Butterflies in March 2022

The month of March witnessed only a few butterflies due to less trips into the forest and the occasionally raining episodes which coincide with the tailend of the monsoon season. A few nice inflight shots and some new discoveries were the highlights of the day.

Striped Albatross (Appias libythea olferna)

This female Striped Albatross decided to oviposit on a roadside weed.

Striped Albatross (Appias libythea olferna)

This one is a male which I find it even more difficult to photograph due to its non-stop flying. It did paused occasionally but even that it was only for a few seconds.

Chocolate Albatross (Appias lyncida vasava)

This is another female but from a different species. 

Another female Chocolate Albatross. They are quite fond of getting their nutrients from these flower buds, as I have observed.

Forest Grass Yellow (Eurema simulatrix tecmessa)

They look quite similar to Chocolate Grass Yellow (Eurema sari) to an untrained eyes. 

This is the upperside (Dorsal) view of the Forest Grass Yellow. They are more common in the forest as compared to elsewhere hence their name.

This is an interesting discovery. It is actually a Dophla evelina compta (Red-spot Duke). Its dark coloration is completely out of the textbook. Most likely an aberrant.

Here is another new discovery but a difficult one to identified. It is certainly not a Curetis saronis sumatrana because its legs are not red-banded as the latter. One thing for sure is that it is a female.

Curetis is one of those difficult species of butterfly to identify. You will need to have a clear view of its upper and underside  in order to have a positive ID.

Just for comparison, here is another Curetis which was seen earlier. Could it be the above was a female Curetis santana malayica and the one below here is a male? 

I will leave them with the status of "to be identified".

 

A female Common Blue Bottle (Graphium sarpedon luctatius) sipping from a water puddle.

A slightly off coloured Yellow Flash (Rapala domitia domitia)

A prime looking Rustic (Cupha erymanthis)

Here comes the Commander (Moduza procris milonia)

They can be quite common at times but only around the forested regions.

Peacock Royal (Tajuria cippus maxentius) - female

To me the above Peacock Royal is quite uncommon. Seen here on a lime tree.

Another butterfly species to be identified.

Here are a few comparison of some butterflies which may look alike but they are actually quite different.

       Common Cerulean                            White Cerulean                                                  Jamides celeno celeno                                                 Jamides pura pura              

Some readers say the above is some Nacaduba but I believe it is a Jamides talinga talinga (Lesser cerulean). My prediction was based on its small size and its hindwing stripes.

I shall end this month's post with a sequence of the flight of a Painted Jezebel (Delias hyparete metarete)

Here you can see its approach towards a lime tree.

As it flew nearer, it decided to fly further up. 

About to land.

Touch down.

THAT'S ALL FOR THIS MONTH'S POST. 

UNTIL THE NEXT TIME ENJOY YOUR BUTTERFLY ADVENTURES.

Butterflies in February 2022

Here are some butterflies seen in February 2022. Most of them were seen in and around KL and Selangor regions.

Common Nawab (Polyura athamas athamas)

It was last seen on January 2021, just about 30 meters from the current spot.

All 'Nawabs' are uncommon and beautiful regardless whether they are named common or not.

This one was seen puddling on some dirt - probably leftovers of animal urine - pigs / deers?

Here's another uncommon butterfly.

Blue Posy (Drupadia scaeva scaeva)

There were three of them. All were skittish.

They are territorial - saw them chasing away each other before this one landed quite close to me.

Yellowdisc Oakblue (Arhopala perimuta regina)

So happy that I was able to bring out the colors of this uncommon butterfly.

Malay Staff Sergeant (Athyma reta moorei)

My lifer in February. It looks quite identical as the butterfly below.

Colour Sergeant (Athyma nefte subrata)

Both are male and the above is more uncommon than the latter.

Malayan Sailor (Neptis duryodana nesia)

This is another uncommon 'sailor'.

Could this be a 'Lesser Lancer' (Pyroneura flavia fruhstorferi) ?

Harlequin (Taxila haquinus harquinus)

The above is a female and I have been seeing only females of this species so far.

I have ID this butterfly as a 'Common Line Blue' (Prosotas nora superdates) based on the markings.

Dark Banded Ace (Halpe ormenes vilasina)

Spotted Black Crow (Euploea crameri bremeri)

Yellow Glassy Tiger (Parantica aspasia aspasia)

A seldom seen upperside of this butterfly.

Dark Grass Blue - Zizeera karsandra (Moore)

This butterfly was seen in Kedah. According to the literature, it is more common in the northern states.

Rounded Six Line Blue (Nacaduba berenice)

This butterfly kept flying towards me and tried to chase me away from its perch - territorial behavior !

Common Cerulean (Jamides celeno)

Here is a sequence of photos depicting a Lesser Dart (Pothantus omaha omaha)

Underside view

Another underside view

Upperside view

Peacock Pansy (Junonia almana almana)

A fairly common garden butterfly. Seen here feeding on Lantana flowers.

Purple Bush Brown (Mycalesis orseis)

Jewel Four Line Blue (Nacaduba sanaya elioti)

Glassy Caerulean (Jamides parasaturatus paramalaccanus)

Malaccan Caerulean / Soldier Caerulean (Jamides malaccanus malaccanus)

Finally this one was identified as a Nacaduba beroe (Opaque Six-line Blue)

To be identified

To be identified

Banded Demon (Notocrypta paralysos)

Bright Red Velvet Bob (Koruthaialos sindu sindu)

Common Hedge Blue (Acytolepis puspa lambi)

Banded Yeoman (Cirrochroa orissa)

Hiding under a leave - sheltering from the rain - their feet has a strong grip. They will not fall unless the leaf is broken

Another view of a 'Lesser Dart'

Cycad Blue (Chilades pandava)

One side looks fine while the other side is tattered. Very unique.

A female 'Archduke' (Lexias pardalis dirteana) having a juicy meal

A seldom seen underside wing of a female Archduke.

THAT'S ALL FOLKS. TILL WE MEET AGAIN IN MARCH !