Melanitis leda (Linnaeus)

Swezey, O. H., 1942, Lepidoptera, Butterflies of Guam, Insects of Guam I, Honolulu, Hawaii: Bernice P. Biship Museum, pp. 31-38 : 37

13. Melanitis leda (Linnaeus) .

Papílío leda Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. 1 (2): 773, 1767.

M elanítís Ieda (Linnaeus) Walker, Ent. Soc. London, Trans., 449, 1895.

Kershaw, Butterflies of Hong Kong, 24, pl. 3, figs. 2, 3; pl. 1 a, figs. 9, 10, 1907.

Agana Swamp , May 4, Usinger ; gully near Mt. Chachao, May 16, Swezey ; Piti, Oct. 12, 29, Nov. 6, Swezey ; Piti, Agricultural School Farm , student collector.

This butterfly, including several forms, has a wide distribution in the Orient and Pacific regions. The first record in Guam was by Fullaway who reared it from caterpillar on corn in 1911 . It is not common now. We did not find any caterpillars. A few butterflies were collected in shady places. I have reared this butterfly from sugar cane in Samoa. In the Philippines, it is considered a rice pest.