Introduction
From a distance this butterfly can be mistaken for a Gandaca or Eurema species, but it can readily be distinguished from them by its larger size, serrated wings, squarish appearance, and very short antennae.
There are 5 members of the genus Dercas – verhuelli, gobrias, lycorias, nina and enara. These are variously distributed from India to southern China and Indonesia. Dercas gobrias is the only species found in West Malaysia. Dercas verhuelli herodorus was for many years listed as a Malayan insect, but herodorus has now been reclassified as a subspecies of gobrias rather than of verhuelli.
Dercas verhuelli is found in India, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and southern China.
Dercas gobrias is found in peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Borneo and Java.
Habitats
This species occurs in rainforest and temperate evergreen forest at altitudes between about 200-1500 metres.
Lifecycle
The larvae feed on Dalbergia benthami.
Adult behaviour
Males are usually seen singly, imbibing mineralised water from wet mud or sand, usually very close to the water’s edge. They are extremely nervous, and if disturbed usually fly up to rest on tree foliage until they sense it is safe to return to their feeding place.