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Luminary Oddities · Natural history & art
Cyrestis thyodamas
Lepidoptera / Nymphalidae
Cyrestis thyodamas has pale wings crossed by fine, dark, map-like markings. Hong Kong accounts describe year-round adult occurrence near the ground, while a Taiwanese museum records Ficus ampelas as a larval host of the formosana subspecies.
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Cyrestis thyodamas belongs to Nymphalidae, the brush-footed butterflies. Its common names, map wing and common map, refer to the network of markings across the wings. [2]
The upper wings bear a fine network of dark lines on a pale ground, warmer marginal details and small hindwing projections. [1]
Taiwan’s National Museum of Natural Science records Ficus ampelas leaves as food for larvae of Cyrestis thyodamas formosana. [3]
A complete view shows the pale wing fields and hindwing projections; enlargement reveals the fine dark network and marginal pattern. [1]
The fine wing network lends itself to themes of journeys and connection in the surrounding composition.
Inspect the specimen through the glazing and move the object by its frame. Keep it away from direct sunlight, heat and persistent damp. If wings or fragments become displaced, document the damage and seek advice before opening the enclosure. [4]
The Himalayan publication describes adult morphology and field behaviour. Hong Kong’s parks account records local seasonality and activity, and Taiwan’s museum identifies the larval association with Ficus ampelas. [1][2][3]
G. B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development · Accessed 2026-10-09
Hong Kong Leisure and Cultural Services Department · Accessed 2026-10-09
National Museum of Natural Science, Taiwan · Accessed 2026-10-09
Canadian Conservation Institute · Accessed 2026-10-09
Smithsonian Gardens · Accessed 2026-10-09
Framed and digital artworks featuring this species. Current options and prices are listed on Etsy.
Sources checked 2026-10-09. Illustrations · Luminary Oddities.
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