Butterflies Galore! : Bamboo Tree Brown

Butterflies Galore!
The Bamboo Tree Brown (Lethe europa malaya)

This skittish Satyrinae often lurks in the shaded areas in the vicinity of bamboo clumps and remain well camouflaged until it is disturbed. In freshly eclosed individuals, the large violet submarginal ocelli on the underside of both wings are very attractive. The species is uncommon, but not rare. It is local in distribution and usually found in the vicinity of its caterpillar host plant - bamboos.

This Bamboo Tree Brown was photographed by young ButterflyCircle member Jonathan Soong at the Butterfly Hill on Pulau Ubin last Sunday. For this species, a butterfly photographer has to be very patient in stalking it, especially when the butterfly is extremely alert and skittish, and prefers to stop amongst dead leaves and forest litter at low levels.