Butterflies in April 2021: an outlook on the conservation of Lepidoptera

A highly diversified insect life in an ecosystem is usually closely associated with a resourceful environment. In understanding the conservation and needs of any species, one actually need to understand their biological setup and intricate behavioral cues that may sustain the existence of the species. An understanding of the correlation of butterflies with their host plants as well as the wellbeing of the host plants are also critical in the conservation efforts of Lepidoptera. Their larva and adults at times occupy different habitats and requires different resources for their survival. For example the Indian Palm Bob (Suastus gremius gremius) oviposition host plant is "Phoenix acaulis" while its larva host plant are Coconut Palms and, Lady Palms (as well as Yellow Cane Palms and Sealing Wax Palms as discovered by SK Khew and his team from Singapore). Hence an increased in anthropogenic activities which results in habitat fragmentation and lost of host plants may effect the previously functional metapopulations. 

The month of April saw the beginning of a transition of the monsoon phase which caused some heavy rain and thunderstorm in this region. The current monsoon transition phase marks the end of the northeast monsoon phase which started since last November. This new Southwest monsoon phase on the other hand is expected to continue until mid-May. I have managed to score a few nice and uncommon to rare butterflies in between those rain showers.

Whitespot Palmer (Eetion elia)

I was lucky to see this butterfly which is considered unique and uncommon. 

It has no subspecies across its range.

It flew across the trail from right to left like 'Flash Gordon'. Luckily it landed on some palm leaves.

Initially it was a bit skittish but after awhile once it has calmed down I was able to approach it quite close.

Yellow-disc Tailless Oakblue (Arhopala perimuta regina)

It was last seen in January about 100 meters from the current location. Could it be the same one ?

The Red Spot Duke (Dophla evelina compta)

This butterfly is about the size of an Archduke. To snap its photo I had to find my way deeper into the foliage as it kept itself outside from the main trail. 

Common Posy (Drupadia ravindra moorei)

This butterfly species has been quite common lately and they like to hang-out on hairy leaves.

The month of April seems to produced a number of sailers.

This neptis species I think is most likely a "Burmese Sailer" (Neptis leucoporus cresina)

Meanwhile this one above could be a "Colour Sergeant' (Athyma nefie subrata)

The above is most likely a "Malayan Sailor" (Neptis duyodana)

Knight (Lebadea martha malayana)

A fairly common butterfly but it is usually found only in forested areas.

Spotted Black Crow (Euploea crameri bremeri)

Sometimes you could see a few flying gently in the forest tree tops but this one has decided to fly lower.

Lesser Striped Black Crow (Euploea eyndhovii gardineri)

I believe this species is much less common than the earlier 'Black Spotted Crow'.

The above photo which was taken by my friend with a handphone is a "Ciliate Blue" (Anthene emolus goberus). So lucky to see its upperside. ID was informed by a Singaporean butterfly enthusiast.

A type of Jamides - most likely a "Common Cerulean" (Jamides celeno celeno)

Could the above be a "Pointed Line Blue" (Ionolyce helicon merguina) 

The above skipper looks like a "Lesser Dart" (Pothanthus omaha omaha)

The above skipper could be a "Malayan Dartlet" (Oriens paragola pseudolus). It was based on its more / deeper orangey colors.

A very brightly coloured skipper indeed.

Neptis miah batara (Small Yellow Sailor)

This 'sailer' prefers to puddle on the ground as compared to other sailors. This time there were two of them.

Quite a scary looking face.

Could the above be a "Perak Laskar" (Pantoporia peraka peraka)

Blue Posy (Drupadia scaeva scaeva)

The above butterfly is just about the size of a 'Jamides' but is very skittish. Doesn't allow me to get a closer look. This shot was made from a distance.

Bifid Plushblue (Flos diardi capeta)

Never seen this one before.

Lesser Darkwing (Allotinus unicolor unicolor)

Could this be two different Lesser Darkwings?

                                                                            

                        The one on the left appears to be strongly patterned than the one on the right.

Punchinello (Zemeros flegyas albipunctatus)

There is nothing striking about its underside as compared to its upperside. Have a look at the photo below and you will know why.

           

What a beauty !

Vagrant (Vagrans egista macromalayana) (Fruhstorfer)

Vagrant - this butterfly was once declared extinct in Singapore only for it to reappear after three decades later.

In Peninsular Malaysia, it is considered "moderately common" and can be found mainly in the forested regions.

One of the highlights of any nature trips, is the appearance of rare or uncommon butterflies. 

Yellow Banded Awl (Hasora scoenherr chuza)

Like most skippers, this Yellow Banded Awl can fly very fast and its wing beats can be heard if it flies closer to your ears. 

For every new and rare butterflies, my heart will jump for joy. That's the beauty of watching nature. The above is a "Blue Dandy" (Laringa castelnaui castelnaui). Described as one of the rare species by literature. 

Spotted Plum Judy - Abisara geza niya (Fruhstorfer)

Gender: female

It took awhile for many of us to ID the above skipper until an expert finally nailed it as a worn out female "Fullstop Swift" (Caltoris cormasa). 

The same "Fullstop Swift" with flash on. Still can't see any spots due to its worn out status.

This Yamfly (Loxura atymnus fuconis)has something peculiar above its eye. Not sure what was it though.

Indian Palm Bob (Suastus gremius gremius) (Fabricius)

Status: Fairly Common

Lastly here is an interesting moth which you might seldom seen.

Dog's Paw Moth (Plutodes malaysiana)

TO APPRECIATE NATURE YOU WILL NEED TO BE CLOSED WITH NATURE !

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 !!