Wednesday, 28 May 2025

Rare skippers and other common butterflies in May 2025

Looks like it's a Hesperiidae season. Saw lots of them and their presence is probably related to the presence of many flowers and Leea indica fruits which have started to appear in many places.  

Yellow Band Dart 

Potanthus pava pava

Identification of skippers can be tricky but if you have many photos of them showing various angles/ features, you can probably narrow down the species.


Yellow Band Dart 

Potanthus pava pava

Aside from the Leea indica berries, these skippers are also attracted to this Bidens pilosa flowers (or commonly known as daisies) which are also appearing in abundance right now.



Yellow Band Dart 

Potanthus pava pava

I am more than 50% sure of its identity I think.



                                                                  

Yellow Band Dart 

Potanthus pava pava





Ganda Dart 

Potanthus ganda ganda

I am pretty confident of its ID.



Ganda Dart 

Potanthus ganda ganda

This Dart was seen at the same location as the above Yellow Band Dart.



Ganda Dart 

Potanthus ganda ganda

These skippers can be quite territorial as they were seen dog-fighting with each other.



Here is a new skipper.


Dark Velvet Bob 

Koruthaialos butleri

It was seen at my local hill patch.



Dark Velvet Bob 

Koruthaialos butleri

Despite having its photo taken with a flash light, I can't see any visible / faint spots on its wings.



Dark Velvet Bob 

Koruthaialos butleri

It can fly very fast too.



Dark Velvet Bob 

Koruthaialos butleri

This is probably the first record of this species in this region ! 💓





White-tipped Palmer

Lotongus calathus calathus

Female

This skipper is not really rare but then you can only see them occasionally.




Brown-veined Lancer

Pyroneura klanga 

This Lancer is also not so common.



Brown-veined Lancer

Pyroneura klanga 

This time I was a bit lucky as it came down at knee level. You can see why they named it brown-veined.




Here is another Lancer.

Yellow-based Lancer Yellow-veined Lancer

Pyroneura natuna



Yellow-based Lancer / Yellow-veined Lancer

Pyroneura natuna





Straight Snow Flat 

Tagiades parra naxos




Straight Snow Flat 

Tagiades parra naxos

This flat looks very similar to the Large Snow Flat (T. gana gana). Would have identified it as a T. gana if not for the help from a more experienced butterfly spotter.



Here is an uncommon skipper.

Small Narrow-spot Flitter

Isma miosticta 




Small Narrow-spot Flitter

Isma miosticta 

I hunted it for two weekends in a row. The first weekend it eluded me but on the 2nd weekend, it appears to calm down but still a bit skittish.


                                                                                                                          

Small Narrow-spot Flitter

Isma miosticta 

I am hoping that its ID is correct cause this skipper is new to me.




Now we go to other species.

Indian Yellow Nawab

Polyura jalysus jalysus




Malayan Wanderer

Parenonia valeria lutescens




Malayan Albatross

Salatera panda distanti




Lesser Cruiser

Vindula dejone erotella

I actually haven's really get a grip on the differences between this Cruiser and those of Malayan Cruiser (Vindula erota chersonesia).



Talbot's Grass Yellow 

Eurema ada iona

It's surrounded by Forest Grass Yellow (Eurema simulatrix tecmessa). 




According to a researcher from FRIM, despite extensive research been done and papers published, there are still a lot of stuff to be discovered in butterflies for example like examining their DNA. Maybe scientists want to know whether are there any evolutionary relationships between a mosquito and a butterfly 😳

Rajah Brooke's Birdwing 

Trogonoptera brookiana albescens

Male 



GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE IN WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING!








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