Lornie Nature Corridor
Last Updated on 21 September 2025
Lornie Nature Corridor: A Green Haven for Butterflies and More
Tucked along the edge of MacRitchie Reservoir Park, the Lornie Nature Corridor is a green passageway where the calm of forest greenery meets the lively rhythm of wildlife.
Once a bustling stretch of road, it has been thoughtfully transformed into a lush linear park, linking visitors to the Central Catchment Nature Reserve while offering a green buffer that both people and animals can enjoy.
The Lornie Park Connector is also a key link in the 36-kilometre Coast-to-Coast Trail, a cross-island route that stretches from Jurong Lake Gardens in the west to Coney Island Park in the northeast, making it a favourite for walkers, cyclists, and nature lovers alike.
For butterfly enthusiasts, the corridor is a small paradise. Native shrubs and trees planted along the way provide nectar-rich blooms that attract a colourful array of winged gems.
The Malay Cruiser (Vindula dejone), with its broad orange wings, adds a splash of vibrancy to the forest edges. The cruiser butterflies feed on nectar from the Lantana or Ixora flowers, while the caterpillars feed on the native shrub Dillenia suffruticosa.
The large and versatile Common Mormon (Papilio polytes) is famous for mimicking toxic species. Although the female Common Mormon isn’t poisonous herself, she sometimes flaunts the pink pattern of the toxic Common Rose Swallowtail (Pachliopta aristolochiae), cleverly fooling predators into thinking she’s off-limits.
Shaded clearings sometimes reveal the regal glide of the Royal Assyrian (Terinos terpander) as it proudly displays its vivid purple patterns.
Delicate lycaenids add a dash of sparkle too: the Common Cerulean (Jamides celeno) sips nectar from the Bandicoot Berry (Leea indica) and Red Leea (Leea rubra)…
…while the petite yet charming Tiny Grass Blue (Zizula hylax) prefers the Prickly Lantana (Lantana camara) or Mimosa (Mimosa pudica).
Sunlit paths are often streaked with the fast-moving Common Grass Yellow (Eurema hecabe), feeding on the purple flowers of Snakeweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis). This attractive flower also draws a host of other butterflies such as the Emigrants, Pansies, and Tiger butterflies to the feeding party.
A few rarer and elusive butterflies steal the spotlight for those patient enough to watch. The Fluffy Tit (Zeltus amasa), with its elegant tails and endearing habit of “dancing” on leaves, is always a delight to encounter.
Equally striking is the Branded Imperial (Eooxylides tharis), whose sharp contrast of white and black markings makes it unmistakable in the dappled forest light.
The Peacock Royal (Tajuria cippus) adds a regal touch with its shimmering blue on top and pristine white beneath.
The Shining Plushblue (Flos fulgida) glows with a subtle metallic sheen that catches the eye only when the angle of light is just right.
Completing this suite of treasures, the Centaur Oakblue (Arhopala centaurus) represents the often-overlooked oakblues—small but iridescent jewels whose caterpillars depend on the diverse trees of the forest canopy.
A particularly memorable moment at the Lornie Nature Corridor was watching a Plain Plushblue (Flos apidanus) in the act of oviposition.
Perched delicately on a slender stem, the female placed not one but three eggs—tiny, spherical white plushballs—with meticulous care.
A follow-up visit a week later revealed that the eggs had hatched, each with a neat little hole in the centre—a tiny sign of life quietly emerging in the forest.
Beyond butterflies, the corridor hums with life: birds dart between fruiting trees, dragonflies skim the air, squirrels scamper overhead, and troops of macaques sometimes take over the path, busy with all the classic monkey business. Together, these encounters turn every stroll into a mini adventure—a playful reminder that Singapore’s wildlife knows how to keep things interesting, one flutter, chirp, or cheeky monkey at a time.