The Butterflies of the Malay Peninsula (Fifth Edition)

The first edition of The Butterflies of the Malay Peninsula by A. S. Corbet & H. M. Pendlebury (1934) dealt only with the more common Malayan butterflies. The second edition (1956) was completely rewritten by Dr. Corbet after Pendlebury’s death and included every Malayan butterfly known at the time. It was based on Corbet’s exhaustive study of almost all the extant collections of Malayan butterflies, ranging from that made in 1779 by J. G. Koenig (a pupil of Linnaeus) to those made in prison camps and behind the enemy lines during the Japanese occupation. Corbet’s untimely death in 1948, however, left the book incomplete, but it was finally published under the editorship of his friend and colleague, N. D. Riley, Keeper Entomology at the British Museum (Natural History). The third edition, published by the Malaysian Nature Society in 1978, was revised by J. N. Eliot based on taxonomic work done in the years following Corbet’s death. Eliot authored a large number of taxonomic papers and was a distinguished member of several scientific societies including the Malaysian Nature Society and the Royal Entomological Society of London. He also revised the fourth edition (1992) which included all-new colour plates. 

The fifth edition covers all the butterflies recorded from the Malay Peninsula including Singapore with updated taxonomy and new information on distributions, life histories and larval food plants. Identification of the adult butterfly is aided by one hundred and thirty-two new colour plates that complement the written descriptions and keys; both the upperside and underside of males and females are shown with some exceptions. The plates of the genitalia were updated for readability. Additionally, this edition newly presents colour plates of the egg, final instar larva and pupa of selected species, representing each butterfly subfamily.

The text has been updated with new information on distributions, life histories and larval food plants. The taxonomy of each species has been reviewed, and the text and relevant keys have been revised with newly published information. The text runs to 506 pages and includes an extensive bibliography and full indices. Additionally, the layout has been modernized for better readability and aesthetics while the figures have been redrawn for clarity. It includes a completely new set of 132 colour plates illustrating every species reliably recorded from Singapore and the Malay Peninsula, showing the upperside and underside of both males and females of most species. The immature stages of selected species, representing each butterfly subfamily, are illustrated in 6 colour plates. There are also 25 pages of genitalia drawings.

100% of the proceeds made from the sale of the book will be channeled to the Malaysian Nature Society. In addition to that, RM 50 will be channeled to the Insect Conservation Fund for each book sold. The Insect Conservation Fund was established by MNS to fundraise specifically for the Conservation, Education and Public Awareness activities related to the insects of Malaysia.

Note: MNS members are entitled to enjoy RM20 discount for this book. Discount will be applied automatically upon checkout. However, login is required. Your login ID is the same email address that was used during membership registration. For enquiries, please email to shopmns@mns.org.my