Lepidoptera of Tabin Wildlife Reserve
a summary

OVERVIEW – THE BUTTERFLIES & MOTHS
The Bornean butterfly fauna can be divided into five families; Papilionidae, Pieridae, Nymphalidae, Lycaenidae and Hesperiidae. To date approximately 945 species have been listed in Borneo. From this figure, about two thirds of the Bornean butterfly fauna are to be found in the lowland rainforest. Jalil et al. (1999) listed the butterflies collected during the Tabin Scientific Expedition of 1998. They recorded eight families, 125 genera and 242 species. 216 were new records for Tabin.
The extraordinary proportion of new records acquired by Jalil et al indicates the degree to which Tabin further work on Tabin Lepidoptera should yield ample results. During their brief survey they found several species of interest including the stunningly patterned black and yellow Troides miranda miranda and the graceful canopy butterflies Idea stolii and Idea hypermnestra. During the spring of 1999 Kim Aaen and Jakob Damburg of Denmark spent 3 months in Tabin investigating how butterfly diversity was affected by selective logging. They recorded 115 butterfly species belonging to the Papilionidae, Pieridae and Nymphalidae. They found high diversity in good secondary forest and suggested that this phenomenon is relate to the high number of microhabitats associated with such forests. Kim and Jakob have several photographs of Tabin flora and fauna on their Nature Eyes website at http://www.biology.au.dk/~b960887/Tabin/.
The most common butterfly encountered in Tabin was Atrophaneura nox (image right) which was found by Jalil et al at most collecting stations and in a variety of habitats. Many of the samples collected in Tabin have been secured by staff and faculty of the University of Malaysia Sabah (UMS). Samples Lepidoptera and other insects are stored in a state-of-the-art refrigerated facility that has just been completed by the UMS Tropical Biology and Conservation Unit, which is called BORNEENSIS.
The number of Internet links and the large volume of literature concerning Lepidoptera attests to the fact that man has long been fascinated by these beautiful creatures (see Bibliography and Links sections below). Among the most ambitious of works is the twelve-volume opus that comprises “The Moths of Borneo” series by Holloway. This is in the process of being put online at http://www.arbec.com.my/moths.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION ABOUT LEPIDOPTERA
The number of Internet links and the large volume of literature concerning Lepidoptera attests to the fact that man has long been fascinated by these beautiful creatures. Among the most ambitious of works is the twelve-volume opus that comprises “The Moths of Borneo” series by Holloway. This is in the process of being put online at http://www.arbec.com.my/moths.

With respect to butterflies, the introduction by Yong’s (1983) “Malaysian Butterflies; an Introduction” still provides a good overview and new editions or reprints of Morell’s (1991) “Common Malaysian Butterflies” and Fleming’s (1983) “Butterflies of West Malaysia & Singapore” still provide useful guidance for beginning butterfly watchers.

“Butterflies of the Malay Peninsula (Ed. 4)” by Corbet & Pendlebury (1992) is still the standard reference on the subject. The two volume “Butterflies of Borneo” by Seki et al (1991) and Maruyama et al (1991) is written in a mix of Japanese and English but has have many colour plates.

There is considerable access to butterfly material through Internet sources. Some of the more prominent butterfly sites relevant to Borneo include “Butterflies of Borneo”, “Butterflies of Singapore” and “Association for Tropical Lepidoptera”. More comprehensive global sites include “The Butterfly Website” and that site can link the interested surfer to the rest of the Lepidoptera Web.

Butterflies and moth enthusiasts compare the thrill of the chase and the exhilaration of discovery with the enjoyment realised by bird watchers. Even a rank amateur can readily see Lepidoptera in Tabin so take some time to pause an watch these fascinating creatures. Who knows? Perhaps you have the heart of a butterfly watcher.

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