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)

 

Male                                                                   Female   

 

Gem Demon (Ancistroides gemmifer gemmifer)

Gem Demon

Abisara saturata kausambioides (Malayan Plum Judy)

  

                             Without Flash                                                             With Flash                                                               

                       

           

                 A rather off coloured "Rapala domitia domitia" (Yellow Flash)              

White Hedge Blue (Udara akasa catullus)

Arhopala eumolphus maxwelli (Green Oakblue) 

Dot-dash sergeant

Athyma kanwa kanwa 

Athyma nefte subrata (Color Sergeant)

HAVE A WONDERFULL DAY !