Sunday, 5 December 2021

Butterflies in November 2021 - lifers etc

The rain continued occasionally albeit with more softening of Covid-19 restrictions. There were a mix collection of butterflies shot in November with some unexpected lifers appearing too.


This is one of the most significant and awesome butterfly in my photo collection so far.

Jeweled Nawab (Polyura delphis concha)

Male



Lifer #2 - Banded Angle - Odontoptilum pygela pygela (Hewitson)

A skittish butterfly.



Lifer #3 = Malayan Red Harlequin (Paralaxita damajanti)

The above butterfly was shot in Fraser's Hill at Telecom Loop.



I think this could be a Green Dragontail (Lamproptera meges)

This "dragon" was also shot in Fraser's Hill.



Chestnut Tiger - Parantica sita ethologa (Swinhoe)

This butterfly can only be seen in hill stations or sub montane areas.



Small Wood Nymph  - Ideopsis gaura perakana (Horsfield)




Malayan Tree-nymph (Idea hypermnestra)

Like a flying polka dot tissue paper.




Purple bush-brown (Mycalesis orseis nautilus)



Dark Blue Jungle Glory (Thaumantis klugius lucipor)

I was lucky that it came out in the open as it usually stays deep in the jungle undergrowth.



Tree Yellow (Gandaca harina distanti)



Lemon Emigrant (Catopsilia pomona pomona f. hilaria)

This is one of those Ssp of Lemon Emigrant which is more orangey in colour.



Red-spot Duke (Dophla evelina compta)



This is the hindwing of "Euthalia adonia pinwilli" - female Green Baron

With just a little hindwing the experts have been able to ID this butterfly for me. At least now I know that this species can be found in my neighbourhood jungle.



Fulvous Pied Flat (Pseudocoladenia dan dhyana)



Lesser Jay (Graphium evemon eventus)

This Jay has a beautiful bluish upperside. Waiting for the day to shoot its upperside.



Forest Quaker (Pithecops corvus corvus)

A small butterfly which usually can only be found in the inland forest.



Common Three-Ring (Ypthima pandocus corticaria)



Malayan Yamfly  - Loxura cassiopeia cassiopeia (Distant)

This Yamfly is more restricted to the inland forest than the common Yamfly.



Branded Imperial (Eooxylides tharis distanti)

If you have no other butterflies to shoot then this butterfly could keep you entertained.



"Crows" can be difficult to ID as they have many patterns and closed 'relatives'.

This is a Stripped Blue Crow (Euploea mulciber mulciber)




This could be a female "Magpie Crow" (Euploea radamanthus radamanthus)

Female "Magpie Crow" is reportedly to be quite rare in some literature. The above female butterfly was shot in Fraser's Hill.





Yellow Glassy Tiger (Parantica aspasia aspasia) with a giant mosquito.



Yellow Glassy Tiger (Parantica aspasia aspasia




This should be an Indigo Flash (Rapala varuna orseis)

So far I am seeing this 'Rapala' in mostly higher atltitudes.




Here are some studio shots of Malay Yeoman (Cirrochroa emalea emalea)


A portrait shot



A freshly eclose butterfly is a beauty to photograph.



Lastly I also came across this diurnal moth

This is one of those 'Owlet Moth' (Spirama Retorta)



THAT'S ALL FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER !! HOPEFULLY I WILL GET SOME LIFERS IN DECEMBER !



Sunday, 17 October 2021

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 !

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