The Common Mime, Papilio (Chilasa) clytia clytia (L.)

This is a butterfly of the open land, frequenting parks and gardens and even roadsides. However, it is not very common in Raub but can be occasionally seen near its foodplant, the Wild Cinnamon, Cinnamomum iners, which are planted as a decorative plant in public areas.

Habitat indicator

RSP	WV	PG	VF	FTR	SC	LWDF	LWPF	LMEF	UMN	MN
		x	x		x

Frequency observation chart: (S marks the usual occurences, H marks an unusually high occurence, F for first record)

2014

2015

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mac

Apr

May

June

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

S7

S7

S7

S6

2016
Jan	Feb	Mac	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
						S6

a 4th instar caterpillar seen on a cinnamon sapling

the 5th instar caterpillar differs in having softer tubercles and red spots

Above 2 photos of the pupa which eclosed on 11 Jan 2015. The pupa took more than two weeks to complete its cycle.

Above pictures of a worn butterfly that came to visit my garden: 12 July 2016 @ 13:27

The Malayan Batwing, Atrophaneura nox erebus (Wallace)

This is a rather rare butterfly to be seen in forested areas in Raub, in fact much rarer than A. varuna and they inhabit the same localities. Like most Batwings, they are seasonal and their abundance can fluctuate according to seasons and years.

Habitat indicator

RSP	WV	PG	VF	FTR	SC	LWDF	LWPF	LMEF	UMN	MN
						x	x	x

Frequency observation chart: (S marks the usual occurences, H marks an unusually high occurence, F for first record)

2014

2015

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mac

Apr

May

June

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

S1

S1

S1

S3

2016
Jan	Feb	Mac	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

The 5th instar caterpillar looks much like a Troides caterpillar. I came upon this one by accident when I was looking for hesperiids along a trail used by Orang Asli to look for bamboo. 02 Feb 2015 @ 11:17. When threatened, the caterpillar everts a bright orange osmeterium.

Above 2 pictures of the pupa a week later in the same spot of the  undergrowth...8 Feb 2015. Collected the pupa out of curiosity (it doesn't correspond to that of Troides nor Pachliopta with its beautiful coral-like projections) and 2 weeks later, this came out (below picture)...The pupa case darkens from coral colour to dark brown 2 days prior to eclosion.

A rather tiny male eclosed at @ 15:00 on 23 Feb 2015, 15 days after the pupa was collected from a dark undergrowth of a forest reserve. Unlike A. varuna, its abdomen is completely black. The carmine tufts are restricted to the thorax.

The uppersides are of a velvety black ...

Notice the scent pouch on the HW dorsal area.

The HW uppers has a rather shiny velvety dull blue sheen much like A. varuna male.

The Lime Butterfly, Papilio demoleus malayanus (Wallace)

This with P. polytes are perhaps the commonest papilionids that inhabits urbanised as well as semi-urbanised areas where lime trees are planted. However, in recent years, their numbers had greatly dwindled due to the use of commercial pesticides on plantations and households no longer cultivate lime trees in the numbers that they used to be, reason for which modern town planning today does not include much space for cultivation at home.

Habitat indicator

RSP	WV	PG	VF	FTR	SC	LWDF	LWPF	LMEF	UMN	MN
	x	x	x		x

The above 4 photos were taken in my own garden as I was about to get into my car with my camera in tow. The sudden arrival of a day-long rain after such a dry spell brought much relief to everyone, including this weary-looking wanderer. It is usually an erractic flyer around the garden but it somehow settled on the same spot next to my Kumquat tree when a short weather break came at mid-day. All photos from 16 March 2014 @ 12:16. 

Frequency observation chart: (S marks the usual occurences, H mark an unusually high occurence, F for first record)

2013		2014
Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mac	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct
			S6S7	S6S7	S6S7	S6S7	S6S7	S6S7	S6S7	S6S7	S6S7

2014

2015

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mac

Apr

May

June

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

S6S7

S6S7

S6S7

S6

S6

Above specimen was seen resting and visiting low flowering plants on a wasteland: 03 Jan 2015 @ 13:58