Butterfly Plants
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FEATURED BUTTERFLY SPECIES Common Birdwing Striped Albatross Autumn Leaf Blue Glassy Tiger Scientific Name: Troides helena cerberus Scientific Name: Appias libythea olferna Scientific name: Doleschallia bisaltide bisaltide Scientific Name: Ideopsis vulgaris macrina Family: Papilionidae Family: Pieridae Family: Nymphalidae Family: Nymphalidae Host plant: Dutchman’s Pipe Host plant: Purple Cleome Host plant: Pseuderanthemum reticulatum, Host plant: Tylophora tenuis and Hoya spp. (Aristolochia tagala) (Cleome rutidosperma) Caricature Plant (Graptophyllum pictum) Wingspan: 70-80mm Wingspan: 170-180mm (one of the largest Wingspan: 50-55mm Wingspan: 60-70mm It is common in Singapore, particularly in butterflies in Singapore) This species was rarely seen in Singapore in This species was discovered to exist in the coastal mangrove areas. The butterfly is It is an iconic species, listed as vulnerable the 1960s and 1970s but is now a common Singapore at the Bukit Timah Cycling trail in also attracted to the partially dried plants of in Singapore Red Data book. Conservation of this species is one of the urban butterfly because its host plant is an early colonizing weed. It is a 1999. The upperside is spectacular orange but the underside looks like a Heliotropium indicum. Its host plant which the caterpillar feeds on has a inspirations behind the trail. The butterfly is essentially a forest species, fast and erratic flyer. It also demonstrates sexual dimorphism which means dead or autumn leaf. It is a fast flyer and is commonly seen as its favourite milky sap. This makes the butterfly distasteful to birds. but will be attracted to the trail where its host plant has been planted. It is the male (picture on the right) and the female are different in appearance. host plant is now a popular urban landscape plant. capable of flying long distances and at great height, almost bird-like. The male is white above with a black border and the undersides have dark Blue Pansy dusted veins. Females are heavily dusted with greyish yellow on both the Tawny Coster Scientific Name: Junonia orithya wallacei Painted Jezebel upper and undersides. Scientific Name:Acraea violae Family: Nymphalidae Scientific Name: Delias hyparete metarete Family: Nymphalidae Host plant: Common Asystasia Family: Pieridae Common Palmfly Host plant: Stinking Passion Flower (Asystasia gangetica) Host plant: Dendrophthoe pentandra Scientific Name: Elymnias hypermnestra agina (Passiflora foetida), Passion Fruit Wingspan: 40-50mm (Mistletoe, a semi-parasite on trees) Family: Nymphalidae (Passiflora laurifolia) It is a sun-loving species and can be found on Wingspan: 70-80mm Host plant: Yellow Cane Palm Wingspan: 60-70mm grassy patches in open areas where its host This insect is a lofty flyer usually seen at (Dypsis lutescens), Coconut (Cocos nucifera) More common in India and Sri Lanka, it has been plant grows naturally. The butterfly flies quite rapidly and occasionally canopy level. Its flight pattern has been Wingspan: 60-70mm recorded in Singapore only since mid 2000s. Literature shows that this long engages in a spiral dance going up some height from the ground. The male described as nonchalant and graceful, with a slow flapping of the wings. The It is a common insect in the forest as well as voyage took more than 3 decades to complete. They have a leathery body, a (picture on the right) is the prettier of the two sexes, where the hindwing is reason for its ‘devil may care’ attitude displaying red and yellow on its urban areas particularly abundant where palms sluggish flight and are tenacious of life. One of the host plants is an aggressive a bright blue with orange-red spots. The female is browner on the upperside underside hindwings is its toxicity accumulated during its earlier stages as a thrive. Its flight can be best described as a slow flapping and gliding motion. vine growing in wasteland and cleared open areas. and contains less blue on the hindwing. caterpillar. The dominant colour on the forewings is still white. It is a frequent The Palmfly has a propensity to rest on leaves after each short flight. visitor to open woods and gardens. Leopard Lime Butterfly Plain Nawab Scientific Name:Phalanta phalantha phalantha Scientific Name: Papilio demoleus malayanus Orange Emigrant Scientific Name: Polyura hebe plautus Family: Nymphalidae Family: Papilionidae Scientific Name: Catopsillia scylla cornelia Family: Nymphalidae Host plant: Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica), Host plant: Citrus spp. Family: Pieridae Host plant: Red Saga (Adenanthera pavonina) Rukam Masam (Flacourtia inermis), Wingspan: 80-90mm Host plant: Bushy Cassia (Cassia biflora) Wingspan: 70-80mm Wingspan: 50-60mm It is common in gardens wherever its host plant Wingspan: 60-70mm The butterfly has a strong and erratic flight. A common urban butterfly found wherever its is cultivated. A strong flyer with a rapid erratic The Orange Emigrant, together with its It has a habit of perching on a lofty leaf or favourite host plant Weeping Willow tree is flight from flower to flower in search of nectar. close cousin, the Lemon Emigrant is often branch, surveying the grounds below. It then planted. The Leopard has a rather restless flight, always on the move as it While feeding it flaps its forewings rapidly while the hindwings are almost encountered in parks and urban areas. This flies rapidly in the vicinity, often coming back again and again to the same flutters from flower to flower. The Leopard’s wings are bright cheery orange stationary as if to balance when perched on a flower. chrome-yellow colour butterfly is slightly smaller than the Lemon Emigrant preferred perch to rest. The caterpillar has a four-horned head that gives it coloured and ornamented with black spots and streaks. but has similar characteristics—medium sized, robust, flies swiftly 2-3m an almost ‘dragon-like’ appearance. Common Grass Yellow above ground with energetic and rapid ‘jumping’ flight maneuvers. Common Mormon Scientific Name: Eurema hecabe contubernalis Common Rose (Picture on right is a male Common Mormon) Family: Pieridae Chocolate Pansy Scientific Name: Pachlilopta aristolochiae Scientific Name: Papilio polytes romulus Host plant: Peacock Flower Scientific Name: Junonia hedonia ida asteris Family: Papilionidae (has a “Swallowtail”) (Caesalpaenia pulcherrima), Family: Nymphalidae Family: Papilionidae (has a “Swallowtail”) Host plant: Indian Curry Tree (Murraya koenigii), 7-Golden Candlesticks (Cassia alata) Host plant: Red Flame Ivy Host plant: Dutchman’s Pipe Lime (Citrus spp) Wingspan: 35-45mm (Hemigraphis alternata), (Aristolochia tagala) Wingspan: 90-100mm It is one of the most abundant butterflies in Creeping Ruellia (Ruellia repens) Wingspan: 90-110mm This butterfly is common at forest edge and Singapore but when in flight looks similar to its cousins like Three Spot Grass Wingspan: 40-50mm This butterfly shares the same host plant as nature parks. This species is dimorphic—one of the forms resembles the Yellow and No Brand Grass Yellow. It is one of the most common butterflies in Common Birdwing. Its flight is slow but straight and long-sustained up to poisonous Common Rose butterfly for protection from its predators. Singapore. It loves bright sunny grassy spots and can be seen flying in heights of 3-4m above the ground when searching for flowers or host plant. the usual gliding fashion and basking in the Sun with its wings opened flat They are poisonous because of the aristolochic acids consumed by the making it easy to photograph. caterpillars when feeding on the host plant. BUTTERFLY PLANTS The Nature Society (Singapore), or NSS, is a totally non-government, This innovative urban biodiversity project of the Nature Society non-profit organization, registered as a Society, a Charity and an (Singapore) or NSS has been spearheaded by members of the Dutchman’s Pipe (Aristolochia tagala) Institution of Public Character. The Society depends financially Society’s Butterfly Interest Group, namely Gan Cheong Weei and Host plant for Common Birdwing (Troides on subscriptions and donations from its members as well as Simon Chan, strongly supported by members of the Plant Group, 1. helena cerberus) & Common Rose (Pachilopta aristolochiae asteris) butterflies. This native donations from companies, institutions, foundations and private Angie Ng and Shawn Lum, with volunteers extraordinaire Margaret sun-loving climber is mainly found in our individuals. It is dedicated to the appreciation, conservation, study Clarkson and Christy Davis. Our Patron, Prof. Tommy Koh, and forests. Flowers form a slender tube of about and enjoyment of the natural heritage in Singapore, Malaysia and immediate Past President, Dr. Geh Min, have given it unwavering 7 cm long hence the common name. Fruits the surrounding region. It holds regular activities for members support from its inception, whilst, as with all NSS projects, our 6. are like a bulb which on maturity split open such as nature walks, slide shows, workshops, short courses and Secretariat, Executive Committee, Council and countless members resembling an inverted parachute. The plant has many medicinal uses, overseas eco-trips. Members conduct censuses and surveys of have all played important roles. 2. including removing obstructions after birth. flora and fauna in Singapore and attend regional and international Blood Flower (Asclepias curassavica) workshops and conferences. Since the Society’s proposal in the Acknowledgements: How does an egg Host plant for the Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus 1980s