Wavy Maplet (Chersonesia rahria)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Chersonesia (?) rahria (?)

Adult Wavy Maplet (subspecies C. r. rahria) at Batu Caves, Malaysia - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Chersonesia rahria rahria
Wingspan: 30-40mm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The Wavy Maplet is a fairly small species of butterfly endemic to South East Asia.  It is a native of rainforest and specifically of the climbing fig species Ficus aurantiacea on which it lays it's eggs. These butterflies pick several favoured spots to rest in and will move between them, but doesn't move far from them.  As adults they do not take sustenance from flowers, and apparently feed on minerals taken from surfaces.

Related Species: 
Order: Lepidoptera 
Family: Nymphalidae 
Genus: Chersonesia
SUBSPECIES: C. r. rahria, C. r. tiomana, C. r. apicusta, C. r. sanna, C. r. celebensis, C. r. mangolina, C. r. banggaina

- Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - A common resident

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: One seen in Kuala Lumpur

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