Butterflies in December 2021 - Common and migrating ones

The raining season continued in December with a major one on 18 December which flooded almost half of Shah Alam area in Selangor. At the time of this post the water has receded and life are back to normal for some people while some might still be trying to overcome their post-traumatic stress experience. 

Here are some of the butterflies which I've managed to photographed in the month of December.

Dark Blue Glassy Tiger (Tirumala septentrionis septentrionis) 

A striking butterfly indeed.

Saw it in the afternoon at a lowland forest in Ampang, KL

Apparently it's a migrating butterfly. Only one was seen at that time.

Here's another striking butterfly

Royal Assyrian (Terinos terpander robertsia)

It can be fairly common in the forest regions

Apparently the above butterfly is named as 'Spotted Chocolate Soldier' (Junonia hedonia ida) in Kirton (2020) butterfly field guide. But of the time people called it "Chocolate Pansy"

To identify an "Euploea" you will need to carefully scrutinised the markings on its wings. Here are some uncommon ones.

The above is a Brown King Crow (Euploea klugii erichsonii)

It was seen at AID, Penang mainland.

 

Another angle of the Brown King Crow (Euploea klugii erichsonii)

At the same flowering plant - is this (Euploea mulciber mulciber) - Striped Blue Crow (ID corrected)

Here is another uncommon / rare 'crow'.

Long Branded Blue Crow (Euploea algea menetriesii) 

The above can look more like an E. algae than an E. modesta modesta. This 'crow' was seen at a lowland forest in Ampang. 

The same butterfly under a shade, it looks a bit darker here.

Sometimes if you are fortunate enough, some butterflies might appear in your office. Most of the time I would encounter moths in my office but this butterfly came 'crashing' into my office at 9th floor !

Centaur Oakblue (Arhopala centaurus nakula)

Wonder how it managed to fly all the way up to 9th floor - that's about almost 100 feet above the ground.

It was probably trying to escape from a predator as it appear to be 'tired'.

So I decided to take it back.

Took a few studio shots before releasing it back out in a nearby forest.

It actually has some lovely green eyes which unfortunately can't be seen here.

Another butterfly with green eyes.

Malayan Plum Judy (Saturata Abisara)

It think the above is a male.

Here are some tricky ones. The butterflies below look the same but they are not.

The above is a Horsfield's Five-Ring (Ypthima horsfieldii)

and this one is the Common Four-ring (Ypthima huebneri)

(Note: according to experts, the two smallest occellis are actually considered as one)

Here is a splendid example of a biological symbiotic relation between a butterfly, ants and plant.

This Lesser Darkwing (Allotinus unicolor unicolor) overposited some eggs on a plant that appears like having some spikes. 

The eggs are then further protected by ants which worked like an 'administrator'.

This is my lifer  butterfly in December.

Scarlet Flash (Rapala dieneces dienecis)

One is a male and one is probably a female.

Common Palmfly (Elymnias hypermnestra)

Common Palmfly (Elymnias hypermnestra)

Malayan Owl (Neorina lowii neophyta)

Extracting something from a discarded tissue paper.

Here is an example of the effect of sunlight on photography.

This is a "Club Silverline" (Spindasis syama terana)

The same "Club Silverline" but this time it was photographed under direct sunlight.

I believe the above is a "Purple Bush Brown" (Mycalesis orseis nautilus) 

This butterfly ends my butterfly adventures in December and the entire 2021.

Grey Pansy (Junonia atlites atlites)

This one was seen at IAD, Penang, Mainland.

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN IN 2022, ADIOUS ! AMIGOS AND FRIENDS!

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 !