Rapala caerulea is a small East Asian with glossy dark blue uppersides and a brown underside crossed by stripes. It lives in China, Taiwan, Korea, and the Russian Far East and is not found in the United States.
Appearance
- Appearance
- A small butterfly; the upperside is a shiny dark blue, and the underside is brown with darker stripes. Females have a noticeably wider dark border on the forewing.
- Seasonal forms
- In Korea, adults appear in two a year: a spring form (April–June) and a summer form (July–September).
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- meadows
- forest edges
- Range
- Northeastern and central China, Taiwan, Korea, and the Russian Far East. Not found in North America.
Life cycle
- Caterpillar food plants
- Caterpillars have been recorded on multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) and buckthorns (Rhamnus). In Korea they are reported on legumes such as bush clover and black locust.
Name and classification
- About the name
- Two subspecies are recognized: the mainland R. c. caerulea and R. c. liliacea from Taiwan.
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