Butterflies in August 2024

According to an article titled 'Assessing Small Urban Parks as Habitats for Butterflies in Malaysia', Jasmani et al (2022) reported that 'butterflies are used as the indicator because they are relatively easy to recognise, sensitive to environmental changes, have unique life cycles and biological demands that make them suitable for assessing biodiversity'. Jasmani et al (2022) findings show that butterfly species richness (quality) is positively influenced by the percentage of canopy cover, the total number of shrubs, the richness of shrubs species, the presence of flowering shrubs, and the presence of exotic plants. Park size is noted to have little significant impact on butterfly richness and abundance.

Looks like the rainy days have started in August. Hence not many spotting trips can be made. So only one lifer for this month.

Here is the new butterfly. 

It's a Dark Dingy Sailor (Neptis ilira cindia).

It can easily be misidentified as a Neptis harita.

Brown Awl 

(Badamia exclaimationis)

It was seen clinging to an electricity pole. Its elongated FW confirmed its ID.

Brown Awl 

(Badamia exclaimationis)

This Awl was seen in the bright afternoon unlike most Awls which prefer to appear at dawn or dusk. Apparently it's quite common in Singapore but I am not sure of its status in Peninsular Malaysia. Since it's a daytime Awl, most likely it can be seen by many butterfly spotters.

Green Dragontail

(Lamproptera meges virescens)

This dragontail is reportedly more common than the white ones (Kirton, 2021).

Malayan Eggfly

(Hypolimnas anomala anomala f. nivas)

White Tiger

(Danaus melanippus hegesippus)

This Danaus prefers bright and sunny open areas.

White Tiger

(Danaus melanippus hegesippus)

Sharing the same fruit (Mangosteen)

Archduke (Lexias pardalis) and Tufted Jungle King (Thauria aliris pseudaliris)

                                                                       

                       Archduke (Lexias pardalis)                         Yellow Archduke (Lexias canescens)                                                                   

Purple-streaked Catseye

(Coelites euptychioides)

Need to approach this Catseye slowly. 

Darky Plushblue

(Flos anniella anniella)

Common Gem

(Poritia hewitsoni taleva)

Male

Red Bush Brown

(Mycalesis oroatis ustulata)

A comparison of two tiny Quakers.

                                             

                 Quaker (Neopithecops zalmora)                            Blue Quaker (Pithecops fulgens)

 

Malayan Dartlet

(Oriens paragola)

Common Dartlet

(Oriens gola pseudolus)

                                                                 
                               Malayan Count                                   

                (Tanaecia godartii asoka)                    

Common Snow Flat 

(Tagiades japetus atticus)

Fivebar Swordtail 

(Graphium antiphates itamputi)

Angled Castor

(Ariadne ariadne)

Long-celled Oakblue

(Arhopala aurea)

This Yellow Grass has many names.

Eurema simulatrix tecmessa (de Niceville)

Forest Grass Yellow / Changeable Grass Yellow / Hill Grass Yellow

                                                                             

                              Pithauria marsena                                       Pithauria stramineipennis

                             Branded Straw Ace                                             Light Straw Ace

   

A comparison of Nawabs

                                                                         

                             Common Nawab                                             Southern Nawab / Plain Nawab

              (Polyura athamas / Charaxes athamas)                     (Polyura hebe / Charaxes hebe)

Southern Nawab / Plain Nawab

  (Polyura hebe chersonesus / Charaxes hebe chersonesus)

Southern Sunbeam 

(Curetis tagalica jopa)

Chestnut Angle

(Odontoptilum angulatum angulatum)

                                                                      

                       Redspot Sawtooth                                                          Orange Gull                                                     (Prioneris philonome themena)                                    (Cepora iudith malaya)

  Giant Brownwing 

(Miletus gigantes)

Here are some of the different colors of a Tawny Rajah (Charaxes bernadus crepax)

Tawny Rajah (Charaxes bernadus crepax)

Tawny Rajah (Charaxes bernadus crepax)

Tawny Rajah (Charaxes bernadus crepax)

Tawny Rajah (Charaxes bernadus crepax)

Tawny Rajah (Charaxes bernadus crepax)

Tawny Rajah (Charaxes bernadus crepax)

Tawny Rajah (Charaxes bernadus crepax)

Latest additions.

Common Red Forester 

(Lethe mekara gopaka)

Although quite common but it is more localised in certain areas only.

A comparison of two forest dwelling Jamides

                                                               

                       White Caerulean                                       Soldier Caerulean / Malaccan Caerulean 

                     (Jamides pura pura)                                         (Jamides malaccanus malaccanus)

THAT'S ALL FOR THIS MONTH.

Butterflies of Peninsular Malaysia in July 2024 - The Rare and Beautiful Ones !

Although there were not many lifers in July 2024 but one lifer which I've wanted to see for a long time stood above the rest of them.

Blue Nawab

(Polyura schreiber tisamenus)

At first it was flying very fast in a circle. I think it has probably seen me walking towards its direction. In flight it appears whitish like a Chocolate Albatross but larger. I nearly ignore it but luckily it lands on the ground. Curious on what it would be, I walk slowly towards it and my mouth was wide open upon seeing what I saw on the ground. It's a Blue Nawab man !

Blue Nawab

(Polyura schreiber tisamenus)

Fearing that it might get spooked, I took a couple of long distance shots like about 6 m away. Inch by inch I moved slowly towards it and finally got close to just about 1m. I believe there are only a handful of photos of this Nawab in this region. Two weeks later, I went back to the same location but its no longer around so as the 'food' it was consuming earlier. This should be a major lifer for me for many years to come.

White-banded Awl

(Hasora taminatus malayana)

Not too far away from the above Blue Nawab, I saw this Hasora. It was seen hanging upside down at a low bush inside a thick foliage.

Malayan Lacewing

(Cethosia hypsea hysina)

Together with most Lacewings, they are commonly found on hilly areas.

Malayan Lacewing

(Cethosia hypsea hysina)

This Cethosia was seen at a lowland hill just outside KL.

Once awhile you will get to see this. They are not as common as Plum Judy (Abisara) although they can be seen together in the same location.

Malayan Tailed Judy

(Abisara savitri savitri)

Wax Dart

(Cupitha purreea)

Described as either 'rare' or 'uncommon' by many literatures, I was wondering when will I get to see this Dart. Suddenly saw them twice in 2 months. Both at different locations.

It appears like the month of July is the season for Poritia & Simikina.

This is a Common Gem

(Poritia hewitsoni taleva)

(Poritia philota philota)

Malayan Gem

A tiny Gem.

Malayan Gem

(Poritia philota philota)

Usually I have only seen them opening half their uppersides.

They can be quite skittish as well.

Blue Line Brilliant 

(Simiskina pharyge deolina)

This is a rare Simiskina.

Blue Line Brilliant 

(Simiskina pharyge deolina)

It too hardly open its wings.

Poritia promula elegans?

Apparently it's a Sumatran Gem - Poritia sumatrae !

Sumatran Gem

Poritia sumatrae

P. promula is said to be common in hilly areas so the above is not a P. promula.

Sumatran Gem (Poritia sumatrae) 

Due to its odd looking wing shape I had some difficulty to identify this species until a more experienced member pointed it out to me. This could be a female.

Dark Evening Brown

(Melantis phedima abdullae)

Dark Evening Brown

(Melantis phedima abdullae)

This is a male. Seen at a different location from the above female.

Pale-marked Ace

(Halpe hauxwelli)

You probably only see this Halpe in an inland jungle.

Pale-marked Ace

(Halpe hauxwelli)

Apparently Halpe do take artificial baits like belacan as well.

Swinhoe Ace

(Halpe wantona)

This 'Ace' is slightly smaller than the above one.

Plain Palm Dart

(Cephrenes acalle niasicus)

                                                           
                                           Mottled Emigrant                                       

           (Catopsilia pyranthe pyranthe)           

Male (Left), Female (Right)

Blue-banded Jungle Glory

(Thaumantis odana pishuna)

This butterfly can be quite friendly if you approach them slowly while they are puddling. You can basically fill up your SD card with their photos. 

Here is another pristine beauty

Tufted Jungle King

(Thauris aliris pseudaliris)

Red Harlequin

(Paralaxita telesia)

Initially I thought I will just skip this species cause first, it is quite tiny and second I have got a lot of its photos I thought. Since it was posing nicely for me so I thought maybe I just give it a few shots.  Due to its size and non-stop flying, I found it quite difficult to get a clear photo until it stop momentarily. Only when I look further at its photos at home I found that it is not what it seems to be.

This is actually a Blue Quaker (Pithecops fulgens fulgens). 

So happy that I got this shot to confirmed its identity. Definitely a Lifer for me!

Blue Quaker 

(Pithecops fulgens fulgens) / (Pitheceops fulgens fulgens)

Coconut Skipper

(Hidari irava)

This skipper was actually seen near a wild ginger plant.

                                                                              

It is not always you can get an open shot of a skipper but yet seeing one not necessarily you can ID them easily.    

But I think it could be a Conjoined Swift (Pelopidas conjunctus).

Vagrant 

(Vagrans egista macromalayana)

Quite a skittish species which don't allow close photography.

Plush

(Sithon nedymond nedymond)

Female

Its bright colours makes it a standout in a dark jungle.

Yellow-bodied Clubtail

(Losaria neptunus neptunus)

Like a large wasp. Only seen it three times up until now

Sullied Sailor

(Neptis nata gononata)

            Small Yellow Sailor

            (Neptis miah batara)

Circular Tufted Demon

(Ge geta)

It can also be mistakenly identified as a Full Stop Swift (Caltoris cormosa) 

Long-banded Silverline

(Spindasis lohita senama)

NOW FOR THE OAKBLUES.

Malayan Oakblue 

(Arhopala myrzalina)

One of those rare Oakblues. 

Large Metallic Oakblue

(Arhopala aedias agnis)

One of the largest Oakblues I have seen so far. It's about the size of a Faunis.

 

Large Metallic Oakblue

(Arhopala aedias agnis)

It can actually retract / hide its tail.

Green-suffused Oakblue

(Arhopala trogon)

I did not see any green colours when it flew off. So I believe this could be a female.

Tailed Disc Oakblue

(Arhopala atosia jahara)

Tailed Disc Oakblue

(Arhopala atosia jahara)

Golden Oakblue

(Arhopala phanda)

Golden Oakblue

(Arhopala phanda)

Here is something different. Apparently this is a Common Flying Lizard (Draco sumatranus). It was seen on the ground. I believe it's a female.

Lastly I leave this month's post with this grumpy old man.

Narrow Spark

(Sinthusa nasaka amba)

ADIOUS SENOR  AND SENORITAs!