The glassy tiger butterfly, Parantica aglea, is a member of the milkweed butterfly group in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in the Indomalayan region, including parts of India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Southeast Asia.
This butterfly gets its name from the pale, glassy markings on its dark wings. The markings can look almost translucent in sunlight, giving the butterfly a delicate appearance even though it is a strong and steady flier.
Glassy tigers are often seen in forest edges, wooded paths, gardens, and other places where flowers and host plants grow. Adults visit flowers for nectar and may glide slowly through shady vegetation, making them easier to watch than many fast-flying butterflies.
The caterpillars feed on milkweed and dogbane relatives, including plants in genera such as Calotropis, Ceropegia, and Vincetoxicum. Chemicals from these host plants can make the caterpillars and adults distasteful to many predators.
Its life cycle follows the classic butterfly pattern: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and adult. The chrysalis is often green with metallic-looking spots, a tiny jewel-like stage before the adult butterfly emerges.