FIRST RECORD AND OCCURRENCE OF ACRAEA TERPSICORE (LINNAEUS, 1758) (LEPIDOPTERA: NYMPHALIDAE) IN MALAYSIAN BORNEO

Abstract

The Tawny Coster, Acraea terpsicore (Linnaeus, 1758)(Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) is recorded from Malaysian Borneo
for the first time based on three specimens collected in
Samarahan, southwestern Sarawak on 15th March 2013.Originally distributed in India and Sri Lanka, A. terpsicore is now
known to have expanded its geographical range southwards to
Southeast Asia and Australia over the last three decades.However, prior to 2013, there was no record of its occurrence onBorneo. Preliminary results of our field tracking and observationsof the species in Malaysian Borneo within the last three yearsindicated that this species has recently become established inwestern Borneo and expanded its area of distribution from
Samarahan 200 km northwards to Sri Aman. Field observations of this butterfly and distribution map of the species on Borneo based on field visits from 2013-2016 are presented. This common Oriental butterfly species may expand its range of distribution further northwards to North Borneo.