Chuck Kuhn's Asia in Photos: 30cm-wingspan butterfly discovered in Hanoi

Saturday, June 30, 2012

30cm-wingspan butterfly discovered in Hanoi

June 30, 2012

LookAtVietnam – A woman in Gia Lam district, Hanoi, has caught a giant butterfly, with wingspan of up to 30cm.

Ms. Dang Thi Anh Tuyet said that this giant butterfly flew from the garden into her house on the evening of several days ago. The butterfly looked very beautiful so Tuyet caught it. She planed to dry it to keep as a souvenir, but some neighbors tried to stop her.
The woman released the butterfly to the garden but it flew back into her house. The next morning, she released it again and once again, it flew back to her home. It is strange that the butterfly always perches on a piece of ngoc am wood.
Neighbors flocked to Tuyet’s house to see the giant and beautiful butterfly. They measured its wingspan, which is 30cm.

Tuyet’s neighbor, Mr. Dao Van Thuy, said previously he saw a very big worm on a tree in front of his house and Tuyet’s house. He guessed that this giant butterfly was the transformation of that worm.
Some old people in the village said that they saw similar butterflies only once in the 90s. They called them Lady Butterfly but actually this species is carambola butterfly (Attacus Atlas) since they are created from worms on carambola trees.
This is among three species of butterflies in Vietnam Red List. This is the biggest butterfly species in Vietnam and the world, with wingspans from 25 to 30cm.

A carambola worm.

A cocoon

A chrysalis.

VTC

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They say "

“I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman’s voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived. The smell: that’s the first thing that hits you, promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straightaway a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there’s a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war; that the gunshots were fireworks; that only pleasure matters. A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you. And then, something happens, as you knew it would. And nothing can ever be the same again.”
― Graham Greene, The Quiet American

Tips on Travel to Vietnam

It's always warm in Southeast Asia apart from high mountains, so leave the heavy clothing at home. Cotton and breathable fabrics are always better than synthetics -- although cotton does wrinkle a lot when traveling! December through April is roughly the dry season in that region, although it can still rain a little. December is a good time to go in terms of temperature -- cooler than in the humid summertime. Either way, wearing more clothing (shirt sleeves and long pants) is always more respectful towards the Asian culture, especially when visiting temples and rural areas.