The Malay Lacewing Butterfly

The Malay Lacewing (Chetosia hypsea) is one of the most vibrant butterflies in the Ubud jungle. Its fiery orange-red wings, framed by a delicate, lace-like border of black and white, are impossible to miss. This striking pattern is not for show; it is a warning. The Malay Lacewing is poisonous, a fact it advertises to predators with its brilliant colors.

This butterfly's life is intricately tied to our local ecosystem. Its caterpillars, which are a deep wine-red with long spines, feed on plants from the passionflower family (Passifloraceae), particularly Adenia vines.

As part of our farm-to-table philosophy, we cultivate native passionfruit, and our organic garden’s wild edges are allowed to flourish, providing a perfect habitat for these host plants. Seeing a Malay Lacewing float by is a potent reminder that even the most delicate-looking creatures possess a powerful, hidden strength, and that a healthy garden is one that feeds both its guests and its wild inhabitants.