The Blue Pansy butterfly is often referred to simply as a Pansy butterfly. This butterfly species has a distinctive bright blue color and it can be found in Australia, Africa, and throughout Southeast Asian nations. There are 26 local subspecies found in this range of environments and these arthropods are known to be territorial.
A Pansy butterfly is happiest in direct sunlight, and they are often observed sitting on perches or even bare ground soaking up the sun.
Physical Characteristics of the Blue Pansy Butterfly:
A Blue Pansy butterfly has an average wingspan of 4 cm which has extensive wing patterns. The male of the species has fore-wings that are initially black, then light blue, and ultimately white with a brown border and orange/yellow eye-spots.
At first glance the secondary wings are similar, but on closer inspection, there is less black coloration in the wing.
The females have a similar appearance, but they lack much of the black coloration and those areas are typically brown. The female pansy butterfly also has a distinctive light blue patch on their hindwings.
Both sexes have brown/black antennae and abdomen, a reddish brown head, and a dull white underside in the butterfly stage.
The Pansy caterpillar stage has a very different coloration with an orange head, black/brown body, and a pair of distinctive spines. In the chrysalis stage, the color of the cocoon is purplish or dirty yellow with duller creamy lines across the pupae surface.
Habitat and Distribution of the Pansy Butterfly:
The Blue Pansy butterfly is native to Australia, Africa, and many Southeast Asian countries. There are 26 subspecies that inhabit a wide variety of ranges. But, there are some commonalities within the wider species in terms of habitat.
The Pansy tends to favor open land areas covered with grass where they can sun themselves. So, you are less likely to observe them in dense forests or extended areas of shade.
The Four Stages of the Blue Pansy butterfly Lifecycle and the General Behavior of this Butterfly Species:
Stage 1. The Eggs
The butterfly eggs are green, the female lays them singly on freshly grown leaves of the preferred host or a similar plant or they can be laid on young plant shoots too.
Stage 2. The Caterpillar
When the caterpillar emerges from the egg, its body is covered with radial hairs and perpendicular spines. The color of the body is totally black or very dark brown with a bifurcated black head with orange patches and a pair of spines.
There are spiny structures at an angle on both of the caterpillar’s eyes.
Stage 3. The Chrysalis
The chrysalis or pupa is a purple body that is suspended from a leaf with a tail. The wing cover area is typically a dull or dirty yellow color with a series of creamy or dull white lines on the surface. At the abdominal region, there are some angular projections to observe.
Stage 4. The Adult Pansy Butterfly
After the significant struggle to emerge from the chrysalis, the new adult Blue Pansy butterfly will rest with its wings open to encourage circulation.
At this time, the wings are easy to observe and males have black forewings with white or brown borders. There are thin parallel black lines that terminate at the tips of the wings.
An orange/yellow eyespot is prominently displayed. The secondary wings are bright cyan blue with white borders demarcated with crooked black lines and there is another pair of orange eyespots.
Females have a browner coloration with a subdued patch of blue at the bottom of their hind wings. Both sexes have a visible gray brown color and orange brown markings when wings are fully closed. The dorsal side of the wings has faded eye spots in the same position as the orange eyespots on top.
Attracting Blue Pansy Butterflies to Your Garden
If you want to attract Blue Pansy butterflies into your garden there are five main things to consider.
1. A Drinking Pool
Certain butterfly species take in salt and nutrients from puddles with their long straw mouths. To make an area more attractive to these butterflies, add a permanent drinking area with a plastic or terra cotta shallow saucer.
Fill this receptacle with compost manure and sand in a 50:50 ratio. Top off with water and an overripe banana and watch to see if butterflies arrive to take a drink.
2. Shelter
If you have an exposed and/or windy garden, you will need a windbreak to protect your butterfly visitors. A lilac hedge is a great option because it offers shelter and food during the spring months. Adding fences and walls can help and these structures can give you surfaces to grow climbing plants too.
3. Avoid Chemical Contamination
If you have unwanted pests in the garden, you should consider removing them with hand picking and spot treating with an environmentally friendly insecticidal soap. If you frequently spray areas with chemical insecticides you will deter or harm butterflies.
4. Create Sunning Areas
Butterflies like to rest and hibernate in woods, but they can only fly efficiently if they have dry and warm wings. Adding a rock in a sunny spot is a great place for them to rest before they fly for the remainder of the day.
5. Choose the Right Plants
Pansy and other types of butterflies lay eggs on specific plants to ensure that the caterpillars have shelter and plenty of food when they emerge. If you’re keen to observe these early stages of life it’s a good idea to grow the plants that the butterflies like.
The soil conditions and other factors will determine which plants will grow well. If you want to provide a wide variety of butterfly attractive plants, choose Hygrophila and Violaceae flowering plants.
Symbolism and Cultural Significance of the Pansy Butterfly:
Most cultures associate blue with feelings of calm, faith, trust, and wisdom. In Vedic culture, the fifth chakra is known in Sanskrit as Vishuddha. This chakra rules how people communicate and connect with others.
Beauty and Elegance of the Blue Pansy Butterfly-In Conclusion:
The Pansy butterfly is known by various names depending on the specific location in the world. In Africa, this species is referred to as the Eyed Pansy, in India, it’s the Blue Pansy and in Australia, it may be called a Blue Argus.
When they fly, the Pansy butterfly beats its wings in a rigid flapping motion followed by a short glide. They are territorial and they will chase off other butterflies that enter the territory that they have claimed.
When you see a Blue Pansy butterfly, it will usually be a sole specimen engaged in flying and feeding. But, at times the males can gather together in large groups for a short period of time. At this time, this species is not endangered, but we can all help to keep things that way if we create a butterfly friendly environment.