Butterflies in Malaysia
Over 1,000 butterflies live in the megadiverse nation of Malaysia, several of whom have yet to be properly categorized and named. Notable species include the Common Fourring, the Long-tailed Blue, and the Malay Red Flash.
Butterflies in Malaysia
List of Different Butterfly Species of Malaysia
Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae)
- Common Fourring (Ypthima huebneri)
- Courtesan (Euripus nyctelius)
- Royal Assyrian (Terinos terpander)
- Tawny Coster (Acraea violae)
- Polyura athamas athamas
- Chersonesia risa risa
- Danaus chrysippus chrysippus
- Danaus affinis malayanus
- Danaus genutia genutia
- Euploea klugii erichsonii
- Bassarona teuta goodrichi
- Euploea mulciber mulciber
- Euploea radamanthus radamanthus
- Parantica aglea melanoides
- Parantica agleoides agleoides
- Tirumala septentrionis septentrionis
- Cupha erymanthis lotis
- Phalanta phalantha phalantha
- Athyma perius perius
- Junonia orithya wallacei
- Athyma selenophora selenophora
- Lasippa tiga camboja
- Neptis harita harita
- Pantoporia hordonia hordonia
- Pantoporia paraka paraka
- Dophla evelina compta
- Hestina mimetica ruvanella
- Hypolimnas anomala anomala
- Idea leuconoe chersonesia
- Junonia almana javana
- Junonia atlites atlites
- Junonia hedonia seitzi
- Junonia iphita horsfieldi
- Laringa castelnaui castelnaui
- Lexias dirtea iwasakii
- Vagrans egista macromalayana
- Vindula erota chersonesia
- Lethe vindhya luaba
- Mycalesis intermedia distanti
Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)
- Abnormal Flash (Rapala duma)
- Baby Royal (Bullis buto)
- Bhutya Lineblue (Prosotas bhutea)
- Blue Brilliant (Simiskina phalia)
- Bright Oakblue (Arhopala sublustris)
- Burmese Caerulean (Jamides philatus)
- Cardinal (Thamala marciana)
- Centaur Oakblue (Arhopala centaurus)
- Common Darkie (Allotinus horsfieldi)
- Common Tinsel (Catapaecilma major)
- Dark Grass Blue (Zizeeria karsandra)
- Dark Posy (Drupadia theda)
- De Niceville’s Oakblue (Arhopala agrata)
- Dingy Lineblue (Petrelaea dana)
- Doherty’s Green Oakblue (Arhopala hellenore)
- Dusky Bushblue (Arhopala paraganesa)
- Fluffy Tit (Zeltus amasa)
- Forest Quaker (Pithecops corvus)
- Glazed Oakblue (Arhopala paralea)
- Glistening Cerulean (Jamides elpis)
- Gracile Line-blue (Prosotas gracilis)
- Gray-washed Oakblue (Arhopala aurelia)
- Green Flash (Artipe eryx)
- Jewel Fourline Blue (Nacaduba sanaya)
- Little Cerulean Oakblue (Arhopala ammonides)
- Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus)
- Malay Red Flash (Rapala damona)
- Moonstone Oakblue (Arhopala camdana)
- Pale Mottle (Logania marmorata)
- Pale Yellow Oakblue (Arhopala moolaiana)
- Papuan Line-blue (Catopyrops ancyra)
- Pitcher Blue (Virachola kessuma)
- Pointed Lineblue (Ionolyce helicon)
- Purple-brown Tailless Oakblue (Arhopala arvina)
- Purple-glazed Oakblue (Arhopala agaba)
- Scarce Guava Blue (Virachola smilis)
- Spotted Royal (Tajuria maculata)
- Tailless Plushblue (Flos areste)
- Una (Una usta)
- Vinous Oakblue (Arhopala athada)
- Violet 4-lineblue (Nacaduba subperusia)
- White Cerulean (Jamides pura)
- White Imperial (Neomyrina nivea)
- White-stained Oakblue (Arhopala aida)
- Yellow Tailed Oakblue (Arhopala elopura)
- Yellow-disk Tailless Oakblue (Arhopala perimuta)
- Zambra Oakblue (Arhopala zambra)
- Amblypodia anita anita
- Ancema ctesia ctesia
- Arhopala atosia
- Arhopala atosia
- Arhopala avatha
- Arhopala bazaloides bazaloides
- Arhopala cleander
- Arhopala corinda
- Arhopala corinda
- Arhopala milleri
- Arhopala silhetensis silhetensis
- Bindahara phocides phocides
- Castalius rosimon rosimon
- Catochrysops panormus exiguus
- Catochrysops strabo strabo
- Euchrysops cnejus cnejus
- Flos apidanus ahamus
- Heliophorus ila
- Luthrodes pandava pandava
- Megisba malaya sikkima
- Nacaduba kirtoni
- Nacaduba pavana vajuva
- Nacaduba solta
- Neopithecops zalmora zalmora
- Prosotas lutea sivoka
- Rapala scintilla scintilla
- Rapala varuna orseis
- Semanga superba
- Udara aristinus
- Udara dilecta dilecta
- Logania distanti massalia
- Taraka hamada mendesia
Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)
- Common Wanderer (Pareronia anais)
- Catopsilia pomona pomona
- Catopsilia pyranthe pyranthe
- Eurema andersonii andersonii
- Eurema hecabe contubernalis
- Appias albina albina
- Appias lyncida vasava
- Leptosia nina nina
- Pieris canidia canidia
Metalmark (Riodinidae)
- Abisara geza niya
- Abisara kausambi kausambi
- Abisara kausambi kausambi
- Abisara neophron chelina
- Abisara saturata kausambioides
- Abisara savitri savitri
- Dodona deodata anu
- Dodona egeon confluens
- Dodona eugenes chaseni
- Laxita thuisto thuisto
- Paralaxita damajanti damajanti
- Paralaxita orphna laocoon
- Paralaxita telesia lyclene
- Stiboges nymphidia nymphidia
- Taxila haquinus haquinus
- Zemeros emesoide emesoides
- Zemeros flegyas albipunctatus
- Zemeros flegyas allica
Swallowtail (Papilionidae)
- Burmese Raven (Papilio mahadeva)
- Chilasa clytia clytia
- Graphium agamemnon agamemnon
- Lamproptera curius curius
- Papilio helenus helenus
- Papilio memnon agenor
- Papilio palinurus palinurus
- Papilio paris paris
- Papilio polytes romulus
- Troides helena cerberus
- Troides amphrysus ruficollis
Skipper (Hesperiidae)
- Banded Straw Ace (Pithauria marsena)
- Branded Orange Awlet (Burara oedipodea)
- Brown Pied Flat (Coladenia agni)
- Ceylon Dartlet (Oriens goloides)
- Chequered Lancer (Plastingia naga)
- Coconut Skipper (Hidari irava)
- Common Redeye (Matapa aria)
- Continental Swift (Parnara ganga)
- Full Stop Swift (Caltoris cormasa)
- Grass Demon (Udaspes folus)
- Gray-banded Redeye (Matapa druna)
- Large Dart (Potanthus serina)
- Light Straw Ace (Pithauria stramineipennis)
- Maculate Lancer (Salanoemia sala)
- Moore’s Ace (Halpe porus)
- Rounded Palm-redeye (Erionota torus)
- Sikkim Ace (Halpe sikkima)
- Veined Palmer (Hidari bhawani)
- Wax Dart (Cupitha purreea)
- Badamia exclamationis
- Hasora badra badra
- Hasora chromus chromus
- Baoris farri farri
- Caltoris brunnea caere
- Caltoris cahira austeni
- Cephrenes trichopepla
- Erionota thrax thrax
- Gangara thyrsis thyrsis
- Hyarotis adrastus praba
- Iambrix salsala salsala
- Iton semamora semamora
- Notocrypta feisthamelii alysos
- Notocrypta paralysos asawa
- Oriens gola pseudolus
- Parnara bada bada
- Pelopidas agna agna
- Pelopidas assamensis
- Pelopidas mathias mathias
- Polytremis lubricans lubricans
- Potanthus confucius dushta
- Suastus gremius gremius
- Telicota bambusae bambusae
- Telicota colon stinga
- Celaenorrhinus leucocera
- Chamunda chamunda
- Gerosis phisara phisara
- Sarangesa dasahara dasahara
The best place to see butterflies in Malaysia is the massive butterfly park in Kuala Lumpur, where, at any given moment, you can see over 5,000 butterflies from 100 different species.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many species of butterflies are found in Malaysia?
Malaysia is home to over 1,000 species of butterflies, making it a megadiverse nation for these insects. This incredible biodiversity includes many species that have yet to be formally categorized by entomologists, thriving in the country’s rich tropical ecosystems from rainforests to coastal areas.
What are the main families of butterflies in Malaysia?
The two prominent families of butterflies in Malaysia are the Brush-Footed butterflies (Nymphalidae) and the Gossamer-Winged butterflies (Lycaenidae). These families encompass hundreds of distinct species, showcasing a vast range of sizes, colors, and patterns, from the large Royal Assyrian to the small Dark Grass Blue.
What is a common Brush-Footed butterfly in Malaysia?
The Common Fourring (Ypthima huebneri) is a frequently observed Brush-Footed butterfly in Malaysia. Belonging to the Nymphalidae family, this species is characterized by its subtle brown coloration and distinctive eye-spots, or ocelli, on its wings. It is typically found in grassy clearings and open woodlands.
Are there blue butterflies in Malaysia?
Yes, several species of blue butterflies can be found in Malaysia, primarily within the Gossamer-Winged family. Notable examples include the Long-tailed Blue, the Burmese Caerulean (Jamides philatus), and the Centaur Oakblue (Arhopala centaurus), whose wings feature vibrant, iridescent blue scales that shimmer in the sunlight.
What are some examples of Junonia butterflies in Malaysia?
Malaysia hosts multiple species of Junonia butterflies, commonly known as pansies or buckeyes. Examples found in the region include:
* Junonia orithya wallacei (Blue Pansy)
* Junonia atlites atlites (Grey Pansy)
* Junonia hedonia seitzi (Chocolate Pansy)
* Junonia iphita horsfieldi (Chocolate Soldier)
Can you find Danaus butterflies in Malaysia?
Yes, several subspecies of Danaus butterflies, commonly known as tiger butterflies, inhabit Malaysia. The local fauna includes the Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus chrysippus), the Malay Tiger (Danaus affinis malayanus), and the Common Tiger (Danaus genutia genutia), which are all part of the Brush-Footed butterfly family.
What is a notable Gossamer-Winged butterfly in Malaysia?
The Centaur Oakblue (Arhopala centaurus) is a notable Gossamer-Winged butterfly found in Malaysia’s forests. As a member of the Lycaenidae family, this species is recognized for the brilliant, metallic blue on the upperside of its wings, which contrasts with its more subdued, patterned underside used for camouflage.
