Butterfly Biodata:
Genus: Lasippa Moore, 1898
Species: heliodore Fabricius, 1787
Subspecies: dorelia Butler, 1879
Wingspan of Adult Butterfly: 20-25mm
Caterpillar Local Host Plants: Rourea asplenifolia (Connaraceae), Rourea minor (Connaraceae), Cnestis palala (Connaraceae).
A Burmese Lascar puddling on wet ground.
Upperside view of a female Burmese Lascar
Underside view of a female Burmese Lascar
Physical Description of Adult Butterfly:
The adult has vein 10 rising from the cell on the forewing. Above, the wings are black with orange bands and spots/patches arranged in the usual manner for Lasippa spp. In the forewing cell streak, a small 'tongue'-like spot is well-formed and separated from the main band. On both wings, a thin orange marginal line can be found on both wings. On the forewing, a series of orange submarginal spots is featured. In the male, the submarginal spot 3 is about the same width as submarginal spot 4, but in the female, the submarginal spot 3 is 1.5X wider than submarginal spot 4. Underneath, the wings are marked similarly as on the upperside but with the orange bands/streaks broader and in a much paler shade of yellowish orange.
Upperside view of a male Burmese Lascar
Underside view of a male Burmese Lascar
Field Observations of Butterfly Behaviour:
This species is moderately rare in Singapore and it is only found in the nature reserves where the host plants are widespread. The adults are weak flyer and are often observed flying in a gliding manner. They have been observed to puddle on wet grounds and to visit flowers for nectary intakes.
A Burmese Lascar perching on a leaf of the Singapore Rhododendron.
A sunbathing Burmese Lascar.
A mating pair of the Burmese Lascar perching on a fern leaf. The upper one is the female.
Early Stages:
The recorded local host plants are Rourea asplenifolia, Rourea minor and Cnestis palala, all members of the Connaraceae family. In Singapore, these plants are mainly found in nature reserves.
Host plant #1: Rourea asplenifolia.
Host plant #3: Rourea minor.
Host plant #3: Cnestis palala.
The caterpillars of the Burmese Lascar feed on the mature leaves of the host plants. As in the case of Malayan Lascar, the caterpillars of the Burmese Lascar have the habit of cutting and hanging leaf fragments as part of its feeding routine. In addition, the caterpillars show a preference for leaf fragments which are browning and decaying. Between feeding, caterpillars in early instars have the habit of resting on the exposed midrib or rachis (exposed after the leaflets or leaf fragments have been consumed).
Another mating pair of the Burmese Lascar on the ground in the nature reserve.
A female Burmese Lascar ovipositing an egg at the leaf tip of its host plant.
The eggs of the Burmese Lascar are laid singly at the tip of a leaf or leaflet of the host plant. The eggs are somewhat globular in shape, with surface marked with hexagonal pits and bearing spines at pit corners, giving them the appearance of minute sea-urchins. The micropylar sits atop. Freshly laid eggs are green in colour, but turning pale green and then yellowish green when maturing. Each egg has a diameter of about 1mm
Two views of an egg of the Burmese Lascar.
Two views of a mature egg of the Burmese Lascar.
The egg takes about 3-4 days to hatch. The young caterpillar emerges by eating away part of the egg shell. The rest of the egg shell becomes the first meal for the newly hatched, which has a cylindrical pale yellowish green body covered with many small tubercles and tiny setae. It has a length of about 2.8mm.
A newly hatched caterpillar of the Burmese Lascar, length: 2.8mm.
As the caterpillar grows, the body turns increasingly dark green in base colour, and small tubercles turn yellowish green to whitish in coloration. Three pairs of subdorsal tubercles becomes much larger and prominent on the 2nd and 3rd thoracic segments, and the 8th abdominal segment. After reaching about 5.5mm in 4-5 days, the caterpillar moults to the 2nd instar.
Two views of an early 1st instar caterpillar of the Burmese Lascar, few hours old, length: 3mm.
Two views of a 1st instar caterpillar of the Burmese Lascar, length: 5.2mm.
Two views of a late 1st instar caterpillar of the Burmese Lascar, dormant prior to its moult.
The body color of the 2nd instar caterpillar is dark yellowish green with a faint dorsal band. Besides tiny tubercles covering most of its body surface, the 2nd instar caterpillar also features longer pale brown white-tipped spines on the 2nd and 3rd thoracic segment and the 8th abdominal segment. The head capsule is brownish and dotted with a number of whitish conical tubercles with a longer and more pointed apical pair. This instar lasts about 4-6 days with the body length reaching about 8.5mm.
Two views of a 2nd instar caterpillar of the Burmese Lascar, early in this stage, length: 5.8mm.
Two views of a 2nd instar caterpillar of the Burmese Lascar, late in this stage, length: 8.4mm.
Two views of a 2nd instar caterpillar, late in this stage, dormant prior to its moult.
The 3rd instar caterpillar has similar body markings as the 2nd instar with the following changes: The subdorsal spines are much longer and featuring prominent branches, with the pair on the 3rd thoracic segment much longer and the pair on the 2nd thorax no longer present. Its head capsule is longer vertically, featuring dark lateral and median stripes with the earlier apical spines now longer, more pointed and black on the front surface. The dorsum on the thorax and the sides of the 6th-8th abdominal segments are shaded in light to dark brown. A number of small white dorsal spots also gain prominence starting from this instar. This instar takes about 5-7 days to complete with body length reaching about 12mm.
Two views of a 3rd instar caterpillar of the Burmese Lascar, early in this stage, length: 8mm.
Two views of a 3rd instar caterpillar of the Burmese Lascar, length: 10mm.
A 3rd instar caterpillar of the Burmese Lascar feeding on a leaflet of the host plant.
Two views of a late 3rd instar caterpillar of the Burmese Lascar, dormant prior to its moult, length: 12mm.
The 4th instar caterpillar resembles the 3rd instar caterpillar closely. Laterally the dorsal band gains greater contrast with an increase in dark brown coloration on the lower portion of the posterior segments. On the side of the 5th abdominal segment, a large black spot is now prominently featured. On the head capsule, tiny circular pits dot the frontal surface. This instar lasts 5-7 days with body length reaching about 15-17mm. In the last 1-2 days of this instar, the dorsum of posterior segments becomes paler brown to milky brown.
Two views of a newly moulted 4th instar caterpillar of the Burmese Lascar.
Two views of a 4th instar caterpillar of the Burmese Lascar, length: 13mm.
Two views of a late 4th instar caterpillar of the Burmese Lascar, length: 16mm.
Two views of a late 4th instar caterpillar of the Burmese Lascar, dormant prior to its moult.
The 5th instar caterpillar is little changed from the late 4th instar caterpillar in most body markings and features. The 3rd thoracic spines are now proportionately longer and forward pointing. The dorsal band on the abdominal segments take on a striking appearance with pale brown to milky brown coloration on the posterior segments. Towards the end of this final instar, this color changes to the pale green to lemon green.
Two views of a new moulted 5th instar caterpillar of the Burmese Lascar.
Two views of an early 5th instar caterpillar of the Burmese Lascar.
Two views of a 5th instar caterpillar of the Burmese Lascar, length: 17mm.
Two views of a 5th instar caterpillar of the Burmese Lascar, length: 23mm.
A 5th instar caterpillar of the Burmese Lascar feeding on a leaflet of the host plant.
Two views of a late 5th instar caterpillar of the Burmese Lascar, length: 22mm.
The 5th instar lasts for about 9-10 days, and the body length reaches up to 23mm. On the last day, the color of the body changes to pale/pinkish brown. The caterpillar ceases feeding and wanders around. Eventually it comes to a halt on the underside of a stem or rachis where the caterpillar spins a silk mound from which it soon hangs vertically to take on the pre-pupatory pose.
A 5th instar caterpillar found feeding on a leaf in the field.
A pre-pupa of the Burmese Lascar.
Pupation takes place 0.5-1 day later. The pupa suspends itself via a cremastral attachment to the silk mound with no supporting silk girdle. It is almost entirely pale brown in color. The abdominal segments are slender. The thoracic portion being larger with wing cases dilated laterally. The dorsum of the thorax is angular and has a pair of small golden protrusions. The head is bluntly cleft at its front edge with small pointed lateral vertices. Length of pupae: 12-13mm.
Three views of a pupa of the Burmese Lascar.
After about 6 days of development, the pupal turns dark as the development within the pupal case comes to an end. The spots and streak on the forewing upperside also become discernible. The following day, the adult butterfly emerges from the pupal case.
Three views of a mature pupa. White markings on the forewings are now visible.
The eclosion event of a male Burmese Lascar.
A newly eclosed male Burmese Lascar resting on the pupal case.
A newly eclosed female Burmese Lascar resting on the pupal case.
References:
Genus: Lasippa Moore, 1898
Species: heliodore Fabricius, 1787
Subspecies: dorelia Butler, 1879
Wingspan of Adult Butterfly: 20-25mm
Caterpillar Local Host Plants: Rourea asplenifolia (Connaraceae), Rourea minor (Connaraceae), Cnestis palala (Connaraceae).
Physical Description of Adult Butterfly:
The adult has vein 10 rising from the cell on the forewing. Above, the wings are black with orange bands and spots/patches arranged in the usual manner for Lasippa spp. In the forewing cell streak, a small 'tongue'-like spot is well-formed and separated from the main band. On both wings, a thin orange marginal line can be found on both wings. On the forewing, a series of orange submarginal spots is featured. In the male, the submarginal spot 3 is about the same width as submarginal spot 4, but in the female, the submarginal spot 3 is 1.5X wider than submarginal spot 4. Underneath, the wings are marked similarly as on the upperside but with the orange bands/streaks broader and in a much paler shade of yellowish orange.
Field Observations of Butterfly Behaviour:
This species is moderately rare in Singapore and it is only found in the nature reserves where the host plants are widespread. The adults are weak flyer and are often observed flying in a gliding manner. They have been observed to puddle on wet grounds and to visit flowers for nectary intakes.
Early Stages:
The recorded local host plants are Rourea asplenifolia, Rourea minor and Cnestis palala, all members of the Connaraceae family. In Singapore, these plants are mainly found in nature reserves.
The caterpillars of the Burmese Lascar feed on the mature leaves of the host plants. As in the case of Malayan Lascar, the caterpillars of the Burmese Lascar have the habit of cutting and hanging leaf fragments as part of its feeding routine. In addition, the caterpillars show a preference for leaf fragments which are browning and decaying. Between feeding, caterpillars in early instars have the habit of resting on the exposed midrib or rachis (exposed after the leaflets or leaf fragments have been consumed).
The eggs of the Burmese Lascar are laid singly at the tip of a leaf or leaflet of the host plant. The eggs are somewhat globular in shape, with surface marked with hexagonal pits and bearing spines at pit corners, giving them the appearance of minute sea-urchins. The micropylar sits atop. Freshly laid eggs are green in colour, but turning pale green and then yellowish green when maturing. Each egg has a diameter of about 1mm
The egg takes about 3-4 days to hatch. The young caterpillar emerges by eating away part of the egg shell. The rest of the egg shell becomes the first meal for the newly hatched, which has a cylindrical pale yellowish green body covered with many small tubercles and tiny setae. It has a length of about 2.8mm.
As the caterpillar grows, the body turns increasingly dark green in base colour, and small tubercles turn yellowish green to whitish in coloration. Three pairs of subdorsal tubercles becomes much larger and prominent on the 2nd and 3rd thoracic segments, and the 8th abdominal segment. After reaching about 5.5mm in 4-5 days, the caterpillar moults to the 2nd instar.
The body color of the 2nd instar caterpillar is dark yellowish green with a faint dorsal band. Besides tiny tubercles covering most of its body surface, the 2nd instar caterpillar also features longer pale brown white-tipped spines on the 2nd and 3rd thoracic segment and the 8th abdominal segment. The head capsule is brownish and dotted with a number of whitish conical tubercles with a longer and more pointed apical pair. This instar lasts about 4-6 days with the body length reaching about 8.5mm.
The 3rd instar caterpillar has similar body markings as the 2nd instar with the following changes: The subdorsal spines are much longer and featuring prominent branches, with the pair on the 3rd thoracic segment much longer and the pair on the 2nd thorax no longer present. Its head capsule is longer vertically, featuring dark lateral and median stripes with the earlier apical spines now longer, more pointed and black on the front surface. The dorsum on the thorax and the sides of the 6th-8th abdominal segments are shaded in light to dark brown. A number of small white dorsal spots also gain prominence starting from this instar. This instar takes about 5-7 days to complete with body length reaching about 12mm.
The 4th instar caterpillar resembles the 3rd instar caterpillar closely. Laterally the dorsal band gains greater contrast with an increase in dark brown coloration on the lower portion of the posterior segments. On the side of the 5th abdominal segment, a large black spot is now prominently featured. On the head capsule, tiny circular pits dot the frontal surface. This instar lasts 5-7 days with body length reaching about 15-17mm. In the last 1-2 days of this instar, the dorsum of posterior segments becomes paler brown to milky brown.
The 5th instar caterpillar is little changed from the late 4th instar caterpillar in most body markings and features. The 3rd thoracic spines are now proportionately longer and forward pointing. The dorsal band on the abdominal segments take on a striking appearance with pale brown to milky brown coloration on the posterior segments. Towards the end of this final instar, this color changes to the pale green to lemon green.
The 5th instar lasts for about 9-10 days, and the body length reaches up to 23mm. On the last day, the color of the body changes to pale/pinkish brown. The caterpillar ceases feeding and wanders around. Eventually it comes to a halt on the underside of a stem or rachis where the caterpillar spins a silk mound from which it soon hangs vertically to take on the pre-pupatory pose.
Pupation takes place 0.5-1 day later. The pupa suspends itself via a cremastral attachment to the silk mound with no supporting silk girdle. It is almost entirely pale brown in color. The abdominal segments are slender. The thoracic portion being larger with wing cases dilated laterally. The dorsum of the thorax is angular and has a pair of small golden protrusions. The head is bluntly cleft at its front edge with small pointed lateral vertices. Length of pupae: 12-13mm.
After about 6 days of development, the pupal turns dark as the development within the pupal case comes to an end. The spots and streak on the forewing upperside also become discernible. The following day, the adult butterfly emerges from the pupal case.
The eclosion event of a male Burmese Lascar.
References:
- [C&P5] The Butterflies of The Malay Peninsula, A.S. Corbet and H.M. Pendlebury, G. and N. van der Poorten (Eds.), 5th Edition, Malayan Nature Society, 2020.
- Butterflies of Thailand, Pisuth Ek-Amnuay, 2nd Edition, 2012.
- A Field Guide to the Butterflies of Singapore, Khew S.K., Ink On Paper Communications, 2nd Edition, 2015.
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