I was back to the same area to observe the butterflies last Saturday.What a delight it was to see so many butterflies flitting from flower to flower in a bed of about 20-30 sqm of predominantly Caesalpinia pulcherrima (Peacock Flower). This particular flower bed was isolated and surrounded by blocks of flats.
I spotted 1 Common Mormon, 1 Tailed Jay, 1 Lemon Emigrant, 1 Lime Butterfly, multiple Common Grass Yellows and Mottled Emigrants, several Chocolate Pansies etc.
I spent quite a bit of time trying to capture the Tailed Jay on photo. Interestingly, its host plants are Annona cherimola (Custard Apple, Sweetsop), Annona muricata (Soursop), Michelia alba (White Champaca) and Polyathia longifolia var. pendula (Asoka Tree) and were not found at this site. Frankly, the nearest park is at least 100 over metres away and I was sure some of the other butterflies also came from there.
This proved that this Peacock Flower species provides nectar to support this whole range of butterflies, so it is definitely a must have plant for the urban garden to attract butterflies.
