Butterflies in January 2026

Year 2026 is the Year of the Horse according to the Chinese Zodiac calendar. As the Horse gallops in the new year, the lifers have been quite slow in this early month.

Regular Sunbeam

Curetis regula

This Sunbeam is considered rare and it was shot only recently. My first lifer in Jan 2026.

Brown Tornal Oakblue

Arhopala inornata inornata

I believe this Oakblue is an uncommon species. 

Lesser Darkie

Allotinus substrigosus

Here's a moderately rare Allotinus genus. It only appeared briefly.

Blue Line Brilliant 

Simiskina pharyge deolina

Always a delight to see their upperside wings. More common at the higher elevation areas I believe.

Dark Evening Brown 

Melanitis phedima abdullae

This Evening Brown is less common the one below.

Common Evening Brown

Melanitis leda leda

Both were seen nearby each other up on a Highlands.

Common Earl

Tanaecia julii bougainvillei 

Male 

Common Earl

Tanaecia julii bougainvillei 

Female 

Bush Hopper

Ampittia dioscorides camertes

I thought this skipper is only confined to lowland areas but this one was found up in the Highlands.

Small Wood Nymph

Ideopsis gaura perakana

They are quite common at hill station and highlands.

Differences between the Quacks!

Quaker (Neopithecops zalmora) - left and Forest Quaker (Pithecops corvus corvus)

   

                             

Here a few lower elevation species.

        

Tailed Disc Oakblue

Arhopala atosia jahara

Tailed Disc Oakblue

Arhopala atosia jahara

With some pointers available for comparison with other similar looking Oakblues.

Red Helen

Papilio helenus helenus

Common Dartlet

Oriens gola pseudolus

Upper views

Common Dartlet

Oriens gola pseudolus

Underside views

     

Yellow Grass Dart

Taractrocera archais quinta

Grass Demon

Udaspes folus 

A seasonal skipper I believe. Once it appears in one location, you can see them in a few other places.

Three Zebras make a Zebra Crossing.

Malayan Zebra

Graphium delessertii delessertii

An actual Zebra from the National Zoo of Malaysia for comparison.

THAT'S ALL FOLKS !!

SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT MONTH!

Butterflies in December 2025

 Season ending with only one lifer !

Pitcher Blue

Virachola kesuma deliochus

If I have known this is a rare butterfly, I would have taken more and better shots.

Redspot Jezebel 

Delias descombesi eranthos 

Got this one at Fraser's Hill. 

This is a female Great Mormon

Papilio memnon agenor f. butlerianus

She can be seen ovipositing on a common Euodia suaveolens plant.

Another highland species.

Tailed Judy

Abisara neophron chelina

White-bar Bush Brown

Mycalesis anaxias senoi

Green Baron

 Euthalia adonia pinwilli

A very skittish Baron and probably the most common of its species i.e pinwilli.

Evening Brown.

Melanitis leda

Singleton

Una usta usta

Not a rare species but this was the first time I have seen it at my local hill.

Lesser Disc Oakblue

Arhopala lurida

November and December are certainly not the seasons for sighting Oakblues.

Short-banded Viscount

Tanaecia aruna aruna

Finally it appeared after a few years of absence.

Blue Begum

Prothoe franck uniformis

Round-banded Brownie

Miletus gopara gopara

Differences between the Bassarona species

                                                                                                 

                              Banded Marquis                                              Red-tailed Marquis                  

                                     Bassarona dunya                                         Bassarona recta monilis                      

Lime Butterfly

Papilio demoleus malayanus 

So far I have only seen the females. Looks like the males are even more scarce.

Here's my last decent photo for 2025

Double Tufted Royal 

Dacalana vidura azyada

 This species of butterfly is much easier seen than photograph.

HAVE A GREAT 2026 YEAR EVERYONE !