Clipper Butterfly - Parthenos sylvia
Variable in colour with the background colour ranging from blue to orange or green. Found from India and Sri Lanka through Malaysia to Papua New Guinea. These butterflies can often be seen flying through the tropical forests along rivers and streams. The genus name Parthenos is Greek for virgin and the specie name Sylvia means 'wood or forest'. The common name Clipper comes from an allusion to the species white wing patches that are said to look like the multiple billowing sails on the mighty sailing trade ships of Cramer's day. All butterflies have six legs but some may appear to look like that they only have four when in fact the last set of legs are tucked up high on the butterflies thorax as seen here.
Clipper Butterfly - Parthenos sylvia
Variable in colour with the background colour ranging from blue to orange or green. Found from India and Sri Lanka through Malaysia to Papua New Guinea. These butterflies can often be seen flying through the tropical forests along rivers and streams. The genus name Parthenos is Greek for virgin and the specie name Sylvia means 'wood or forest'. The common name Clipper comes from an allusion to the species white wing patches that are said to look like the multiple billowing sails on the mighty sailing trade ships of Cramer's day. All butterflies have six legs but some may appear to look like that they only have four when in fact the last set of legs are tucked up high on the butterflies thorax as seen here.