A day with the Euploea and Ideopsis

Sometime in July this year, I came across a bunch of Leea Indica plants which are blooming at a location in Penang. From a few plants alone, its flowers attracted many species of butterflies. Majority of them were from the Euploea and Ideopsis species. 

One of the pretties of them all is the male Striped Blue Crow (Euploea mulciber mulciber)

Here is the underside of the male Striped Blue Crow.

Nothing spectacular - its underside.

The female Striped Blue Crow is equally stunning.

The female Striped Blue Crow is slightly larger than the male.

But the underside of the female Striped Blue Crow is really nice.

There is only one female.

It would 'hop' from one plant to the other.

Striped Blue Crow (Euploea mulciber mulciber) - Female

Some females do not have the bright bluish colour on their forewings.

This one only show a tinge of blue at its forewings.

Here are a few more different Euploea seen.

 Euploea crameri bremeri (Spotted Black Crow)

 Euploea crameri bremeri (Spotted Black Crow)

Now who could this be ?

It should be another male Striped Blue Crow (Euploea mulciber mulciber).

The next Euploea should be quite interesting

It's a Brown King Crow (Euploea klugii erichsonii)

To ensure my identification of the species, here are a few more of its photos.

Brown King Crow (Euploea klugii erichsonii)

Brown King Crow (Euploea klugii erichsonii)

This could be a male due to its darker colored wing.

These next butterflies are the more common Ideopsis.

Ceylon Blue Glassy Tiger (Ideopsis similis persimilis)

Probably the least common among the Ideopsis.

Ceylon Blue Glassy Tiger (Ideopsis similis persimilis)

Blue Glassy Tiger (Ideopsis vulgaris macrina)

This sub-species is a bit smaller than I. similis)

Blue Glassy Tiger (Ideopsis vulgaris macrina)

Here is something different to add to the mix.

Parantica agleoides agleoides (Dark Glass Tiger)

Parantica agleoides agleoides (Dark Glass Tiger)

                         Dark Glassy Tiger (Female)                           Blue Glassy Tiger (Female)

Blue Glassy Tiger (Male)

Here are some mix bunch.

  Dark Glassy Tiger Parantica agleoides agleoides &  Euploea crameri bremeri (Spotted Black Crow)

                                                  

                      Spotted Black Crow and  Blue Glassy Tiger (Ideopsis similis)

                                                   

All in-one

From left: E. crameri bremeri; E. mulciber mulciber; Ideopsis vulgaris and Ideopsis similis

   

Here are a few other butterfly species which join them.

Large Snow Flat (Tagiades gana gana)

Pelopidas conjunctus (Conjoined Swift) and a Pothantus 

Colonel - Pandita sinope sinope (now is an Athyma sinope sinope ?)

Colonel - Athyma sinope sinope

THAT'S ALL FROM THE IDEOPSIS AND EUPLOEA !

A tribute to a rare butterfly - Red Imperial (Suasa lisides suessa)

This post was specially created for a rare butterfly which was seen in July 2022 in Perak. This butterfly is quite small - probably just around 1.1cm (about the size of a Megisba malaya - Malayan Pied Blue).

My initial thoughts was that it might be a small flying insect. When I saw its tail only then I realised that it is a butterfly

On further observation my thoughts was that it could be some Drupadia or a Cheritra species but its small size was something which I have never seen before

In addition to its tiny size, it had also constantly perched high above my head which makes sharp photography a much difficulty thing to operate.

Occasionally it would fly deeper into the bushes and then return again after a few minutes.

 

It is also can be quite skittish - only allowed distant shots.

I am so fortunate to see this butterfly as I only realised its rarity status when I got home.

Hopefully I can see it again and get a much sharper photo of this rare species of butterfly.

HAPPY BUTTERFLY WATCHING !!

Butterflies in July 2022 (1st half)

Looks like the month of July has been a productive month. With a couple of bright sunny days and a few public holidays in the mix, the butterfly numbers have also been increased. Hence their photos in July 2022 will have to be separated into two parts. Here are some of those interesting ones seen.

It's not easy to take a photo of a butterfly in flight (BIF). Luckily this one was fluttering just about the right timing for a distant shot. 

This is a Burmese Sailor (Neptis leucoporous cresina) instead of a Clear Sailor (Neptis clinia leuconata)

The next butterfly below is not as common as it sounds. Nevertheless according to some butterfly spotters, they can occasionally be seen quite often in some locations.

Common Sergeant (Athyma perius perius)

This one was seen in Penang mainland.

Its underwings are equally nice.

Chequered Lancer (Plastingia naga)

Hardly seen their open wings. So this one was identified from the white streak at its costa forewings.

Palm King (Amatthusia phidippus phidippus)

This is a large butterfly with an interesting looking ocelli.

It was foraging among the jungle litter - even squeezing itself under some leaves.

Palm King can be quite skittish but this time it was friendly to me.

Trying to identify the next two butterflies can be quite challenging for me because I have yet to master their key features. Luckily there are some mahagurus/sifus in the FB group to assist me.

The above is a female Malay Baron (Euthalia monina monina)

The above is a female Taneacia pelea pelea (Malayan Viscount)

The next few butterflies are real gems

The colour of its upperwings are so stunning that you will just forget about trying to take its photo. It has shining metallic green and a patch of light blue. 

Common Gem (Poritia hewitsoni) 

It took me two trips to take this photos. The first time it was seen about 50 meters away. So I decided to try my luck again the following week. Lo and behold, on my second trip, it came much nearer to me. 

Common Gem (Poritia hewitsoni) 

This butterfly is full of love I guess - there were so many love signs on its wings as you can see.

Sometimes luck can strike twice as the following gem also came nearby on my second trip.

Sumatran Gem (Poritia sumatranae)

Initially I thought I was seeing the same butterfly but after scrutinising its underwings patterns, I realised that I have just got another gem.

Sumatran Gem (Poritia sumatranae)

I smiled all the way home and slept happily thereafter :-) 

MORE BUTTERFLY PHOTOS COMING YOUR WAY

STANDBY FOR THE 2ND PART !