South china bushbrown
This forest butterfly flies low and briefly among shaded undergrowth, then all but vanishes into leaf litter the moment it lands.
| Where | Forests and bamboo groves across East Asia |
|---|---|
| Size | 22 to 28 mm forewing length |
| When | January to December |
The South China bushbrown is a plain brown butterfly with a truncated forewing tip, part of a large group of bushbrowns identified mainly by subtle differences in eyespot pattern and wing shape.
Caterpillars feed on grasses in shaded evergreen forest and bamboo groves, and adults fly with a weak, low, erratic flight close to the forest floor.
Traits
Habitat
Woodland
Colour
Brown, Black
Active
Day
To people
Flies low in shaded forest; safe to observe and does not bother people.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Marked with a row of yellow-ringed eyespots on both wings, a pattern much bolder than the plainer, faintly marked wings of the South China bushbrown.
Questions
Is the South china bushbrown dangerous to people?
Flies low in shaded forest; safe to observe and does not bother people.
When can you see the South china bushbrown?
The South china bushbrown can be seen from January to December, by day.
Plate retouched from a museum specimen photo by Swiss Natural History Collections - SwissNatColl, CC BY 4.0, GBIF Licence
Report a mistake in this entry
Butterflies and moths›Brush-footed butterflies›Mycalesis
Last updated 2026-09-27. Every entry is checked against published sources.