Behaviour of Malayan Eggfly

[Common Mime]

This is not the first time I witness a female Malayan Eggfly "guarding" the eggs but did not know that she actually stays there even the eggs are hatched into larva. Have anyone encountered this behaviour for a butterfly before? Or I am the only one that do not know?

#1. Check the abdomen of this mother, very big and make her very difficult to fly . Finally settle down underneath a leaf of the host plant but not yet laying egg. Would love to witness the egg laying process in future, if time permits.

#2. Mother "guarding" the larvas.

#3. Closeup on the larvas. These larvas are not newly hatched, perhaps in the late 1st instar or 2nd instar rather.

[Common Mime]

Following photos are yet to confirm to be the larva of the Malayan Eggfly but I do believe that they are and soon, I shall be able to confirm this.

#4. The shed skins

#5. The larva

#6 & #7. Closeup for the side view.

#8. Head shot.

[Sky Blue]

read it somewhere they certain species showing the "guarding" behavior, someone actually found a mum standing there until die...

Following photos are yet to confirm to be the larva of the Malayan Eggfly but I do believe that they are and soon, I shall be able to confirm this. .

wait for yr good news

[Common Mime]

More photos of the Eggfly.

My hair all stand when I see the larva all over the place. On the plants, on the ground,...etc

My own conclusion about this Malayan Eggffly is that the mortality rate of the larvas is pretty high. They can't grip well onto the leaf or branches therefore one heavy rain could have wiped the whole family off since their host plant cannot be found at the ground level. Also, they could get parasited pretty easy I believe.

I stood there for about ten minutes, I saw many cats committing suicide, jumping down (fell). Besides that, they might eat to death before they manage to pupate at the nearby bushes. Too bad, I couldn't find a single pupa of it .

1st photo shown the 2nd instar larvas. 2nd photo shown the 3rd instar larva (spikes turn orange but the head capsule still in dark brown color).
4th, 5th, & 6th photos showing the cats fall all over the place. On other plants, ground, and the last photo on the Common Asystasia.

[Common Mime]

#1. Get parasited or what?

#2. Closer look at the 3rd instar larva

[Common Mime]

Confirmed the host plant for Malayan Eggfly and Ancyra Blue is Pipturus argenteus from the Urticaceae family.

http://www.brisrain.webcentral.com.a..._argenteus.htm

#1. Both side of the dried leaf
#2. The fresh leaves
#3. The seeds of the Pipturus argenteus
#4. The flower of the Pipturus argenteus