Bug FAQDark Blue Tiger
Tirumala septentrionis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Nymphalidae
Also called: Dark Blue Tiger Butterfly
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 common in southern India during migration, making up most of the migrating population, and is native to the Indian subcontinent, the Himalayas, Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka. Caterpillars feed on plants such as Vallaris dichotoma, Cosmostigma racemosa, Heterostemma brownii and Cocculus species.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Its upperside is darker than T. limniace and the semi-transparent markings are narrower, more distinct and have a bluish tint.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan ranges from 80 to 115 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
During the migratory season in southern India it dominates the butterfly community, comprising about 78 % of the population.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Adults feed on Vallaris dichotoma, while other recorded host plants include Cosmostigma racemosa, Heterostemma brownii and species of Cocculus.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The caterpillars resemble those of T. limniace.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
It is most abundant during the migratory season in southern India, making up 78 % of the migrating butterfly population.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is found across the Indian subcontinent, the Himalayas from Simla to Sikkim, Assam, Myanmar, Cambodia, the Western Ghats, Nilgiris, Odisha, West Bengal, southern India and Sri Lanka.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
How can I tell the dark blue tiger apart from similar butterflies?
Look for a darker upperside and narrower, bluish semi-transparent markings compared with the related T. limniace.
Source: Wikipedia
When are dark blue tiger butterflies most common?
They dominate the migrating butterfly community in southern India during the migratory season, making up about 78 % of the population.
Source: Wikipedia
What plants do the caterpillars feed on?
Caterpillars feed on Vallaris dichotoma and have also been recorded on Cosmostigma racemosa, Heterostemma brownii and Cocculus species.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Nymphalidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tirumala_septentrionis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.