Butterflies in October 2021 - the Colourful and Rare ones

With more and more restrictions been lifted and coupled with favourable weather conditions, the number of butterflies seen in October have also increased in tandem. In view that we can now travel further, I have also expanded my range of butterfly species. There were a few rare and uncommon ones seen for the first time as well.

The above is a female Chocolate Albatross (Appias Lyncida vasava) ovipositing.

Waiting nearby is a male Chocolate Albatross (Appias Lyncida vasava)

This is a Black & White Helen (Papilio nephelus sunatus)

Most of the time you can see them flying casually along the jungle trails. It has an undulating flight pattern and they hardly come to your community park.

Chocolate Pansy (Junonia hedonia ida - ID corrected !) Identified from its more orangey colour than J. iphita horsfieldi.

Its a medium size butterfly and is fairly common in lowland forest.

Common Birdwing (Troides helena cerberus)

They can be fairly common in the forest as well as in your community park.

Malayan Birdwing (Troides amphrysus ruficollis)

The above butterfly is quite rare and can be found only in the forested regions. Both the above 'Birdwing' butterflies are protected under Act 716, Malaysia's Wildlife Conservation Act, 2010.

Swamp Tiger (Danaus affinis malayanus)

This butterfly has a restricted range. It can mostly be found only around mangroves or coastal regions.

A research was conducted on this species by two researchers from FRIM (Dr Phon Chooi-Khim and Ms Veronica Khoo) at KSNP for close to five years (1996 to 2001).

Here it can be seen nectaring on the flowers of its favourite host plant - Melanthera biflora. This butterfly is also protected under Act 716 of the Malaysia's Wildlife Conservation Act, 2010

Here is another citizen of the inland forest. Its a Common Batwing (Atrophaneura varuna varuna)

A male Yellow Glassy Tiger (Parantica aspasia aspasia)

They are reportedly to be quite common here but rare in Singapore.

Burmese Sailor (Neptis leucoporus cressina) - edited

Initially ID as a Clear Sailor (Neptis clinia but sifu says its not

The above is a Lance Sergeant (Athyma pravara helma)

Yellow Onyx (Horaga syrinx)

So happy to finally meet this couple. They look so 'romantic' like holding hands and walking side-by-side.

The top one is a female and she looks slightly bigger.

They are rare butterflies as reported by some literatures.

Sumatran Bob (Arnetta verones) 

Another localised and moderately common butterfly.

Malayan Pied Blue (Megisba malaya sikkima)

A moderately common butterfly.

Despite its name, it actually has no blue colors on its upperside.

A pristine looking male Malayan Baron (Euthalia monina monina)

A male Streaked Baron (Euthalia alpheda yamuna)

This is an uncommon butterfly and my lifer ! 

Two rare skippers in one shot ! You can't asked for more.

The one on the left is a Small Brush Flitter (Hyarotis microsticta microsticta) and the one on the right is a Halpe porus (Moore's Ace).

Moore's Ace (Halpe porus)

Status: rare

Elbowed Pierrot (Caleta elna elvira)

They are mostly confined in the forested areas.

At 1.7cm they can be difficult for the lens to focus on.

Lastly here are some words of wisdom from the butterfly world.

Straight Pierrot (Caleta roxus pothus)

Chocolate Grass Yellow (Eurema sari sodalis)

UNTIL THE NEXT POST, ADIOUS ! FOR NOW !

Butterflies in September 2021 (2nd Half)

Rain has kept pouring down towards the end of September. According to the Met. department here, the interchanging monsoon season will only ends in November. Nevertheless there were a few lifers (i.e butterflies which were seen for the first time) which I have managed photographed in this late September month.

The above butterfly is called a "Wizard" (Rhinopalpa polynice eudoxia). Its intricate underwing patterns is indeed mesmerising. So delighted to be able to take its photos as it is reported to be an uncommon and moderately rare butterfly of the primary forest over here.

They can be quite restless at times if you try to approach them closer.

Their upperside / dorsal wings are equally stunning.

My second lifer is this one below.

This is a Forest Quaker (Pithecops corvus corvus). 

Didn't manage to hear it quacks but it was certainly a tiny butterfly at just 1.2cm. They are reportedly only common in forested areas.

The next is this skipper below.

Common Redeye (Matapa aria)

Despite its name, this is a rather uncommon skipper though not rare. It has no subspecies equivalent in this region at the moment.

The above butterfly concludes my lifers for the month of September. It looks like an Athyma or Neptis but it's not.

The above is a Phaedyma columella singa (Short-banded sailor) 

Its local name is "Pelayar Jalur Pendek". It is the only species which can be found in Peninsular Malaysia and because of this it is probably uncommon here as compared to other places such as Singapore or India etc.

The following are other butterflies seen in late September.

Malayan Owl (Neorina Iowii neophyta)

Most of the time this butterfly will often be seen flying swiftly along the jungle trails and hardly puddle on the roadside. This one gave me an opportunity to see clearly its upperside. 

Most of the time you would most likely able to photographed its underside / ventral wings.

Tawny Rajah (Charaxes bernadus crepax)

This is an uncommon butterfly.

Very skittish at times and it can fly swiftly and in an undulating manner.

Common Hedge Blue (Acytolepis puspa lambi)

This butterfly has a very nice bluish color upperside.

Chocolate Pansy (Junonia hedonia ida)

Please check whether your mouse cursor is on its wing.

This should be a Lesser Darkwing (Allotinus unicolor unicolor)

Ciliate Blue (Anthene emolus goberus)

This too has a beautiful bluish upperside.

Indian Palm Bob (Suastus gremius gremius)

The last time I saw this butterfly was in March and April this year.

Dark Banded Ace (Halpe ormenes vilasina)

Banded Demon (Notocrypta paralysos varians)

It has been awhile since I last saw this skipper. 

Malayan Baron (Euthalia monina monina)

A pristine looking male.

Common Imperial (Cheritra freja frigga)

A fairly common butterfly in lowland forest.

It has a rather plain looking upperside.

Mottled Emigrant (Catopsilia pyranthe pyranthe)

This is reported to be a migratory butterfly. It can be restless and difficult to photographed.

Commander (Moduza procris milonia)

Its upperside is equally stunning.

Euthalia monina monina (Malay Baron) - a female.

Edited: Experts reckoned that the above is a female Tanaecia iapis iapis (Horsfield's Baron) instead of Euthalia apheda yamuna (Streaked Baron). 

Malayan Laskar (Lasippa tiga siaka)

The above is the more common among the 'Lasippa' species. 

Athyma pravara helma (Lance Sergeant)

The above is a rather uncommon Athyma which I was lucky to see it by the roadside. Usually it is more 'common' in the forest.

Ragadia makuta siponta (Striped Ringlet / Malayan Ringlet)

Stay tune for more butterflies in October !

The Flight of Dandy Boys (Laringa castelnaui castelnaui)

One of the best moments of butterfly watching is when we are able to watch rare butterflies flying leisurely around you. Blue Dandy (Laringa castelnaui casteinaui) as entomologist called them are deep forest insects / butterflies. I often seen them only in the morning and by noon they will venture back into their forest homes.

When I first encountered them in April this year, they were in quite pristine condition. Here you can see a small chip in their hindwing.

This was another male. Both were seen chasing each other.

They are both graceful as well as fast flyers.

Sometimes they can be seen doing 'dogfights' high up on the tress.

They hardly land on the ground for puddling. Most of the time they were airborne.

Their underside wings (ventral) is not as striking as their upperside wings (dorsal) as can be seen above and their various photos in my previous posts.

It's not easy to take their in-flight photos due to my limited camera range but somehow I still managed to get some decent shots. 

So far I have not come across any of their females displaying in-flight behavior.

I have only seen two males so far.

Hopefully there will be more of them in the near future !

Butterflies in September 2021 (1st Half)

Here are some butterflies in the first quarter of September 2021 (1 - 10 September). Not many were seen during this time as the rain continues to pour on alternate days. 

Hidden in between the jungle litter was this Blue-banded Jungle Glory (Thaumantis klugius lucipor)

Not too far from the above uncommon butterfly, came along this Dark Jungle Glory (Thaumanthis noureddin noureddin). Both the above butterflies are denizen of the thick forest. Due to their cryptic behavior - staying away from the main trails, they are seldom seen. 

This butterfly is only common in the forested regions

Yellow-barred Pan (Xanthotaenia busiris busiris)

Malayan Viscount (Tanaecia aruna aruna)/(T. pelea pelea)

Same common name but different Ssp. (I think)

Malayan Yamfly (Loxura cassiopeia cassiopeia)

Some literature have also named it as the Great Yamfly. This butterfly is less common than Loxura atymnus fuconius.

Purple Bush-Brown (Mycalesis orseis)

As we know, butterfly's wings are covered with tiny microscopic scales which when in contact with sunlight will produce different hue of colors

The above is a Royal Assyrian (Terinos terpander robertsia)

A Royal Assyrian in flight

Another Royal Assyrian

Commander (Moduza procris milonia)

A rather off-colored Common Imperial (Cheritra freja frigga)

This could be due to either aging or too much of sunlight (intensity of the light)

HAPPY BUTTERFLY DAY !!