RON - BUTTERFLY GALLERY (Malaysia): August 2021

Wednesday 18 August 2021

Butterflies in August 2021 (1st Half)

This month of August probably seen less butterflies due to the beginning of the monsoon season i.e "Monsoon Barat Daya" (Southwest Monsoon) which usually starts from May to September. Here are some of the ones seen during the 1st half of August.

When I first saw this mating pair, high up on the tree, I thought they might be a new species appearing at my local patch.

But luckily they flew down much to my relief.

Upon checking with my field guide, I discovered that they were actually a mating pair of Laringa castelnaui castelnaui or commonly known as "Blue Dandy".

Malayan Snow Flat (Tagiades calligana)

Pointed Palmfly (Elymnias penanga penanga)

Great Egg-Fly (Hypolimnas bolina bolina)

Great Egg-Fly (Hypolimnas bolina jacintha) - female

In some butterflies, you will never get bored taking their photos over and over again.

Rustic (Cupha erymanthis lotis)

Tiger Palmfly (Elymnias nesaea lioneli)

Spotted Black Crow (Euploea crameri bremeri) - under a shade

Spotted Black Crow (Euploea crameri bremeri) - in the open

This skipper below is probably the most significant find in the month of August.

Yellow Palm Dart (Cephrenes trichopepla)

The above skipper is reportedly originated from Australia. So far I can't find any literature which can describe how it came about in this region. According to SG Butterfly Circle, it was first spotted in S'pore in 1999 and in M'sia, LC Goh was probably the first to see it in March 2009. Since then, this skipper has been recorded in Johor, Malacca, NS, KL, Selangor and Penang. It resembles a lot like a Telicota, but it sheer size of 2cm will separate it from the much smaller Telicotas. I think they might be considered as uncommon here but this species can also be found in urban parks or your neighbourhood .

For comparison, here is a Telicota

Orange Palm Dart (Telicota augias)

HAPPY BUTTERFLY WATCHING !

Tuesday 3 August 2021

Butterflies in July 2021 (2nd Half)

The 2nd half of July witnessed several old and new butterflies emerging.

Aw ! what an awl !

Plain Banded Awl (Hasora vitta vitta)

Like most awls, when they fly close-by you can actually hear their wing beats which sounded like a buzzing bee.

Tiger Palmfly (Elymnias nesaea lioneli)

This is the best photo of this species I have gotten so far.

Dried-leaf palmfly (Elymnias saueri saueri)

Status: rare

Elymnias saueri saueri (upperside)

Dried-leaf palmfly (Elymnias saueri saueri)

Malayan Sunbeam (Curetis santana malayica)

Elymnias penanga penanga (Pointed Palmfly)

Malay Yeoman (Cirrochroa malaya malaya)

Malayan Lascar (Lasippa tiga siaka)

Tanaecia pelea pelea (Malayan Viscount)

Yamfly (Loxura atymnus fuconius) - female

Malayan Baron (Euthalia monina monina) - male

Chequered Lancer (Plastingia naga)

Palm King (Amathusia phidippus phidippus)

Palm King

Butterfly wings contain a series of living cells which function requires aa range of temperatures. Scientist have found that butterflies regulate their wing temperatures through both structural and behavioral adaptations.

Behavioral adaptation - research has found that butterflies at higher altitudes could warm up by dorsal basking i.e with their wings fully open or partially open. Sometimes you could also see them rotating their body to maximise the coverage.

Structural adaptation - engineers and biologist from Columbia University of Engineering & Applied Science found that butterfly wings are loaded with a network of mechanical and temperature sensors called androconial pads which allow butterflies to accurately determine the intensity and direction of sunlight.

Archduke (Lexias pardalis dirteana)