Butterflies of Northern Vietnam

Xin Chow ! which means Greetings in Vietnamese.

Completed a maiden trip to this part of the world. It's not a butterfly trip per se but I still got quite a number of nice looking endemic butterflies. In fact there were more butterflies than birds in this part of the region. Some of the butterflies here can also be found in Peninsular Malaysia which makes me think that a very long time ago, we could be in the same one large continent called Pangea. 

Many of the photos here have been identified with the help from butterfly spotters who are more familiar or whom have been to this northern region of Vn like Mr Antonio and Mr GanCW. Most of the photos here are taken at an elevation of 1500 m asl.

I will start with those resident species.

Stichophtalma sp

This butterfly species is quite common in this region it seems. You can find many of its photos in iNaturalist but identifying it can be tricky cause it has many lookalike subspecies. It is as large as a Thaumantis species here like those Dark Jungle Glory. This one could be a Jungle Queen (Stichophtalma howqua suffusa) or maybe a Stichophtalma fruhstorferi.

Here is another species which you can't find in Malaysia.

Dark Clouded Yellow

Colias feldi

This photo was taken during a misty morning. It was also cold and windy that morning - a typical weather in the mountains which are unpredictable according to the locals here.

Dark Clouded Yellow

Colias feldi

These are Spot Puffin (Appias lalage). 

The one indicated there looks like a Malayan Albatross.

Spot Puffin

Appias lalage 

This is the only puddling group I saw. The rest seen are mainly individuals.

Green-veined White

Pieris erutae erutae

It sure looks like our Striped Albatross from this underside profile.

Green-veined White

Pieris erutae erutae

Indian Cabbage White

Pieris cadina

Here is another common species in this Northern region. You can find them almost every where.

Indian Cabbage White

Pieris cadina

They also fly like our 'Psyche' (Leptosia nina) over here.

Could this also be a Cabbage White?

Another Indian Cabbage White I believe.

This one looks a bit like our Common Rose (Pachliopta aristolochiae) but I think it's not.

Spangle Swallowtail

Papilio protenor

There are lots of flowers in this mountain region but not all of them attract the butterflies.

Strange looking flowers.

Now you will see some butterfly species which you should be more familiar with.

Chestnut Tiger

Parantica sita

This is a migratory species. I only saw one here.

Dark Blue Tiger

Tirumala septentrionis septentrionis

Common Evening Brown

Melanitis leda

Great Mormon

Papilio memnon

Note its red patch which is located more towards its FW apex.

Initially I thought this might be another resident Lascar but Mr Antonio says it might be just a Common Jester (Symbrenthia lilea). 

Common Jester 

(Symbrenthia lilea). 

It sure looks a bit like a Jester from this angle.

Here is another intriguing one.

According to Mr Antonio, this is a Spotted Sawtooth (Prioneris thestylis)

It looks a bit similar with the ones seen here except for those areas indicated. 

This is how their Three-Ring looks like

Ypthma pandocus

Great Orange Tip

Hebomoia glaucippe 

Over here I hardly see any butterflies nectaring a bougainvillea flowers (bunga kertas). Maybe over there in the mountains, they have less choices.

Saw this cluster of fungi at the height of 2200m asl.

Until we meet again.

KWANG ! COME URN ! 

(locally means Thank you !)