Photoshoot session with the Malay Lacewing

The upperside is bright orange and black.

 

The distal end of both the upper and lower sides have toothed edges.

Malay Lacewing - Cethosa hypsea hypsinaLocation : Zone C

Photoshoot session with Malay Lacewing (Cethosia hypsea hypsina)

Today's photoshoot session with the Malay Lacewing was not arranged.  No appointment made.  But was a pleasant surprise when I encountered it at the 'Sui-Mui' plant (Wrightia religiosa).  The dangling flowers of the Sui-Mui (Cantonese) are fragrant and are produced on daily basis.  There have been many occasions when I encountered it hovering around by the plant.  The variegated lace pattern on the underside of the wings are very attractive.  The upper side is bright orange and black.

Butterfly watch album - Malay Lacewings

 Both the upperside and the underside of the Malay lacewings are very colourful but more so the underside.  The outer wings are serrated and looking jagged.  The 'lace' patterns on the wings give rise to its name 'lacewings'.  At the park these beautiful butterflies are attracted to the nectar from the flowers of the Ixora coccinea, Wrightia religiosa, Eugenia oleina and the Clerodendron thomsonae or the 'Bleeding heart'.  They do not seem to be seen often and when they do I would feel very cheerful and would chase them around to photoshoot them.  Here's a collection of shots of them at the park....

Malay Lacewings (Cethosia hysea hypsina)