Butterflies in July 2025 - More butterflies and Lifers (Part 2)

This is the continuation of the previous Part 1 post. I guess if you make more trips, you will see more species of butterflies, hence these two-part series of the July 2025 butterfly postings. 

Blue Gem

Poritia erycinoides phraatica

When is the last time you get to see an open wing of a gem like this?

Blue Gem

Poritia erycinoides phraatica

Blue Line Brilliant

Simiskina pharyge deolina

Another beauty.

Blue Line Brilliant

Simiskina pharyge deolina

Initially it was quite skittish but once it has settle down, you can get some decent shots.

Here is another lifer for me in July 2025

Pale Green Awl

Burara gomata lalita

It came to puddle with other butterflies, namely Nawab, Tawny Rajah and a Constable.

Pale Green Awl

Burara gomata lalita

It has an unique wing pattern among the Awls.

Koh-i-noor

Amathusia amythaon dilucida

This Amathusia seldom ventures out from the dark jungle trails but this time it must be hungry to puddle out in the open. This one is a male.

Narrow-banded Sunbeam

Curetis insularis pseudoinsularis (Fruhstorfer)

Not too hard to ID this Sunbeam.

Narrow-banded Sunbeam

Curetis insularis pseudoinsularis (Fruhtopfer)

Here's a comparison of two common Prosotas.

Common Line Blue

Prosotas nora superdates

Dark-based Line Blue

Prosotas gracilis ni

Dark-based Line Blue

Prosotas gracilis ni

So I guess the major differences are the presence of a tail on P. nora superdates and the darker basel of a P. gracilis ni.

Lifer # 2

 Koruthaialos frena

No common name as yet at this point.

This skipper was seen in Bukit Tinggi.

Intricate Jester

Symbrenthia hypatia chersonesia

I prefer their underside pattern.

Malayan Jester

Symbrenthia hippoclus selangorana

Coincidentally the above Jester was seen in Hulu Langat, Selangor.

Malayan Jester

Symbrenthia hippoclus selangorana

Sometimes we need to see their upperside as well to ensure that their ID is correct.

White Four-line Blue

Nacaduba angusta kerriana

The above was taken in Selangor.

White Four-line Blue

Nacaduba angusta kerriana

The above was taken in Pahang.

Another Lifer !

Distant's Imperial

Mantoides gama gama

Felder's Royal

Tajuria mantra mantra

Another Lifer !

Silver-marked Bluejohn

Deramas jasoda bradamante

Pale Mottle

Logania marmorata damis

Yet another lifer!

Zambra Oakblue

Arhopala zambra zambra

Great Sergeant

Athyma larymna siamensis

Linna Palm Dart

Telicota linna 

Linna Palm Dart

Telicota linna 

Yellow Onyx

Horaga syrinx maenala

It supposed to be rare but there are quite a number of its records in iNaturalist.

Yellow Onyx

Horaga syrinx maenala

Male.

Malayan Crow

Euploea camaralzeman malayica

This is quite a large butterfly and an uncommon one.

Malayan Crow

Euploea camaralzeman malayica

It was feeding on a dead insect, maybe a moth.

Tailed Judy

Abisara neophron chelina

Common Palmfly 

Elymnias hypermnestra beatrice

I think this could be a Palawan Ace

Halpe toxopea. 

Straight Line Mapwing

Cyrestis nivea

This shot is dedicated to the sifu who taught me how to shoot like a pro without having to lie down on my stomach. 😝

This would have been a great shot but my camera settings were screwed when it matters.

Rounded Plushblue

Flos morphina morphina

Just a miserable silhouette of a Rounded Plushblue

Flos morphina morphina

Plush

Sithon nedymond nedymond

First time seeing a female of this species with these features.

Here is something very unique. My insect lifer too.

Dead Leaf Grasshopper

Chorotypus sp

THAT'S ALL FOLKS !

HAVE A GREAT TIME AND SEE YOU AGAIN !

Butterflies in July 2025 - Popinjay, Tinsel and lots of other exciting species (Part 1)

Wow ! July 2025 has to be the best month in my entire butterfly trips so far ! Although I have yet to reach the 600 magical number but I got some of my mega jackpots as well as other exciting butterflies.

My first mega jackpot !

Popinjay

Stibochiona nicea subucula

It's not very large though - about the size of a male Horsfield's Baron (Tanaecia iapis)

Popinjay

Stibochiona nicea subucula

This butterfly has been in my wish list for many many years and finally I got to photograph it. At that point of time it was alone and quite skittish. Although there are many records of this species in overseas, but over here I believe it's quite rare and appears to confined mainly in the state of Pahang.

My 2nd mega Jackpot !

Evan's Tinsel

Catapaecilma evansi evansi

It appeared just when my camera settings went berserk. Nevertheless it's my lifer and a rare species.

Evan's Tinsel

Catapaecilma evansi evansi

In real life, its actually quite small (roughly about 1.5cm) and luckily another butterfly spotter has spotted it first otherwise I would have miss it.

I also noticed that in the months of June to July, the Imperials, Royals and Tajuria species came out in abundance. Here are some of them.

Double Tufted Royal

Dacalana vidura azyada

This Dacalana has eluded me for many years. Seen it a few times but unable to photograph it until recently. It flies very fast and more often likes to land upside down under a leaf which makes it quite difficult to photograph. Some literature also named it as a 'Medium-branded Royal'.

Here is another exciting find with a perfect background and a pristine specimen.

Elegant Cyclops

Erites elegans distincta

This is the rarest among all the Cyclops.

Malaysian Albatross

Salatera panda distanti f sulphurea

This is my first time seeing the female of this ssp.

Lifer !

Blue Imperial

Ticherra acte liviania 

Off all places, it landed on top of a blue car.

Blue Imperial

Ticherra acte liviania 

This one is a female. Among the Imperial butterflies, I now left only the Orange Imperial (Ritra aurea) to be seen.

Here's another pristine specimen.

Common Red Forester 

Lethe mekara gopaka

This is a male and it looks a bit like the Blue Catseye (Coelites epiminthia)

Horsfield's Baron

Tanaecia iapis puseda

Female

First time seeing such a lovely purplish streak across its HW.

Lesser Pierrot

Taraka mahanetra 

Another tiny butterfly which mostly confined to the highlands.

Black-veined Tiger

Danaus melanippus hegesippus 

This butterfly is very common but this one has a different pattern on its upperside hindwings.

Blue Darkwing

Allotinus subviolaceus

Allotinus is a difficult species to identify and this was naturally identified by an experienced butterfly spotter.

Allotinus portunus maitus

This Allotinus apparently has no common name yet.

Now, let us have some sparkling moments.

Narrow Spark

Sinthusa nasaka amba

A tiny butterfly.

Spotted Spark

Sinthusa malika amata

Another small one.

Dried-leaf Palmfly

Elymnias saueri saueri

Can be a difficult to ID unless you see its upperside as well.

Dried-leaf Palmfly

Elymnias saueri saueri

A comparison of skippers.

                                                        

Left: Clavate Banded Demon (Notocrypta clavata clavata)

Right: Restricted Demon (Notocrypta curvifascia corinda)

White-bar Bush Brown

Mycalesis anaxias senoi

This Bush Brown always likes to lurk under thick bushes on hilly places.

Speaking of dark places, here are a few species which you can find in those areas.

Malayan Nawab

Polyura moori moori

Orange Gull

Cepora iudith talboti

Jewelled Nawab

Polyura delpis concha

Malay Rajah

Charaxes distanti distanti

Great Mormon

Papilio memnon agenor

Great Mormon with a Red Helen

Common Nawab

Polyura athamas athamas

Lesser Cruiser

Vindula dejone erotella

Most likely it's the one !

Constable

Dichorragia nesimachus deikoes 

Constable

Dichorragia nesimachus deikoes 

It's upperside and underside are both equally stunning !

Blue Begum

Prothoe franck uniformis

I think this Begum is more common than the Glorious Begum. 

Blue Begum

Prothoe franck uniformis

Always happy to see a Begum.

THAT'S ALL FOR NOW ! 

LOOK OUT FOR MORE EXCITING SPECIES IN PART II