Butterflies of Borneo; sightings from Sabah and
Sarawak in Malaysia.
Started in June 2019, this gallery shows butterfly observations with photos all made on B2A trips in Borneo. I hope to keep adding new species to this page. It already includes some iconic and rare Bornean endemic species as Kinabalu Jezebel, Bornean Satyr, Tufted Jungle King, Kinabalu Ringlet, Kinabalu Swordtail, Bornean Birdwing... Sites visited so far include Kubah NP, Similajau NP and Lambir Hills (all in Sarawak), then Mahua Waterfall, Keningau Crocker Range, Mount Silam (near Danum Valley), Tabin WS and Tawau Hills NP in Sabah in addition to the regular sites visited on our Sabah birding tour. (Rafflesia Crocker Range, Mount Kinabalu, Poring Hot Springs, Sepilok and the Kinabatangan River.)
The next trip with some butterfly watching opportunities will be on a family trip in December 2019 visiting sites near Kota Kinabalu + Borneo Highlands in Sarawak. Sure I'll find some extra beauties!
Kinabalu Swordtail (Pathysa stratiotes)
[rare Borneo endemic]
Mahua Waterfall in the Crocker Range NP, Oct 2019
Mahua Waterfall in the Crocker Range NP, Oct 2019
Bornean Birdwing (Troides andromache)
[rare Borneo endemic]
Mount Kinabalu National Park, November 2019
Mount Kinabalu National Park, November 2019
Bornean Jezebel (Delias eumolpe)
[scarce Bornean endemic]
Kundasang - Sabah - Sept 2019
Kundasang - Sabah - Sept 2019
Bornean Jezebel (Delias eumolpe)
Kundasang - Sabah - Sept 2019
Kundasang - Sabah - Sept 2019
Rajah Brooke's Birdwing (Trogonoptera
brookiana)
Tawau Hills NP, November 2019
Tawau Hills NP, November 2019
Rajah Brooke's Birdwing [Malaysia's
National Butterfly]
Tawau Hills Park, Nov 2019
Tawau Hills Park, Nov 2019
Bornean Oakleaf (Kallima buxtoni)
Mahua Waterfall, Crocker Range NP, Oct 2019
Mahua Waterfall, Crocker Range NP, Oct 2019
Bornean Oakleaf
Mahua Waterfall, Oct 2019
Mahua Waterfall, Oct 2019
Banded Angle (Odontoptilum pygela)
Kinabatangan River (Bilit) November 2019
Kinabatangan River (Bilit) November 2019
Banded Blue Pierrot (Discolampa ethion)
Mahua Waterfall - Crocker Range, October 2019
Mahua Waterfall - Crocker Range, October 2019
Drina mariae [rare Borneo endemic]
Lambir Hills in Sarawak, Oct 2019
Lambir Hills in Sarawak, Oct 2019
Malay Red Harlequin (Paralaxita
damajanti)
Similajau NP, Bintulu-Sarawak, August 2019
Similajau NP, Bintulu-Sarawak, August 2019
Kinabalu Ringlet (Ragadia annulata)
[localized Bornean endemic]
Mount Kinabalu, Sept 2019
Mount Kinabalu, Sept 2019
Bornean Satyr (Ptychandra talboti)
[rare Borneo endemic]
Gunung Alab - Crocker Range in Sabah, October 2019
Gunung Alab - Crocker Range in Sabah, October 2019
Arhopala borneensis TBC (scarce Bornean
endemic)
Similajau NP (near Bintulu -Sarawak), August 2019
Similajau NP (near Bintulu -Sarawak), August 2019
Bamboo Treebrown (Lethe europa)
Poring Hot Springs in Sabah, Sept 2019
Poring Hot Springs in Sabah, Sept 2019
Angled Sulfur (Dercas gobrias)
Tawau Hills Park -Sabah, Nov 2019
Tawau Hills Park -Sabah, Nov 2019
Arhopala achelous (a scarce Oakblue
species)
Similajau National Park -Sarawak, August 2019
Similajau National Park -Sarawak, August 2019
Malayan Lascar (Lasippa tiga)
Gomantong, July 2019
Gomantong, July 2019
Kinabalu White-banded Count (Tanaecia
amisa) [Borneo endemic]
Mount Kinabalu, June 2019
Mount Kinabalu, June 2019
Common Dartlet (Oriens gola)
Gomantong, July 2019
Gomantong, July 2019
Common Posy (Drupadia ravindra moorei)
Tabin WS, July 2019
Tabin WS, July 2019
Dark (Chocolate) Jungleglory
(Thaumantis noureddin)
Sepilok, June 2019
Sepilok, June 2019
Lesser (Blue) Jay (Graphium evemon)
Gomantong, July 2019
Gomantong, July 2019
Horsfield's Baron (Tanaecia iapis) or
if split becomes
Tanaecia (Cynitia) cocytina - Kubah NP, June 2019
Tanaecia (Cynitia) cocytina - Kubah NP, June 2019
Horsfield's Bushbrown (Mycalesis
horsfieldi)
Sepilok, June 2019
Sepilok, June 2019
Lance Sergeant (Athyma pravara)
Gomantong, July 2019
Gomantong, July 2019
Tailless (Small Purple) Line Blue
(Prosotas dubiosa)
Kubah NP (Kuching-Sarawak), June 2019
Kubah NP (Kuching-Sarawak), June 2019
Bornean Sapphire (Heliophorus kiana)
[endemic]
Crocker Range NP, June 2019
Crocker Range NP, June 2019
Common Baron (Euthalia aconthea)
Sepilok, June 2019
Sepilok, June 2019
Big-eyed Jungle Lady (Taenaris
horsfieldii occulta)
Mount Kinabalu, Sabah, June 2019
Mount Kinabalu, Sabah, June 2019
Black-tipped Archduke (Lexias dirtea)
Mount Kinabalu, June 2019
Mount Kinabalu, June 2019
Blue Pansy (Junonia orithya)
Sepilok, June 2019
Sepilok, June 2019
Brown Pansy (Junonia hedonia)
Poring Hot Springs, June 2019
Poring Hot Springs, June 2019
Clipper (Parthenos Sylvia)
Gomantong Caves road, July 2019
Gomantong Caves road, July 2019
Commander (Moduza procris agnata)
Tabin Wildlife Resort, July 2019
Tabin Wildlife Resort, July 2019
Common Imperial (Cheritra freja)
Poring Hot Springs, June 2019
Poring Hot Springs, June 2019
Common Nawab (Polyura athamas)
Gomantong Caves entrance road, July 2019
Gomantong Caves entrance road, July 2019
Common Palmfly (Elymnias hypermnestra)
Kuching, June 2019
Kuching, June 2019
Pygmy Posy (Drupadia rufotaenia)
Tabin Wildlife Reserve, July 2019
Tabin Wildlife Reserve, July 2019
Common Tiger (Danaus genutia)
Tabin Wildlife Resort, July 2019
Tabin Wildlife Resort, July 2019
Dark Blue Glassy Tiger (Ideopsis
vulgaris)
Sepilok, Sabah, June 2019
Sepilok, Sabah, June 2019
Elbowed Pierrot (Pycnophallium elna)
Tabin Wildlife Sanctuary, July 2019
Tabin Wildlife Sanctuary, July 2019
Mycalesis pitana [Bornean endemic]
Mount Kinabalu NP, June 2019
Mount Kinabalu NP, June 2019
Great Eggfly (Hypolimnas bolina)
Tabin Wildlife Reserve, July 2019
Tabin Wildlife Reserve, July 2019
Great Marquis (Bassarona dunya)
Kubah NP, Sarawak, June 2019
Kubah NP, Sarawak, June 2019
Green Dragontail (Lamproptera meges)
Tabin WS, July 2019
Tabin WS, July 2019
Grey Pansy (Junonia atlites)
Tabin, July 2019
Tabin, July 2019
Kinabalu Jezebel (Delias cinerascens)
[scarce localized endemic]
Mount Kinabalu, June 2019
Mount Kinabalu, June 2019
Large Metallic Oakblue (Arhopala
aedias)
Kubah National Park, June 2019
Kubah National Park, June 2019
Lemon Emigrant (Catopsilia pomona)
Tabin, July 2019
Tabin, July 2019
Lesser Striped Black Crow (Euploea
eyndhovii)
Tabin, July 2019
Tabin, July 2019
Lethe darena (Pearl Eye species)
Mount Kinabalu, June 2019
Mount Kinabalu, June 2019
Malay Yeoman (Cirrochroa emalea)
Tabin Wildlife Resort, July 2019
Tabin Wildlife Resort, July 2019
Malayan Birdwing (Troides amphrysus)
Gomantong Caves, July 2019
Gomantong Caves, July 2019
Malayan Bush Brown (Mycalesis fusca
adustata)
Sepilok Forest Reserve, July 2019
Sepilok Forest Reserve, July 2019
Malayan Cruiser (Vindula dejone)
Kubah NP, June 2019
Kubah NP, June 2019
Malayan Fivering (Ypthima horsfieldii)
Tabin, July 2019
Tabin, July 2019
Malayan Jungle Glory (Thaumantis odana)
Sepilok, June 2019
Sepilok, June 2019
Malayan Owl (Neorina lowii)
Sepilok, June 2019
Sepilok, June 2019
Malayan Ringlet (Ragadia makuta
siponta)
Poring Hot Springs, June 2019
Poring Hot Springs, June 2019
White-beaked Sunbeam (Curetis felderi)
Tabin, July 2019
Tabin, July 2019
Malay Lacewing (Cethosia hypsea)
Mount Kinabalu, June 2019
Mount Kinabalu, June 2019
Rustic (Cupha erymanthis)
Tabin, July 2019
Tabin, July 2019
Short-banded Viscount (Tanaecia aruna)
Kubah NP, June 2019
Kubah NP, June 2019
Silver Forget-me-not (Catochrysops
panormus)
Gomantong, July 2019
Gomantong, July 2019
Spotted Grass Dart (Taractrocera
ardonia sumatrensis)
Tabin WS, July 2019
Tabin WS, July 2019
Spotted Palm Judy (Abisara geza)
Tabin, July 2019
Tabin, July 2019
Striped Blue Crow (Euploea mulciber)
Tabin, July 2019
Tabin, July 2019
Sulphur Flash (Rapala domitia albapex)
[Borneo endemic spp]
Tabin, July 2019
Tabin, July 2019
Tree Nymph (Idea lynceus lynceus)
Tabin, July 2019
Tabin, July 2019
Tree Yellow (Gandaca harina)
Kubah, June 2019
Kubah, June 2019
Tufted Jungle King (Thauria aliris)
Kubah NP, Sarawak, June 2019
Kubah NP, Sarawak, June 2019
Vagrant (Vagrans sinha )
Gomantong road, July 2019
Gomantong road, July 2019
Wavy Maplet (Chersonesia rahria)
Kubah, June 2019
Kubah, June 2019
White Ciliate Blue (Anthene licates)
Tabin, July 2019
Tabin, July 2019
White Dragontail (Lamproptera curius)
Gomantong, July 2019
Gomantong, July 2019
Ragadia annulata (Kinabalu Ringlet)
[Bornean endemic]
Mount Kinabalu, June 2019
Mount Kinabalu, June 2019
Great Jay (Graphium eurypylus)
Gomantong, August 2018
Gomantong, August 2018
Common Red Harlequin (Paralaxita
telesia)
Sepilok, July 2018
Sepilok, July 2018
Himalayan Jester (Symbrenthia hypselis)
Mount Kinabalu, June 2018
Mount Kinabalu, June 2018
Yellow-banded Yeoman (Cirrochroa
orissa)
Sepilok, July 2018
Sepilok, July 2018
All photos from this page are also contributed as observations on iNaturalist.org
You may note my observations page on iNaturalist actually contains my full updated collection of 150+ species.
Note; Kinabalu Jezebel, Kinabalu Ringlet - Ragadia annulata, White Ciliate Blue, Medium-branded Royal, Perak Palm King, Orange-banded Lancer, Dull White Palmer, Blue Gem and Arhopala agesias were first observations ever for those species on iNaturalist. A further 18 species were first posted for Borneo. If anything it's been a rewarding journey full of beauties and my explorations also produced a few extreme rarities that only ever have been photographed alive a very few times; Kinabalu Jezebel (Delias cinerascens), Bornean Satyr (Ptychandra talboti), Drina mariae, Bornean Jezebel (Delias eumolpe) and Arhopala borneensis are the ones to go for!
Hope this page
may help with the education, identification, appreciation,
conservation and research efforts of the butterfly fauna
on Borneo.
Note all photographs were obtained using 300 and 500mm lenses, no butterfly ever was caught, touched or disturbed.
Note all photographs were obtained using 300 and 500mm lenses, no butterfly ever was caught, touched or disturbed.