Autumn Leaf (Doleschallia bisaltide)

OTHER NAMES: Leafwing

Latin Etymology: Doleschallia (?) bisaltide (?)

Adult Autumn Leaf (subspecies D. b. pratipa) at Genting Highlands, Malaysia - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Doleschallia bisaltide pratipa
Wingspan: 60-70mm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A large butterfly found in South-East Asia and Australasia, their food plant of choice include jackfruit, breadfruit and wild petunias.  Their wings have evolved to resemble leaves when closed to protect them from predators, even down to a stripe designed to mimick the central veign of a leaf.  They rarely show their upper wings when rested, although they are bright orange and black.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera 
Family: Nymphalidae 
Genus: Doleschallia
SUBSPECIES: D. b. andamanensis, D. b. apameia, D. b. australis, D. b. bougainvillensis, D. b. cethega, D. b. ceylonica, D. b. continentalis, D. b. denisi, D. b. gurelca, D. b. herrichi, D. b. indica, D. b. karabachica, D. b. malabarica, D. b. menexema, D. b. merguiana, D. b. montrouzieri, D. b. nasica, D. b. nigromarginata, D. b. tualensis, D. b. philippensis, D. b. pratipa, D. b. rennellensis, D. b. scapus, D. b. sciron, D. b. tenimberensis, D. b. tualensis

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - A widespread but local resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Several seen at Genting Highlands

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto