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.