Butterflies in March 2021 (Part 3): understanding the wing structure of butterflies

To evoke interest in citizen science, the communication barriers between scientists and non-scientists should be eliminated. In the early days, amateurs were the ones who gathered and documented data from around the world. The information on the location, date and time and structural colors of  insects were documented in personal memoirs and travelling ledgers. These info eventually led or evolve into our present-day field guides and scientific knowledge. The good news is various new technologies including photography and molecular methods are also now more accessible to the entomological community. 

There are currently about 1051 butterflies species in Peninsular Malaysia alone (pers. comm with Dr Phon SK). Their popularity are perhaps largely due to their appearance. The development of colors and the assortment of patterns on butterfly wings were mainly due to the pigmentation and colour-generating nanostructures which located in the scales covering the surfaces of their wings. These photonic nanostructures are arranged in such a way to either reflect, diffract or scatter incident light on their wings. There are, however, several species of butterflies which appears without any scales covering their wings for example the "Lamproptera meges" species in this region. 

Recently I photographed a 'Celaenorrhinus asmara asmara' (White-banded Flat) with what appears like a transparent looking white-band on its discal area.

The above and below photo show what appears like the sun light has managed to penetrate the whitish band on its discal. Could it be that the areas around the band were arranged with translucent scales?

A typical way for a "flat" / butterfly to hide from direct sunlight or predators is by hiding under the leaves. Note the different colors of its discal bands (one is green as similar as the color of the leave and the other appears whitish).

Not so sure what are those two yellow things there.

Here are the remaining butterflies seen in the month of March 2021

A 'Hypolycaena erylus teatus' (Common Tit) trying to take in some 'sulphate' from my shoes.

Apparently the above butterfly is a female 'Common Hedge Blue' (Acytolepis puspa lambi). Looks like they are more common in the forest than in your local park or garden.

The above is a "Malay Yeoman' (Cirrochroa malaya malaya). It was differentiated from the rather similar C. emalea emalea by the pale discal band (in circle) which is constricted in C. emalea emalea.

Here's the upperside view of the Malay Yeoman.

Skippers can be fun to photographed as wherever they go they will always returned to the same perch

Peninsular Ace (Halpe pelethronix)

Peninsular Ace (Halpe pelethronix)

H. bolina bolina

Courtesan (Euripus nyctelius euploeoides)

 The same butterfly decided to come down to the ground.

When in contact with sunlight, the underside appears to be brownish. This is one of the classic examples showing the change of structural colors arising from the interaction of photonic cells in the nanostructures with sunlight.

Most 'Neptis' and 'Athyma' would require close scrutiny before their identification. 

By careful examination, the above butterfly was identified as an "Athyma clerica clerica" (Strange Sergeant) and it is reported to be rare in this region.

The above species has been identified as an "Athyma kanwa kanwa" (Dot-dash Sergeant)

Club Silverline (Spindasis syama senama)

Although common but at only 1.6 cm it can be quite difficult to spot. The above butterfly was seen just above ground level. 

The slightly blurry part on its tornus area was because it was moving its hindwings up and down to mimic a lively 'false head'.

ENJOY LOOKING FOR YOUR BUTTERFLIES !!

Butterflies in March 2021 (Part 2)

The month of March saw a combination of rain in the afternoon and sunshine in the morning. In between those weather patterns, I managed to tick my two hundreds (200 +) confirmed and photographed new butterfly species.

Chocolate Albatross (Appias lyncida vasava)

The above rather plain looking Chocolate Albatross maybe from a wet morph. It's a common butterfly from this region.

A frontal look of the male Chocolate Albatross.

The above is the female Chocolate Albatross (Appias lyncida vasava). It was seen together with the above male.

A male Chocolate Albatross (Appias lyncida vasava) in flight

A pair of Chocolate Albatross together with five Common Grass Yellow (Eurema hecabe hecabe) puddling on a wet forest floor.

 Here is my 200 new butterfly

The Malayan Count (Tanaecia godartii asoka) 

The above is a male and its scientific name might be referring to an ancient Indian emperor named Ashoka from the Mauryan empire (about 268bc).  

White-banded Flat (Celaenorrhinus asmara asmara)

The above "flat" was my 201 newly photographed butterfly. It's considered an uncommon to rare butterfly in this region. Saw three of them in one location, chasing each other away from their favourite perch.  By late morning they were all gone in a wink of an eye. This "flat" was sunning itself and you can see the sun ray penetrating its left white discal band. 

Here is a rarely seen upperside of a Chocolate Pansy (Junonia hedonia ida)

It was sunning itself on top of a tree. I have to climb up a branch in order to take this photo.

Painted Jezebel (Deliashyparete metarete)

Although described as common but I think they are more seasonal as you don't see them everyday.

The upperside wings of a male Common Imperial (Cheritra freja frigga)

It's not like everyday they will open up their wings for you.

Here is the side profile of a male Common Imperial (Cheritra freja frigga). Each of its long tail can function autonomously (i.e independent from each other)  

Common Posy (Drupadia ravindra moorei)

I have been seeing Common Posy together with Branded Imperial, Malayan Tailed-Judy and Malayan Plum Judy since December 2020 but with lesser numbers.

I think this could be an "Isma umbrosa umbrosa" (Large Long-banded Flitter)

Large Long-banded Flitter ?

Could this be a "Plain Tufted Lancer" (Isma iapis iapis) ?

Banded Demon (Notocrypta paralysos varians)

Not many people like to post skippers' photos but some of them can be quite attractive too.

Like this one below

Brown Bob (Psolos fuligo)

Lesser Dart (Pothanthus omaha omaha)

It just landed here from the Omaha beach.

The above butterfly was just a Common Cerulean (Jamides celeno celeno)

I initially thought that the above butterfly could be a 'Jamides alecto ageladas' but it was differentiated by the experts from a 'Common Cerulean' by the more straighter forewing lines on a 'Common Cerulean' as depicted below.

Another common butterfly - "Common Hedge Blue" (Acytolepis puspa lambi)

Here's a sailor who likes to eat papaya.

A Common Sailer (Neptis hylas papaja)

Its upperwings will look more brownish when in contact with direct sunlight.

Glad to see that this "Small Yellow Sailor" (Neptis miah batara) is still around. It was last seen here in January 2021. This time it was sunning itself high up on a tree.

A majestic looking male Archduke (Lexias pardalis dirteana) 

Its metallic blue shines brightly in a dense jungle.

RISE AND SHINE MY BUTTERFLIES !!

Butterflies in March 2021 (Part 1)

Here are a few butterflies' photo which were taken around KL and Selangor regions. Most of them were common though.

A Common Posy looking at its own "avatar".

Yamfly is still around on its favourite perch.

I didn't see any tigers or elephants but I did saw a "Small Leopard" (Phalanta alcippe alcesta)

It's a rather small size butterfly in real life.

Chocolate Demon (Ancistroides nigrita maura) is probably one of the most common 'bobs' you can find in this region.

A Rustic resting almost at the edge of an overhanging leave.

Tufted Jungle King (Thauria aliris pseudaliris)

This is a denizen of deep forest. It came out in the open area at the edge of a forest trail.

Despite its unpleasant looking condition, it was still satisfying to see this uncommon butterfly in the open. Unlike a "cicak" where it can grow back its tail, a butterfly can't regrow its wings once tattered. 

Grey Pansy (Junonia atlites atlites)

You will need to move very slowly if you want to get really close to this butterfly.

Arhopala democritus lycaenaria - White-dotted Oakblue

Despite its status as a common forest butterfly, this is the first time I am seeing it.

My more experienced butterfly friend has helped me to identify the above species as a "Common Mime" (Papilio clytia clytia). It floats gently like a butterfly but it certainly doesn't stint like a bee.

Neptis magadha charon

Common name: Spotted Sailor

Status: rare

I have differentiated it from "Neptis d. nesia" from the row of its forewing spots.

Royal Assyrian (Terinos terpander robertsia)

These are not really sharp photos as it was foraging under some thick jungle but I am just as thrilled to be able to capture its purple streak.

Yellow Flash (Rapala domitia domitia)

An uncommon forest butterfly which name sounds like a fishing lure brand and it looks a bit like the common yellow grass. 

Lastly I have always wanted to know the wing profile of a skipper. They have the unique ability to fold up their wings like a fighter jet.

With the help from a more experience butterfly researcher, here are his description of the wing profile of what I think could be a "Potanthus ganda ganda" (which is reported to be more common in the forested areas):

(1) & (2) are the forewings but (1) is upperside right forewing, (2) is underside left forewing; (3) is upperside left hindwing.

HAVE FUN WITH BUTTERFLIES !!