Red Lacewing Butterfly

By Charlie • June 20, 2008 • 2 comments

When I was not revelling in numerous species of terns yesterday (June 19th) I spent a happy hour on Po Toi trying to photograph some of the island’s stunning butterflies. One in particular I spent a while trying to sneak up on was the large, bright, and very active Red Lacewing Cethosia biblis: I’m glad I did, because I managed to get a few photos that almost do justice to this gorgeous insect.

The Red Lacewing is found from India to the Phillipines, and is a member of the Heliconiinae, a subfamily of the butterfly family Nymphalidae. It’s colloquially named - rather self-evidently - for the exquisite, ‘lace-like’ patterning on the underwings - which are much easier to see than the vivid red upperwings that the butterfly only seems willing to show off occasionally!

red lacewing Cethosia biblis

• Tags: Bugs, butterflies, feature, features, hong kong, insects

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About the Author

Charlie

Charlie works for an airline and has birded all over the world for twenty years. He wants to be a writer, and thinks no-one would believe his life could be so charmed if he didn't take photos of as many of the birds he sees as possible. Blogging with 10,000 Birds fits his aims, needs, and insecurities perfectly. Really - do birders get much more fortunate than this?

2 Responses to “Red Lacewing Butterfly”

Klaus Jun 20th, 2008 at 11:15 am

Pretty neat! Good detail and this is a very attractive Butterfly. Good shot!
Cheers, Klaus
mon@rch Jun 20th, 2008 at 3:59 pm

Awesome butterfly and stunning photos!