RON - BUTTERFLY GALLERY (Malaysia): May 2023

After the Browings have left in March, there are still much to see in April. Maybe it could be due to the long hot weather or perhaps due to the many holidays which allowed me to explore more places. Here are a few interesting species which I have managed to find.

Here is a confrontation between a Dark Tit / Brown Tit (Hypolycaena thecloides thecloides) and a Weaver ant. Looks like the little ant has caused a lot of damage.

Dark Tit / Brown Tit (Hypolycaena thecloides thecloides)

From the above first photo, you might probably understand why scientist name it Dark / Brown Tit but I strongly urged current entomologists to try amending some of the species' common name to a more decent one.

Its underside looks definitely much prettier.

Wavy Maplet (Chersonesia intermedia)

The identification remarks: HW protrusion / ("tanduk") not obvious, FW tip not dark enough and postdiscal stripes looks quite broader than C. rahria. Other info: overall looks more orengey and smaller in person than C. rahria.

Plain Yellow Lancer (Xanthoneura corissa indrasana)

Like all skippers it is also quite territorial. Saw it chasing other skippers away.

Peablue (Lampides boeticus)

This butterfly is reported be a a migratory species.

Peablue (Lampides boeticus)

It looks like a male and it is sampling on a flower of Chinese Violet (Asystasia gangetica micrantha)

Peacock Pansy (Junonia almana)

One of the best photos I ever had with this species.

Horsfield's Baron (Tanaecia iapis puseda)

The Colonel (Pandita sinope sinope)

Penang mainland area seem to be its stronghold.

The other locations where has also been reported were in Fraser's Hill.

The Colonel (Pandita sinope sinope)

It seems to enjoy the Banticoot berries of Leea indica plant.

Malayan Plum Judy (Abisara saturata kausambioides)

A smart girl - laying her eggs beneath the leaf so as to avoid the preying eyes of predators as well as the sun and rain.

Malayan Plum Judy (Abisara saturata kausambioides)

Dried-leaf Palmfly (Elymnias saueri saueri)

Only once in a while you will get to see this Palmfly. So its must be quite rare or maybe moderately rare.

Eurema andersonii andersonii (One-spot Grass Yellow / Anderson's Grass Yellow)

Someone said he saw a figure of S'pore's Merlion head on its FW.

One-spot Grass Yellow / Anderson's Grass Yellow

Grass Yellows are reported to be in season around March and April where you can find them more.

Yellow Glassy Tiger (Parantica aspasia)

Although common but never as many as a Blue Glassy Tiger at any one time.

This should be a Common Four Ring (Ypthima huebneri) - one 'eye' larger than the other.

Looks like there is a walking Orchid?

Orchid Tit (Chliara othona semanga)

Due to its small size, I had to go nearer to see what it is before I took a shot.

Orchid Tit (Chliara othona semanga)

Had to kneel down a bit lower in order to get these shots.

Clipper (Parthenos sylvia lilacinus)

I think this is no longer a common butterfly. Last seen by me was many years ago

Jacintha Eggfly (Hypolimnas bolina jacintha)

Common Tit (Hypolycaena erylus teatus)

Male

An opened wing shot of a male Common Tit.

An 'unidentified' flying skipper - enjoying its breakfast on some snakeweed flowers.

Here are a few tricky ones.

Different colors but same species.

They are both Appias albina albina (Common Albatross)

Common Albatross (Appias albina albina)

Common Albatross (Appias albina albina)

It looks like a Common Sailor (Neptis hylas) but it is not.

This is a Clear Sailor (Neptis clinia leuconata)

Side profile of a Neptis clinia (Clear Sailor)

Clear Sailor (Neptis clinia)

Chocolate Sailor

Neptis harita harita (Moore)

Here is an uncommon one.

Fuliginous Sailor

(Lasippa monata monata)

Here comes the "soldiers".

Malayan Laskar (Lasippa tiga siaka)

Perak Laskar (Pantaporia paraka paraka)

Upside view

Perak Laskar (Pantaporia paraka paraka)

Side view

Perak Laskar (Pantaporia paraka paraka)

I think it is slightly larger than the Malayan Laskar.

Back to some common butterflies.

The Commander (Moduza procris milona)

Malaccan Cerulean (Jamides malaccanus malaccanus)

Male

Dwarf Banded Demon (Notocrypta pria)

Notocrypta quadrata

Looks like it's playing with water bubbles.

So far I can't find any common name for the above skipper in the literature.

Small Red Bob (Idmon obliquans obliquans)

The arrow is pointing at its horn-liked Palpis.

Jamides pura pura (White Cerulean)

Malayan Five Ring (Ypthima horsfieldii humei)

Apparently the male is the one on the left (facing downwards)

Pointed Line Blue (Ionolye helicon merguiana)

Male

Jewel Four-line Blue (Nacaduba sanaya elioti)

Male

I think he is checking whether that rock is some kind of a jewel which he can sell. You will usually find 'Nacaduba' at ground level and hardly at tree tops.