-
In the pantheon of the Negrito, Peninsular Malaysia's original rainforest
people, butterflies occupy a scared niche. Even today, they believe it is
taboo to laugh at butterflies as they may be the spirits of the departed,
and the glorious Rajah Brooke's birdwing, said by some lepidopterists to be
the world's most beautiful specimen, is the earthly form of a great nature
spirit.
With over 1,000 species of butterflies, Malaysia has not only one of the world's most diverse collections, but also some of the most exquisite and spectacular species. There are over 300 types of birdwings and swallowtails - the largest of the planet's butterflies - including the fame Rajah Brooke with its great emerald-and-black-patterned wings, discovered and named by the 19th-century naturalist, Alfred Russel Wallace, afther his Borneo host, Rajah James Brooke.
Belying their fragile and delicate reputation, butterflies are thought to have first appeared around 100 million years ago. One reason for their continue existence is their uncanny ability to adapt to their surroundings, and their ability to mimic other natural forms. Some caterpillars resemble twigs, and others have learnt to feed on poisonous leaves, so that they in turn, become deadly for predators. The predator, though, that this natural evolution didn't take into account, is, of course, collectors.
Objects of great beauty and rarity, butterflies, such as the Common Tiger and the Indian Leaf, are also now seen as playing a vital role in rainforest ecology by assisting in flower pollination
The majority of Malaysia's species are found in the lowland rainforests, but like most occupants of this dense terrain, they are elusive and not easily seen. Under the rainforest canopy, where even at noon the light barely penetrates, the all prevading hues of green appear almost black. Most of the colour is on the sunny tops of tress, "reserved for God's eyes," say the Malaysians. So when a butterfly appears, like the Malay Lacewing, it is all the more special and all the more brilliant because of its sombre surroundings. Name of butterflies reflect this experience, like the Dark Blue Jungle Glory. But some of the rarest of species are the plainest. Charles Shuttleworth, a keen amateur naturalist, tells of spying "some tiny creature of dull colouring and unimposing appearance that is so rare that...it may be a completely new species unknown to science that henceforth will bear one's name. Ah, such complete satisfaction!"
Continue...