Clipper

Brown Clipper: Parthenos sylvia



Distribution: Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo mainly

Wingspan: 100–125mm

Diet: nectar

IUCN red list status: Not evaluated by the IUCN Redlist.



Parthenos genus is divided by three main species: P. sylvia (Brown Clipper), P. tigrina and P. aspila. While P. Sylvia is found in Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra, Philippines, Sulawesi, Java, Bali, Papua New Guinea and Irian Java, P. tigrina and P. aspila are only endemic in Papua New Guinea. They are found mainly in rainforest habitats with evergreen forests, between the sea level and the 300 metres height.

The larva is brownish with white dots and it has a greenish dorsal and lateral stripes. The chrysalis has two different forms: pale green or dark olive, and it gets suspended by the cremaster from beneath a leaf.

As an adult, the clipper has a fast and potent butterfly with periods of gliding and rapid flickering wing beats. When disturbed, the clipper resettles nearby after flies up and circles 3 meters height. It feeds on the nectar of Lantana and other different flowers.

The adult anatomy is characterized by a head, a thorax and an olive green barred abdomen.