Butterflies of
Malaysia and Borneo
Wavy-line Glory
Melanocyma faunula
WESTWOOD, 1858
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
MORPHINAE
Tribe - AMATHUSIINI
introduction
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habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
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Melanocyma faunula
faunula, Bukit Tapah, West Malaysia |
Introduction
In
the Oriental and Australian regions, the subfamily Morphinae, ( which includes
the brilliant blue Morphos and giant Owl butterflies of the neotropics ) is
represented by the tribe Amathusiini - which also includes the genera Faunis, Taenaris, Amathusia, Thauria, Zeuxidia, Amathuxidia, Thaumantis, Discophora
and Enispe.
The
genus Melanocyma
includes just a single instantly recognisable species - faunula.
It is a fairly large insect, with a wingspan of about 9cms.
The
butterfly occurs in Burma, Thailand and peninsular Malaysia.
Habitats
This species breeds in primary rainforest at altitudes between about 100-1000m.
Lifecycle
There does not appear to be any published data regarding the
early stages of this species, but the following generalisations apply to the
tribe Amathusiini, and are probably applicable :
The
eggs are laid in clusters on the foodplants, which according to species may be
palms, banana, bamboo, sugar cane, ginger or other monocotyledons.
The
caterpillars are typically cylindrical and covered in fine dense hairs ( setae
). There are tufts of longer hair along the back, and on the thorax. The tail
end bears a pair of prominent caudal forks, used to flick droppings away from
the feeding site. When young the caterpillars feed gregariously, and if alarmed
raise their foreparts to expose a gland from which noxious anti-predator
pheromones are disseminated.
The
chrysalis is smooth, and shaped like a plump banana, and is suspended by the
cremaster from woody stems.
Adult behaviour
The butterflies are always encountered singly, and usually seen
flying around forest edge habitats or sunny glades. They have a
slowish wing beat, but fly rapidly over short distances, nearly
always settling on the foliage of trees at heights of between 4 -
8m above ground level. Males show territorial tendencies, and are
very reluctant to leave the vicinity of favoured trees.
NB :
this species is wrongly captioned as
Taenaris horsfieldii in "Butterflies of the Malay
Peninsula" by Corbet & Pendlebury ( 1992 ), plate 18.
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