Butterflies of
Thailand, Malaysia &
Borneo
Tawny Angle
Odontoptilum
angulata
FELDER, 1862
Family - HESPERIIDAE
subfamily -
PYRGINAE
Tribe -
introduction
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habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
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Odontoptilum angulata,
Ulu Gerok,
West Malaysia |
Introduction
There are only 3 species in the genus
Odontoptilum, namely angulata
which occurs throughout the Oriental region,
pygela which is found from Thailand
south through the Malay archipelago to Java, and
leptogramma, which is endemic to
the Philippines.
Odontoptilum
are characterised by their angular wing shape ( particularly
exaggerated in pygela ), and by
their characteristic resting posture, as illustrated above.
This species is
also known as the Chestnut Angle.
Habitats
In Malaysia
this butterfly is found in open sunny forest glades, along
roadsides and riverbanks, and in other disturbed habitats at
elevations between sea level and about 400 metres.
Lifecycle
The egg is very pale brownish-white, dome-shaped, and vertically
ribbed. Adhering to it is a mass of fluffy pinkish hairs from
the body of the butterfly, which may give it some degree of
protection against the tiny wasps which often parasitise
butterfly eggs. It is laid singly on the upperside of a leaf of
the foodplant.
The larval foodplants include the herbaceous plants
Hibiscus tiliaceus and
Urena lobata; and also the trees
Commersonia and
Ceiba - the latter being an
enormous species which can grow to 70m or more in height, and
which has gigantic buttresses. All are members of the
Malvaceae.
The caterpillar
is white and has a very rough texture as a result of the
numerous tiny tubercules and vertical wrinkles on each segment.
The thorax tapers towards the head, which is dark brown and
covered in pale bristles. Behind the head is a band of dark
crimson.
The chrysalis
is formed on the undersurface of a leaf, attached by the
cremaster and a loose girdle of silk strands. It is a beautiful
object, pure white in colour but marked on the back and sides
with prominent rows of large black spots, and on the wing cases
with fine black streaks. Either side of the thorax there is a
bright orange tubercle.
Adult behaviour
The butterflies are usually seen singly, flying rapidly along
sunny forest roads, or basking on low foliage. They often settle
for long periods but remain very alert. If disturbed they
usually zip about for a few seconds and then resettle several
metres away on another leaf.
Males often settle on gravel, rocks or wooden boardwalks to
imbibe moisture; and I have also seen them feeding at wet bird
droppings. At these times, depending on how hot the day is, they
either keep their wings outspread and slightly down-curved, or
hold them erect and slightly apart.
Females are
more likely to be seen nectaring at flowers.
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