|
Butterflies
of the World - Lifecycle, Ecology, Taxonomy, Conservation,
Photography, Butterfly Holidays, Photo Galleries, Book Reviews and
more.........
Butterfly Study Holidays
Trip Reports
Butterfly Diary - latest sightings Where to find butterflies Frequently Asked Questions Test Your Knowledge Strange but true ! Taxonomy & Evolution Anatomy Lifecycle Ecology Survival Strategies The Enemies of Butterflies Migration & Dispersal Habitats in Britain Rainforests World Butterfly Census Butterfly Books Butterfly Art Gallery Butterfly photography Butterflies of the British Isles Butterflies of the French Alps Butterflies of Amazonia Butterflies of the Andes Butterflies of Malaysia & Borneo Butterflies of West Africa Species index Subject index Glossary
Text and photographs
protected by Copyright © Adrian Hoskins
2007, and must not be published
in part or in whole elsewhere without prior written permission from the
author.
|
![]() | |
|
Butterflies of
Malaysia and Borneo
Autumn Leaf
Doleschallia bisaltide
CRAMER, 1777
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
NYMPHALINAE
Tribe - NYMPHALINI
introduction
|
habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
Text and photographs protected by Copyright © Adrian
Hoskins 2007-2008, and must not be reproduced or published in part
or in whole elsewhere in any form without written permission from
Adrian Hoskins. Breach of copyright will be pursued by litigation.
Website designed, produced and owned by
Adrian Hoskins
Doleschallia
bisaltide pratipa, male,
Tapah Hills, West Malaysia
Introduction
Butterflies in the Indo-Australian
genera
Doleschallia
and Kallima,
and in the African genera
Kamilla,
Mallika
and Kallimoides
are collectively known as Dead Leaf butterflies. They are
characterised by having a produced apex, and the hw tornus
extended to form a short tail. The resulting shape, together
with the cryptic dead-leaf colouration bears a remarkable
resemblance to a dead fallen leaf, complete with a "midrib", and
markings resembling patches of mould and leaf galls.
The
genus
Doleschallia
comprises about 8 described species, although the status of some of these is
questionable, some authors considering that at least 4 of them are merely
subspecies of
bisaltide.
Both
sexes are very similar, and on the upperside are orange-brown, except for the
subapical area, which is blackish.
The
butterfly occurs in India, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, West Malaysia, Sumatra,
Borneo, Palawan, Sulawesi and north-eastern Australia. In New Guinea it is
replaced by other Doleschallia
species - dascylus,
dascon,
noorna
and hexophthalmos.
Habitats
This species breeds in primary and secondary rainforest at altitudes between sea
level and about 1400m.
Lifecycle
The
fully grown caterpillar is black, adorned with short whorled spines, and has a
double row of white spots along the back. The head is steely blue. It feeds
gregariously on plants including
Artocarpus ( jack
fruit ), Pseuderanthemum, Calycanthus,
and Graptophyllum
( Acanthaceae ).
The
caterpillars are parasitised by Chalcid wasps, which emerge after the larvae has
pupated.
Adult behaviour
The butterflies have a strong, direct and very rapid flight. They are usually encountered singly along forest roads, small clearings, orang-asli villages, and small quarries within forested areas.
Males imbibe moisture from damp sand and rocks on riverbanks and roadsides. If disturbed they fly up rapidly but re-settle nearby on walls or tree trunks, assuming a downward-facing posture, with wings closed.
|