THE Punchinello (Zemeros flegyas albipunctatus) is essentially a forest butterfly, but the species may be found in secondary growth where its larval food plants, Maesa indica and Maesa montana, are available. It is a metalmark (Lycaenidae: Riodininae) which settles with wings half-open and the forewings held rather far foreward. The Punchinello occurs from Sikkim to the Philippines and Sulawesi.
     The specimen pictured below developed from one of two eggs that I found on its food plant in secondary growth not far from the Kuala Lumpur city centre some years ago. The other egg also hatched and the caterpillar developed to adulthood.