patterns.
- Body parts: The mouthparts (palpi) and chest are yellow.
- Front wings: These are olive-brown with white tips. The edges are a hazel color. Near the body, each front wing has three small, round black spots.
- Back wings: These are similar to the front wings, being olive-brown. They have varied patterns and three small spots near the body, just like the front wings.
All the wings of the western blue-banded forester have slightly jagged or "toothed" edges.
