Tiger palmfly

On a green leaf that was beginning to age, a butterfly sat with very simple colors, yet it carried a profound natural story. At first, I didn't think it was a butterfly standing on the leaf, as its colors closely resembled those of decaying fallen leaves. But fortunately, it flapped its wings once, which made me realize it was a living creature, not a dry leaf. Perhaps it was signaling me to approach it. Nature truly is extraordinary.

From a distance, it looked simple, but up close, it left me speechless. The butterfly's wings were incredibly beautiful: black, gray, and brown intertwined, blending perfectly into one frame, forming an intricate natural pattern—like a map of memories painted directly by nature and time. The three colors were very simple, not at all striking. Yet, beneath that simplicity lay an extraordinary beauty that left me speechless.

During the photo shoot, the butterfly remained completely still. Not a single part of its body moved, including its antennae. Usually, when a butterfly lands, its antennae are always moving, but not this one. Perhaps it realized it was being used as a model. Its slender legs held tightly to the surface of the leaf where it landed, supporting its body calmly.

The butterfly I encountered is called the tiger palmfly, or Elymnias nesaea in Latin. This simple butterfly, belonging to the Nymphalidae family, left me speechless. Its habitat is predominantly plantation areas, such as oil palm, areca nut, and coconut groves. I found this one in a small bush in a local coconut grove.