Butterflies3

Common Malaysian Butterflies

Butterflies make up the second-largest order of insects, the Lepidopthera. More than 100,000 species are known, with thousands still undescribed. They occur on every continent wherever land insect life is possible, from the far Artic to deserts and tropical forests. They range in size from minute moths about 1/8 inch (0.03 cm) long to giant moths and butterflies with a wing expanse of 11 inches (27.5 cm).

Butterflies and moths have a complete metamorphosis and develop through four stages; egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa, and adult. The caterpillars have biting mouthparts, while the adults have a tubular proboscis for sucking liquids. The adult wings are typically covered with tiny, flat scales, which overlap like shingles.

Ecologically, butterflies amd moths are highly important because of the vast quantities of plants eaten by the larvae, the flower-visiting and polinating habits of the adults, and the enormous numbers of them eaten by other animals.

Here are some of the common Malaysian butterflies and their habitats.

	Common Birdwing (female) A common butterfly of Malaysia, found also in New Guinea, Australia and the Pacific Islands. Often seen flying around flowering trees in the jungle and forest clearings. Known as a jungle butterfly, but in practice has occasionally been caught in rural villages.
	Common Rose (female) A member of the Swallowtail species. Often found in well-wooded localities. Greater number found in the centre and south of Malaysia than in the north. Gay colouring is a natural warning to insect-eating brids and animals of its unpleasant taste.
	Lime Butterfly (female) A common golden butterfly which is confined to the plains. The eggs are often found on the young leaves of a ll kinds of citrus (orange, lemon or lime) trees. At a glance, the young larvae look like bird droppings. This camouflage protects them from enemies.
	Great Mormon (female) A large and striking butterfly, one of Malaysia's most interesting specimens. Often seen in gardens, the countryside and forest, but known to breed more often in the forest. The eggs are usually laid on the large-leaved citrus trees such as the pomelo. There are three different forms of female of this species and only one male.
	Painted Jezebel (female) This butterfly frequents open woods and makes no attempt to hide from its enemies. It's gay colours and feeble flight are natural warnings to insect-eating birds and animals of its unpleasant taste. They even keep away from its eggs.
	Orange Albatross (male) The male is quite often seen around moist sandy banks of forest streams. The female is rare and prefers to stay on higher forested areas. When kept in a collection, their orange-vermilion colour may turn crimson after a while.
	Wanderer (male) The male is commonly seen along the edge of forests and around stone quarries and is easily recognisable by its "zig zag" flight. On the wing, they are difficult to catch. It is easier to get them when they are settled.
	Lemon Migrant (female) This butterfly is strong on the wing. It is usually found on the plains and in secondary jungle and often settles at moist spots on the paths. Large numbers have been seen along country roads in some form of migratory flight. The larva feeds on leaves of the cassia trees, hiding along the leaf-veins while eating away the leaves.
	Common Tree Nymph (male) The commonest of the Idea species found in the hilly areas of Malaysia. It looks beautiful when seen high up amongst the tree-tops in the jungle, blown gently about by the wind. If disturbed, it makes quite swiftly.
	Blue-Branded King Crow (male) A common butterfly of the Malaysian hill forests. It has no fixed pattern of movement. A large number may stay in a certain locality for a few months, disappear altogether for about a year, then return in large numbers again. Male and female are very alike.
	Bamboo Tree Brown (male) A common bamboo butterfly usually found during the months of the rainy season. It only flies in the every early hours of the morning, and during the evening. It is sometimes attracted to lights of houses. The larvae are found in most bamboo clumps.
	Plain Tiger (female) A common butterfly in the plain localities. Usually found in places where the Caloptropis plant is growing. The larva fees on the leaves of this plant which is sometimes cultivated for medicinal purposes by the Indian people.
	Common Evening Brown (female) A common butterfly around the paddy fields, but also found occasionally in places miles away from these fields. The larva feeds on the blades of the rice plant. In other countries it feeds on grasses, sugarcane and bamboo.
	Palm King (female) An occasional visitor to the home, often seen perched on the wall or ceiling in the evening. It is rarely seen in the daytime, unless disturbed. The larva feeds on the leaves of coconut and other palms. The butterfly is attracted to rotten fruit.
	Saturn (male) A large butterfly which is distantly related to the exotic "Morphos" of South America. Usually seen near waterfalls and jungle streams in dense forests. It is very common in Borneo. It is greatly attracted to rotten fruit, especially the pineapple.
	Dark Blue Jungle Glory (male) A rare butterfly that is sometimes found in jungle bamboo thickets. It flies close to the ground. This may explain why the butterfly often springs up beneath one's feet from amongst thick forest undergrowth. It never takes to fruit bait.
	Malay Lacewing (male) One of the most beautiful butterflies of Malaysia. It is usually found amongst flowering plants along jungle paths. The larvae are known to be poisonous, and the butterfly emits an unpleasant odour when squeezed.
	Blue Pansy (male) One of the prettiest sun-loving butterflies. Rarely seen on high ground. More often found on open grassy plains, golf courses and lawns. The eggs are laid on certain parasite on grass roots. The larva hides during the day, looks for food at night.
	Horsfield Baron (male & female) A common butterfly that is often seen in gardens, parks and hilly forested areas at all elevations. It is attracted to rotten fruit like t he pineapple, and can be caught with this bait. The female is more common than the male.
	Malay Red Harlequin (male) This butterfly is more often seen settled on a leaf with wings half-closed than in flight. On sunny days it is often found in forested areas at elevations up to about 4,000 feet. The colour of the female are paler.
	Sumatran Gem (male & female) A member of a family of very small, brilliantly coloured butterflies. It is mainly found in the lowland forests. On sunny days, it is usually seen flying singly in the shade. Early in the day, it appears in larger numbers around the forest edge. The male is shown on the right.
	Common Hedge Blue (male) A common butterfly along forest roads on the lowlands, getting rarer as we ascend the hills. Some species of Celastrina can be found on the hills but they are difficult to identify.
	Centaur Oak Blue (male) A common butterfly, found both in town areas and in the lowland jungle. The larvae are protected by the Karingga ants and in return the ants milk a sweet secretion from their bodies. This protection sometimes goes on till the insects emerge from the pupa.
	Rajah Brooke's Birdwing (male) A most famous butterfly and one of the largest, measuring 6 to 6.75 inches. It was discovered by Wallace in 1855 and named after the former Rajah of Sarawak. In Malaysia the male is seen around waterfalls and wet jungle paths along streams. The females are rare and found on higher elevations.

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