Butterflies of Northern Vietnam

Xin Chow ! which means Greetings in Vietnamese.

Completed a maiden trip to this part of the world. It's not a butterfly trip per se but I still got quite a number of nice looking endemic butterflies. In fact there were more butterflies than birds in this part of the region. Some of the butterflies here can also be found in Peninsular Malaysia which makes me think that a very long time ago, we could be in the same one large continent called Pangea. 

Many of the photos here have been identified with the help from butterfly spotters who are more familiar or whom have been to this northern region like Mr Antonio and Mr GanCW. Most of the photos here are taken at an elevation of 1500 m asl.

I will start with those resident species.

Stichophtalma sp

This butterfly species is quite common in this region it seems. You can find many of its photos in iNaturalist but identifying it can be tricky cause it has many lookalike subspecies. It is as large as a Thaumantis species here like those Dark Jungle Glory. This one could be a Jungle Queen (Stichophtalma howqua suffusa) or maybe a Stichophtalma fruhstorferi.

Here is another species which you can't find in Malaysia.

Dark Clouded Yellow

Colias feldi

This photo was taken during a misty morning. It was also cold and windy that morning - a typical weather in the mountains which are unpredictable according to the locals here.

Dark Clouded Yellow

Colias feldi

These are Spot Puffin (Appias lalage). 

The one indicated there looks like a Malayan Albatross.

Spot Puffin

Appias lalage 

This is the only puddling group I saw. The rest seen are mainly individuals.

Green-veined White

Pieris erutae erutae

It sure looks like our Striped Albatross from this underside profile.

Green-veined White

Pieris erutae erutae

Indian Cabbage White

Pieris cadina

Here is another common species in this Northern region. You can find them almost everywhere.

Indian Cabbage White

Pieris cadina

They also fly like our 'Psyche' (Leptosia nina) over here.

Could this also be a Cabbage White?

Another Indian Cabbage White I believe.

This one looks a bit like our Common Rose (Pachliopta aristolochiae) but I think it's not.

Spangle Swallowtail

Papilio protenor

There are lots of flowers in this mountain region but not all of them attract the butterflies.

Strange looking flowers.

Now you will see some butterfly species which you should be more familiar with.

Chestnut Tiger

Parantica sita

This is a migratory species. I only saw one here.

Dark Blue Tiger

Tirumala septentrionis septentrionis

Common Evening Brown

Melanitis leda

Great Mormon

Papilio memnon

Note its red patch which is located more towards its FW apex.

Initially I thought this might be another resident Lascar but Mr Antonio says it was just a Common Jester (Symbrenthia lilea). 

Common Jester 

(Symbrenthia lilea). 

It sure looks a bit like a Jester from this angle.

Here is another intriguing one.

According to Mr Antonio, this is a Spotted Sawtooth (Prioneris thestylis)

It looks a bit similar with the ones seen here except for those areas indicated. 

This is how their Three-Ring looks like

Ypthma pandocus

Great Orange Tip

Hebomoia glaucippe 

Over here I hardly see any butterflies nectaring a bougainvillea flower (bunga kertas). Maybe over there in the mountains, they have less food choices.

Great Orange Tip

Hebomoia glaucippe 

Sampling each and every flowers.

Saw this cluster of fungi at the height of 2200m asl.

Until we meet again.

KWANG ! COME URN ! 

(locally means Thank you !)

Rare skippers and other common butterflies in May 2025

Looks like it's a Hesperiidae season. Saw lots of them and their presence is probably related to the presence of many flowers and Leea indica fruits which have started to appear in many places.  

Yellow Band Dart 

Potanthus pava pava

Identification of skippers can be tricky but if you have many photos of them showing various angles/ features, you can probably narrow down the species.

Yellow Band Dart 

Potanthus pava pava

Aside from the Leea indica berries, these skippers are also attracted to this Bidens pilosa flowers (or commonly known as daisies) which are also appearing in abundance right now.

Yellow Band Dart 

Potanthus pava pava

I am more than 50% sure of its identity I think.

                                                                  

Yellow Band Dart 

Potanthus pava pava

Ganda Dart 

Potanthus ganda ganda

I am pretty confident of its ID.

Ganda Dart 

Potanthus ganda ganda

This Dart was seen at the same location as the above Yellow Band Dart.

Ganda Dart 

Potanthus ganda ganda

These skippers can be quite territorial as they were seen dog-fighting with each other.

Here is a new skipper.

Dark Velvet Bob 

Koruthaialos butleri

It was seen at my local hill patch.

Dark Velvet Bob 

Koruthaialos butleri

Despite having its photo taken with a flash light, I can't see any visible / faint spots on its wings.

Dark Velvet Bob 

Koruthaialos butleri

It can fly very fast too.

Dark Velvet Bob 

Koruthaialos butleri

This is probably the first record of this species in this region ! 💓

White-tipped Palmer

Lotongus calathus calathus

Female

This skipper is not really rare but then you can only see them occasionally.

Brown-veined Lancer

Pyroneura klanga 

This Lancer is also not so common.

Brown-veined Lancer

Pyroneura klanga 

This time I was a bit lucky as it came down at knee level. You can see why they named it brown-veined.

Here is another Lancer.

Yellow-based Lancer / Yellow-veined Lancer

Pyroneura natuna

Yellow-based Lancer / Yellow-veined Lancer

Pyroneura natuna

Straight Snow Flat 

Tagiades parra naxos

Straight Snow Flat 

Tagiades parra naxos

This flat looks very similar to the Large Snow Flat (T. gana gana). Would have identified it as a T. gana if not for the help from a more experienced butterfly spotter.

Here is an uncommon skipper.

Small Narrow-spot Flitter

Isma miosticta 

Small Narrow-spot Flitter

Isma miosticta 

I hunted it for two weekends in a row. The first weekend it eluded me but on the 2nd weekend, it appears to calm down but still a bit skittish.

                                                                                                                          

Small Narrow-spot Flitter

Isma miosticta 

I am hoping that its ID is correct cause this skipper is new to me.

Now we go to other species.

Indian Yellow Nawab

Polyura jalysus jalysus

Malayan Wanderer

Parenonia valeria lutescens

Malayan Albatross

Salatera panda distanti

Lesser Cruiser

Vindula dejone erotella

I actually haven's really get a grip on the differences between this Cruiser and those of Malayan Cruiser (Vindula erota chersonesia).

Talbot's Grass Yellow 

Eurema ada iona

It's surrounded by Forest Grass Yellow (Eurema simulatrix tecmessa). 

According to a researcher from FRIM, despite extensive research been done and papers published, there are still a lot of stuff to be discovered in butterflies for example like examining their DNA. Maybe scientists want to know whether are there any evolutionary relationships between a mosquito and a butterfly 😳

Rajah Brooke's Birdwing 

Trogonoptera brookiana albescens

Male 

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE IN WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING!