Butterflies in September & October 2025 - Lifers & some very rare ones

Here are a few lifers and rare butterflies' photos which I managed to get between these two months. I had to combined both months as there weren't many trips due to the rainy season. Nevertheless glad that I am still able to see a few lifers! 

Scarce Slate Flash

Rapala scintilla scintilla

My first lifer ! Very closely resembling a Rapala manea chozeba and to a certain extend a Rapala varuna orseis as well. They are only separated by some minor differences. 

Scarce Slate Flash

Rapala scintilla scintilla

Usually you will find Rapala foraging on some medium height bushes but this one came down to the trail to puddle. 

The above Rapala is a bit more difficult to determine as its bands are slightly broader although its overall colour seem to look like a R. scintilla. An Indigo Flash (Rapala varuna orseis) perhaps ?

Another Rapala.

Common Red Flash

Rapala iarbus iarbus

Looks like one I believe.

2nd lifer !

Bright Oakblue

Arhopala sublustris ridleyi 

Bright Oakblue

Arhopala sublustris ridleyi 

It closely resemble an Arhopala athada - with just some minute differences.

Bright Oakblue

Arhopala sublustris ridleyi 

With a view of its upperside colours etc even if it's just 20% or 30%, it helps to determine the ssp.

3rd lifer ! 

Yes mostly Arhopalas which is my favourite butterfly species 😊

Lesser Disc Oakblue

Arhopala lurida !

When in season many Arhopala species will appear in the same location. 

Now, here is one of the rarest Arhopala in town ! 

Invincible Oakblue 

Arhopala caeca

Only a few people have seen this Oakblue ! Unfortunately this is not my lifer but I have only seen it twice in my lifetime. Nevertheless this is my best shot of this species and it's a female some more.

Green-suffused Oakblue

Arhopala trogon

The above is a female which has a blue upperside instead of green colour like of those males.

Green-suffused Oakblue

Arhopala trogon

Here is an Oakblue which is quite tricky to shoot.

Aberrant Oakblue

Arhopala abseus abseus

This Oakblue is as small as an Arhopala perimuta and if you don't use any flash when taking its photo, it will appear very dark.

Lifer # 4

Now we move to another species which I have always wanted to see.

Green Flash !

Artipe eryx excellens

Female

As its name suggest, this is certainly an excellent butterfly ! I noticed that there are already quite a number of people who have seen it although it is considered quite rare over here or at most uncommon. Under a shady tree foliage you will probably will not able to see it. Luckily for me, It flew out to a more open sunny area. Just this shot and then off she went.

Here's another excellent butterfly !

Malayan Red Harlequin

Paralaxita damajanti damajanti

Only once awhile I will get to see it.

Now we are back to the more common ones!

Saturn

Zeuxidia amethystus amethystus 

This is a male cause I was able to see its nice upperside blue bands.

Finally I am able to show its greenish upperside which often appear milky white on most photos.

Banded Swallowtail 

Papilio demolion demolion

Most often you will see this butterfly flying around like the Malayan Wanderer (Pareronia valeria) instead of coming down to puddle.

Dwarf Banded Demon

Notocrypta pria 

Small and skittish. Probably uncommon as well.

Dwarf Banded Demon

Notocrypta pria 

It can be quite difficult to identify this skipper unless you get to see it entire band clearly.

Here is a skipper which is reported to be quite common but somehow I only managed to see it twice.

Ganda Dart 

Potanthus ganda ganda

Here comes a few small ones.

The Singleton

Una usta usta

Uncommon and very localised species.

Dark-based Line Blue

Prosotas gracilis ni

More common than the above I believe.

Malayan Zebra

Graphium delessertii delessertii

Not rare but only common in certain locations.

These are the best photos I have got for this Cyclops.

Eyed Cyclops

Erites argentina delia

Looks like a male

Eyed Cyclops

Erites argentina delia

It was seen just by the road side and in the morning.

ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILDREN TO TAKE UP A SPORT OR HOBBY AND YOU WILL SEE HOW MUCH THEY WILL ENJOY THEIR LIVES !!

Butterflies in August 2025

As we transit nearer to a monsoon season, my butterfly lifers are expected to decrease naturally. Here are a few uncommon ones and just one or two lifers for this month.

Blue Leaf Blue

Amblypodia narada taooana 

This is an uncommon species and only my second time seeing it.

Palm-haired Palm King

Amathusia ochraceofusca ochraceofusca

Although I have seen this Palm King on several occasions but they are never common.

Another biggie !

Koh-i-noor 

Amathuxidia amythaon dilucida

Another uncommon species which has appeared frequently in July and August.

Amber Ace

Halpe veluvana brevicornis 

Also in July and August, there are many photos of mating butterflies.

Dark-banded Ace

Halpe ormenes vilasina

Here's another couple.

Great Orange Tip

Hebomoia glaucippe

I was hoping this skipper could be a K. butleri but experts say it might not be one.

Spotless Bob

Idmon distanti 

Ganda Dart

Potanthus ganda ganda

Sometimes we also need to check their antenna to determine their species correctly.

This skipper is however a lil bit difficult to ID. I have narrowed it down to either a Confucius Dart or a Pava Dart. For time being I have chosen the latter.

Pava Dart 

Potanthus pava pava

Could be my lifer if it's true.

Pava Dart 

Potanthus pava pava

Forest White

Udaiana cynis cynis

This one was seen at Sendat.

Tawny Rajah

Charaxes bernadus crepax

This is a greenish coloured form.

Common Palmfly

Elymnias hypermnestra discrepans 

This one is quite common.

This Graphium is however not so common I believe.

Common Jay

Graphium doson kajanga

This is only my third time seeing it. All within KL areas.

Common Jay

Graphium doson kajanga

The first time was in May 2023 and the second time was in May 2025. 

White-tipped Skipper / Moore's Palm Redeye

Erionota acroleuca apicalis

Couldn't have identify this skipper if not for the help from other butterfly spotters.

White-tipped Skipper / Moore's Palm Redeye

Erionota acroleuca apicalis

It can easily be mistakenly identified as a Banana Skipper.

Dark Posy

Drupadia theda thesmia 

A seldom seen upperside of a female Dark Posy.

Jacintha Eggfly

Hypolimnas bolina jacintha f. incommoda 

Jacintha Eggfly

Hypolimnas bolina jacintha f. incommoda 

Only my second time seeing this female ssp.

Here is another female ssp which I have just seen for the first time.

Lemon Emigrant

Catopsilia pomona pomona f. crocale

Lemon Emigrant

Catopsilia pomona pomona f. crocale

Apparently this female ssp can be found more easily in Singapore.

Here's my lifer for this month.

Sumatran Oakblue

Arhopala phaenops sandakani

Usually you would only see one species in one particular area. So I think they might be territorial in their behavior.

Sumatran Oakblue

Arhopala phaenops sandakani

A splendid shot of its upperside wing.

Sumatran Oakblue

Arhopala phaenops sandakani

There are many more Oakblues out there to be discovered. So go for it !

GOOD NITE EVERYONE !😴

Butterflies in July 2025 - More butterflies and Lifers (Part 2)

This is the continuation of the previous Part 1 post. I guess if you make more trips, you will see more species of butterflies, hence these two-part series of the July 2025 butterfly postings. 

Blue Gem

Poritia erycinoides phraatica

When is the last time you get to see an open wing of a gem like this?

Blue Gem

Poritia erycinoides phraatica

Blue Line Brilliant

Simiskina pharyge deolina

Another beauty.

Blue Line Brilliant

Simiskina pharyge deolina

Initially it was quite skittish but once it has settle down, you can get some decent shots.

Here is another lifer for me in July 2025

Pale Green Awl

Burara gomata lalita

It came to puddle with other butterflies, namely Nawab, Tawny Rajah and a Constable.

Pale Green Awl

Burara gomata lalita

It has an unique wing pattern among the Awls.

Koh-i-noor

Amathusia amythaon dilucida

This Amathusia seldom ventures out from the dark jungle trails but this time it must be hungry to puddle out in the open. This one is a male.

Narrow-banded Sunbeam

Curetis insularis pseudoinsularis (Fruhstorfer)

Not too hard to ID this Sunbeam.

Narrow-banded Sunbeam

Curetis insularis pseudoinsularis (Fruhstorfer)

Here's a comparison of two common Prosotas.

Common Line Blue

Prosotas nora superdates

Dark-based Line Blue

Prosotas gracilis ni

Dark-based Line Blue

Prosotas gracilis ni

So I guess the major differences are the presence of a tail on P. nora superdates and the darker basel of a P. gracilis ni.

Lifer # 2

 Koruthaialos frena

No common name as yet at this point.

This skipper was seen in Bukit Tinggi.

Intricate Jester

Symbrenthia hypatia chersonesia

I prefer their underside pattern.

Malayan Jester

Symbrenthia hippoclus selangorana

Coincidentally the above Jester was seen in Hulu Langat, Selangor.

Malayan Jester

Symbrenthia hippoclus selangorana

Sometimes we need to see their upperside as well to ensure that their ID is correct.

White Four-line Blue

Nacaduba angusta kerriana

The above was taken in Selangor.

White Four-line Blue

Nacaduba angusta kerriana

The above was taken in Pahang.

Another Lifer !

Distant's Imperial

Mantoides gama gama

Felder's Royal

Tajuria mantra mantra

Another Lifer !

Silver-marked Bluejohn

Deramas jasoda bradamante

Pale Mottle

Logania marmorata damis

Yet another lifer!

Zambra Oakblue

Arhopala zambra zambra

Great Sergeant

Athyma larymna siamensis

Linna Palm Dart

Telicota linna 

Linna Palm Dart

Telicota linna 

Yellow Onyx

Horaga syrinx maenala

It supposed to be rare but there are quite a number of its records in iNaturalist.

Yellow Onyx

Horaga syrinx maenala

Male.

Malayan Crow

Euploea camaralzeman malayica

This is quite a large butterfly and an uncommon one.

Malayan Crow

Euploea camaralzeman malayica

It was feeding on a dead insect, maybe a moth.

Tailed Judy

Abisara neophron chelina

Common Palmfly 

Elymnias hypermnestra beatrice

I think this could be a Palawan Ace

Halpe toxopea. 

Straight Line Mapwing

Cyrestis nivea

This shot is dedicated to the sifu who taught me how to shoot like a pro without having to lie down on my stomach. 😝

This would have been a great shot but my camera settings were screwed when it matters.

Rounded Plushblue

Flos morphina morphina

Just a miserable silhouette of a Rounded Plushblue

Flos morphina morphina

Plush

Sithon nedymond nedymond

First time seeing a female of this species with these features.

Here is something very unique. My insect lifer too.

Dead Leaf Grasshopper

Chorotypus sp

THAT'S ALL FOLKS !

HAVE A GREAT TIME AND SEE YOU AGAIN !