(Photo by Chien C. Lee)
Contributing Writer: Elwa Gloria Justin
In conjunction with World Butterfly Day, let’s talk about butterflies in Sabah. It is easy to be captivated by butterflies here. Along forest trails, near riverbanks, or even in a quiet village garden, flashes of colour often drift through the air. Borneo is known as one of the world’s great biodiversity hotspots, and butterflies are a shining example of this abundance. Scientists estimate that around 940 butterfly species live across the island, with about 81 species of them endemic to Borneo!
The rare, endemic Kinabalu Birdwing (Troides andromache), also called Kalibambang Emas (Golden Birdwing) is Sabah’s state butterfly. Known for its large size, striking black and yellow/green/grey patterns, and rare habitat in high-altitude montane forests around Mt. Kinabalu and the Crocker Range, it symbolises Sabah’s rich biodiversity.
Fun Facts about Butterflies
Here are some interesting facts about butterflies:
- The largest butterflies in Sabah are Golden Birdwing (Triodes andromache) and Rajah Brooke’s Birdwing (Trogonoptera brookiana), with a forewing of 8.5cm (3.35 inches) in length.
- The smallest butterfly in Sabah is the Lesser Grass Blue (Zizina otis), with a wingspan of only 1.5cm.
- Butterflies smell with their feet, which have taste receptors to help them locate food.
- Nymphalidae is one of the largest butterfly families and there are 136 species found in Borneo.
- Male and female butterflies are best distinguished by color vibrancy, size, and wing markings, with males often being smaller and more colorful, while females are larger with duller, camouflaged wings.
- Male butterflies are often seen gathering around mud puddles to seek minerals.
Where to watch butterflies in Sabah?
Typically, you may see a wide variety of wild butterflies in forests and in a garden full of blooming flowers. Kinabalu National Park (625 species), Crocker Range Park, Poring Hot Springs, and Tun Fuad Stephen Park (Bukit Padang) are some of the places you can visit these butterflies. Side note, butterflies are more active when there is sunlight; around 9am to 3pm during sunny days would be the perfect time to spot them.
Other locations around Sabah include the Kipandi Butterfly Park in Tambunan, Tawau Hills Park and Rainforest Discovery Center in Sandakan.
If you can’t visit any of the places, why not invite these beautiful creatures into your garden? You can plant any nectaring flowers such as Ixora flowers, hibiscus, white butterfly bush (Clerodendrum calamitosum) as well as lianas (Morning glory etc.). Include host plants where females can lay eggs to support the full butterfly lifecycle!
