Lethe europa malaya (Bamboo Tree Brown)

The Bamboo Tree Brown occurs in lowlands where its preferred host plant, the bamboo, is cultivated.  It is mostly observed during the rainy season months and is most active the early and late hours of the day.  It is occasionally attracted to the lights in houses.  This species is surprisingly rare in Singapore, where only a small number of sightings of the butterfly was recorded over the past decade.  Some areas where it was seen were at the Khatib Bongsu area, at Sime Forest and at the Singapore Botanic Gardens (always not far from where its host plant grows). The butterfly is brown above, with females having a subapical band on the forewing.  The undersides bear a number of cryptic patterns with lilac ocelli on the forewing. The Bamboo Tree Brown flies in the hopping manner quite similar to the related Mycalesis and Orsotriaena species and remains close to the ground.

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