Blume's Ulysses butterfly Coloring Pages

A beautiful butterfly with a glowing lapis blue band!

The Blume's Ulysses butterfly is a beautiful member of the swallowtail butterfly family. It has a bright blue band right down the middle of its wings. This blue band shines and sparkles in the light, making it stand out in the tropical forest.

The English name of the Blume's Ulysses butterfly is Papilio blumei. It was named after a German botanist named Karl Ludwig von Blume. Its Japanese name comes from the fact that it is a large (oo) swallowtail butterfly (ageha) with a lapis-colored (ruri) blue band (obi) on its wings.

Where does it live?

The Blume's Ulysses butterfly lives only in a very limited tropical area, such as Sulawesi Island in Indonesia and the small islands around it.

• Home: It mainly lives in the rainforests of Sulawesi Island. Sulawesi is located in the middle of Indonesia, and many unique living things live there.
  • It does not live naturally in Japan. Because of its beautiful look, it is very popular as a preserved specimen.

What does its body look like?

The wing patterns of the Blume's Ulysses butterfly are very striking. The shape and thickness of the blue band can be a little different depending on the type.

• Main wing color: The wings are black all over, and they are thin and pointed.
• Blue band: A thick, bright metallic blue-green or blue band runs across the middle of its wings. This blue band glitters in rainbow colors when the light hits it.
• Size: When it spreads its wings (wingspan), it is about 12 to 14 centimeters wide. It is a large swallowtail butterfly!

What does it eat?

The Blume's Ulysses butterfly eats different things as it grows up.

• Caterpillars: They mainly eat leaves from plants in the citrus family.
• Adults: They drink nectar from flowers for energy. You can see them gathering at bright flowers in the rainforest.

How long does it live?

In its tropical home, the Blume's Ulysses butterfly hatches several times a year.

• It lives for a short time as an adult butterfly, usually just a few weeks.

How to Choose Colors: Show Off the Bold Black and Blue Stripes!

The key to your Blume's Ulysses butterfly coloring page is making a clear contrast between the black and the metallic blue.

• The Black Base of the Wings: Color the whole area carefully with a deep black or navy blue so the blue stripes really pop.
• The Blue Stripes: Color the main part of the stripes with bright blue-green or cobalt blue. If you make the middle of the stripes a bright light blue, they will look shiny and sparkling!
• How to Make It Look Metallic: Lightly layer a very pale silver colored pencil over the blue stripes to give them a metallic feel!

Coloring Tips: Smooth Textures and Bold Stripes!

• Make It Smooth: Color the whole wing evenly. If you draw the blue stripes extra smooth, your butterfly will look super graceful!
• Make It Look 3D: Color the base of the wings (closer to the body) with a darker shade, and make it lighter toward the tips of the wings. This will make the wings look 3D!

Tips to Enjoy Your Coloring Page!

• Express Yourself Freely!
• You do not have to use real colors. You can color your Blume's Ulysses butterfly any way you like! How about a butterfly with golden stripes or a pink body? Making your very own original butterfly is lots of fun too!
• Try Drawing a Background!
• Where do you think Blume's Ulysses butterfly is flying? If you draw big leaves from a tropical rainforest or brightly colored flowers, your picture will come alive even more!