CCA Butterflies 240508 IV

This recent discovery of the Autumn Leaf appears to be the subspecies australis which hails from Indonesia and Australia. The characteristic subapical white spots are usually not present (at least not all the 5 spots) in the subspecies pratipa and siamensis, both found in Malaysia. This discovery is therefore not likely to have come down from the north. This subspecies was discovered within the nature reserves and appear to be colonizing more areas and is becoming more frequently encountered. A hypothesis is that the species could have escaped from the Butterfly Park and managed to breed on the very commonly found host plant which is found all over the island as a wild weed. However this theory is only speculative and without hard evidence. Nevertheless, Singapore is now endowed with another resident species.

Scientific Name: Doleschallia bisaltide australis (Autumn Leaf)

Description
Family : Nymphalidae
SubFamily : Nymphalinae
Common Name : Autumn Leaf