Do adult butterflies actually produce silk? Yes they do !

That's the question which I often keen to find out. Until recently I was often been informed that only butterfly caterpillars do produced silk. However, a recent research by Mengyou Lu et al. (July 2024) has finally able to determined that adult butterflies actually do produce silk to attach their pupae to trees. Here's an abstract of their research findings:

"In the present study, we observed two primary methods used by butterflies to hang pupae on trees using silk: pupa adheraena (Danaus chrysippus) and pupa contigua (Papilio polytes). Anchoring the abdominal ends of pupae with a silk pad was the most common method used in both cases, whereas wrapping silk around the body using a silk girdle was a method unique to pupa contigua. The connection between the cremaster and silk pad was observed to be similar to that between the hook and loop of a Velcro fastener, except that the cremaster hook is anchor-shaped rather than being a single hook. Such a connection will remain secure, ensuring the safety of the pupae during exposure to wind and rain. Through determining the mechanical properties of silk, the performance of butterfly silk was found to be weaker than that of silkworm silk". 

Recently I was able to see and photographed this phenomenon in Thailand. This adult skipper (looks like some Koruthaialos species) was seen spraying a thin layer of silk from underneath its thorax. It would continue to spew the silk for a few seconds then it would stopped. It will then continue the sequence again until it finally stopped totally in less than a minute. Presumably it might have run out of silk.

So happy that I have finally able to document this phenomenon and support the theory that an adult butterfly actually does produce silk. Seeing is believing but photographing it is amazing.

At first, I thought I will just ignore this skipper as it was not in a pristine stage.

Then I noticed that there's something like a "water" like thing spurting out from beneath its thorax.

I thought it might be pulling some spider silk near the leaf.

Later I noticed there are more of this tiny silk like coming out.

Not sure why it was spewing the silk out from its body cause there were no branches nearby.

As the silk travels past its body, it will swerved through the air.

What an amazing phenomenon !

VIVA LA VIDA Butterflies !!

Butterflies in September 2026 - 5 lifers and many photos of other rare species

I am surprised that I have got FIVE lifers this month despite the rainy spell over in this region. Here are the five lifers:

Lifer # 1

Golden Oakblue 

Arhopala phanda phanda

I have always been fascinated with Arhopala species and there are many more subspecies to be discovered from this genus.

Lifer # 2

Distant's Silverstreak 

Iraota distanti distanti

I noticed that some literature have also named it as a Malayan Silverstreak !

Distant's Silverstreak 

Iraota distanti distanti

The above photo was borrowed from Simon who has managed to get its underside while I missed it. With the above sighting, I have now managed to photograph all the three Iraota subspecies which have been recorded in the Peninsular Malaysia ! 😋🙌

Lifer # 3

Yellow-chequered Lancer 

Plastingia pellonia 

I rushed this shot as it was skittish. Hopefully I will get a better of it the next time.

Lifer # 4

Overlapped Ace 

Halpe arcuata 

Happy to get this rare skipper. It was shot in Bukit Tinggi.

Lifer # 5

Purplish-gray Darter 

Salanoemia fuscicornis

I didn't see any purplish colour but the markings are there to confirmed this subspecies.

Purplish-gray Darter 

Salanoemia fuscicornis

Same individual but this photo was taken with a flash light. It is actually quite small (the size of the tip of your little finger)

After seeing the above lifers, now we moved to other "common" butterflies.

Lesser Harlequin 

Laxita thuisto thuisto

C&P 5 book has described its upperside wings as black but they should probably need to add / amend it as purplish-black as you can see from the above photo.

 

Lesser Harlequin 

Laxita thuisto thuisto

This is one of those prettiest 'Metalmarks' species which you can find in this region.

Glorious Begum

Agatasa calydonia calydonia

Always happy to see this rare and most colourful Begum over here. 

Intricate Jester 

Symbrenthia hypatia chersonesia

Although it's not rare but its quite localised hence it can be difficult to find in many places.

Tree-Nymph

Idea lynceus lynceus

I think this Nymph is more common in the lowlands while the Smaller-Wood Nymph (Ideopsis gaura) occupies the higher locations such as Fraser's, Genting and Bukit Tinggi (i.e from my own observations).

Branded Yamfly 

Yasoda pitane laruta

This is another highland species.

Tiger Palmfly

Elymnias nesaea lioneli  

I have not seen this Palmfly for many years until now.

Tiger Palmfly

Elymnias nesaea lioneli  

This one was seen in Bukit Tinggi, Pahang.

Here are a few more common Oakblues seen.

Dark Bushblue

Arhopala ammonides chunsu

Funny they don't call it an Oakblue somehow.😬

Arhopala stinga

No common name as yet.

Broad Yellow Oakblue 

Arhopala amphimuta amphimuta 

One of the butterfly spotters over here is developing an app just to ID the various Oakblue species in the field. Hopefully it can be ready soon.

Tail Disc Oakblue

Arhopala atosia jahara

Small Tailess Oakblue 

Arhopala antimuta antimuta

I can only named the above as a Rapala species for time being.

Note: My hunch is that it could just be a female Rapala pheretima. It can also perhaps be a Slate Flash (Rapala manea chozeba).

Nowadays there are AI assisted technology everywhere. So I decided to try it.

Four-bar Swordtail

Graphium agetes iponus (Westwood).

Bifid Plush Blue 

Flos diardi capeta

Happy to see this Flos again.

Bamboo Tree Brown

Lethe europa malaya

It was seen at its favourite place - a bamboo scrub. Note: this is a female.

Tawny Rajah 

Charaxes bernadus crepax 

This is also a female and she looked gorgeous with those bold markings. Note her extended cilia / tail.

Dark Blue Tiger

Tirumala septentrionis septentrionis 

It appears like a studio shot but it was actually taken in the forest.

I have received many "likes" from many people for the butterfly photos I have presented but this is the first time I got a thumbs up (👍) from the butterfly itself. 😊

SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT MONTH !

👋