Orange Oakleaf
Kallima sp.
Orange Oakleaf · Carlsbad · 7 March 2026
An Orange Oakleaf in the butterfly house at Carlsbad, a South and Southeast Asian butterfly of forest and scrub that spends the dry season sitting still on a twig looking exactly like this.
Wings closed, it is a dead leaf almost perfectly: the shape tapers to a false leaf stalk at one end and a point at the other, the underside is mottled brown with a pale central vein-line, and there is a scatter of fungal-looking spots for good measure. It is one of the most complete disguises in the insect world; open, the same wings are banded in vivid orange and blue-black.
Birds, insects, plants and other wildlife, mostly from Brooklyn, with some from further afield.
Every photograph comes with notes on what it is.
Selected
Favourite shots. Filter by subject, or .
Places
Everything, by where it was taken.
Species
Larger catalogue of photos organized by species of animal or plant.
Catalogue
Every photograph, newest first. Narrow it by period, place or species; the three work together.
Updates
Coming soon. Sign up at the bottom of the page for updates.