Introduction
There are 23 species in the genus Chilades, distributed variously from Africa and India to China, and south through from Malaysia and the islands of south-east Asia to Australia.
The genus Chilades includes one of the smallest known butterfly species on Earth – the Madagascan Grass Blue Chilades ( Freyeria ) miniscula, which has a wingspan of only 9mm.
Chilades parrhasius is a common species, found in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Habitats
This butterfly is mainly associated with Acacia scrub at elevations below about 100m.
Lifecycle
To be completed.
Adult behaviour
Both sexes commonly nectar at wild flowers including Tridax and various Lamiaceae. They usually hold their wings erect when feeding or at rest, but will sometimes bask with them held half open in cloudy weather conditions.