The Clipper, Parthenos sylvia
The Clipper occurs in a wide distribution across South and Southeast Asia. The dorsal wing surface is mainly black, with distinctive stripes crossing over the body and streaks along the bottom hindwing edges. The forewings contain a row of large, white cells, while fewer and smaller white spots are found on the upper edge of the hindwing. Towards the body, the wing colour depends on the form: Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory exhibits both a blue and brown Clipper colour form.
Clippers are found in rainforests, often near rivers. They have a shallow and rapid flight that alternates with periods of gliding. Clipper caterpillars are reddish-brown speckled with white, and each body segment has four purplish-red spines. Pupation occurs in light green to olive chrysalids hung from the underside of leaves. Caterpillars feed on Passionflowers (Adenia sp.) and herbaceous vines (Tinospora sp.), whereas adults nectar from Verbena (Lantana sp.) and other flowers.