Malayan
In flight this tiny butterfly is easily mistaken for a completely different species, the Quaker, even though the two belong to separate butterfly families entirely.
| Where | Forest edges across South and East Asia |
|---|---|
| Size | 9 to 14 mm forewing length |
| When | March to December |
The Malayan is a small, dark brown butterfly with a white discal patch on each wing, more prominent in females, and a grey white underside. Forewing length measures about 9 to 14 mm. Dry season adults show an extra large white patch on the forewing that is absent in the wet season form.
Caterpillars feed on the flowers, buds and young shoots of soapberry and buckthorn family shrubs, and adults fly low and weakly along forest edges and clearings, visiting damp ground and animal droppings.
Traits
Habitat
Woodland
Colour
Brown, White
Active
Day
To people
Small and weak flying; not reported to bite or sting.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Belongs to a different butterfly family and is white with grey brown wing borders rather than dark brown, but is easily mistaken for the Malayan in flight.
Questions
Is the Malayan dangerous to people?
Small and weak flying; not reported to bite or sting.
When can you see the Malayan?
The Malayan can be seen from March to December, by day.
Plate retouched from a museum specimen photo by Swiss Natural History Collections - SwissNatColl, CC BY 4.0, GBIF Licence
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Butterflies and moths›Blues and coppers›Megisba
Last updated 2026-09-27. Every entry is checked against published sources.