I’ve been toying with the idea of a series of signet butterflies for some time now. This is the first, and largest, of the lot. It is basically the wing patterns of a butterfly without the rest of the insect’s body. This particular one is the common tree nymph (Idea stolli), a fairly common species in the rainforests and cloud forests of SE Asia. It is a large butterfly with a wingspan of almost seven inches. Females are larger than males. The natural markings are black against white or pale gray wings and body, so I have obviously taken some artistic license with the color. They are slow fliers, which make them relatively easy to photograph. This odd behavior (along with their striking coloration) helps to advertise that they are toxic to predators. Their caterpillars feed on plants of the genus Agonosma, from which they acquire toxins that protect them throughout their lives. Butterflies of this genus are sometimes seen in butterfly zoos.
