Butterflies in September 2022

The month of September 2022 saw many species from the "Orange Club". Most of them were seen in the Klang Valley despite the incoming rainy season over here.

Plush (Sithon nedymond)

So far I have been seeing only the females of this species (like the one above). Are males of this species scarcier than females ?

The above maplet I believe is a Greater Wavy Maplet (Chersonesia rahria rahria). Besides its larger size, it was identified from its narrower discal band as indicated above.

It is just slightly larger than Chersonesia intermedia (Wavy Maplet)

Common Yeoman (Cirrochroa tyche rotundata)

This subspecies of Cirrrochroa tyche is less common than the other subspecies.

This one is a female Malay Staff Sergeant (Arthyma reta moorei)

The female of this species is less common than the males which has black uppersides instead.

Plain Lacewing (Cethosia methypsea methypsea)

Reported to be an unpleasant butterfly for any birds to eat.

It is quite an uncommon species here.

Tawny Rajah (Charaxes bernarduscrepax)

This "Mr Rajah" refused to come down from the tree tops and stayed there for the entire day. 

After the "Orange Club" has dispersed, came members from other clubs.

Great Mormon  (Papilio memnon agenor) 

On numerous occasions I have seen it flying in between the trees along the trail but it hardly stops. This time I said a little prayer that it will stop for a moment for me and it actually did ! Yahoo !

As its name suggests it is one of the biggest Papilios in this region. It did flew off for moment but luckily it came back again. So happy to finally able to get its open wings shot. This is a male.

The Wizard (Rhinopalpa polynice eudoxia)

Although not rare but it's an uncommon butterfly.

Experts have ID this one as a Malayan Baron (Euthalia monina monina)

Looks like this species has a lot of different upperside color variations.

Another uncommon beauty.

Tawny Palmfly (Elymnias panthera)

Malayan Sailor (Neptis duryodana nesia)

Malayan Sailor - same butterfly but at different angle of light

           

                                 Under a shade                                               Under direct sun light                                                                                            

                              

Then a "Sergeant" came calling.

Lance Sergeant (Athyma parvara helma)

This "Flat" has a lot of thick hairs and apparently it is raising them up to regulate hot hair in a cold morning.

Common Snow Flat (Tagiades japetus atticus)

         

             Once it has warmed up, it went to have its daily breakfast of 'syrups'.

Here is another flat but it's less common.

Straight Snow Flat (Tagiades parra naxos)

After the medium ones have gone, here comes the smaller species.

This is an Ancyra Blue (Catopyrops ancyra aberrans)
                                                 

Ancyra Blue (Catopyrops ancyra aberrans)  

Reported to be rare or perhaps an uncommon species.

Prosotas aluta nanda (Barred Line Blue)

Barred Line Blue

Initially I thought this could be a Prosotas pia pia (Margined Line Blue) but experts say that P. pia pia is a montane species. The next possibility would be a Prosotas gracilis ni but the above has a tail. So which species could it be? Note:  this is most likely a Prosotas bhutea (Bhutya LineBlue) !

Next one is less confusing.

Ciliate Blue (Anthene emolus goberus)

This is a very small Prosotas and it can fly very fast.

Prosotas nora superdates (Common Line Blue)

Common Line Blue - its upperside color is actually brownish but it can also look slightly bluish.

               

Brownish                                                       Bluish               

Here is a friendly and common butterfly.

Cycad Blue (Luthrodes pandava)

Saw at least 10 of them on just one ornamental palm tree which was below this hill in Ipoh.

Wonder what other species of butterflies are lurking above there.

The above photos were taken from a handphone so the quality was a bit out of shape.

Note its four instead of the usual three hindwing black spots.

Malayan Yellow-veined Lancer (Pyroneura latoia)

What was that thing?

Here is my second mega lifer butterfly for this year !

                   Blue Begum (Prothoe franck uniformis)

So happy that it stayed on the tree trunk for some close up shots. A rare butterfly indeed. The above could be a male. I did not use any flash for fear that it might fly away.

Another diurnal moth

It was there for the entire morning.

A tragedy for one species but food for another.

LOOKS LIKE SEPTEMBER HAS BEEN ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL MONTH FOR ME !  HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE MORE MEGA LIFERS IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER. CHOW FOR NOW !

   

Butterflies of Pahang - Aug 2022 (Part 2)

Here is the continuation of my butterfly adventure in the forest of Pahang. This time and as usual, there were several nice and rare butterflies appearing at the same butterfly survey spot. Survey time was from 9.30am to about 2.20pm. Weather was a bit cloudy and with occasionally sunshine. 

I have selected this rare female butterfly as my main photo this time.

Constable (Dirchorragia nesimachus deiokes)

I am so glad to see this rare butterfly and apparently the female species of this butterfly is more stunning than the male. This species is rare over here.

When in flight, she was like a SR17 - super fast. My mega lifer !

Its underside is equally stunning.

Apparently this species is a close relative to the Popinjay (Stibochiona nicea) and is absent from Singapore at this point of time.

It puddle just for awhile and once filled, she flew away and didn't return.

Have been wanting to photograph this Polyura for a long time.

Polyura hebe chersonesus (Southern Nawab)

This is the only one which came to puddle.

For comparison - this is a Common Nawab (Polyura athamas)

Common Nawab (Polyura athamas). 

Not sure which is more common than the other.

They can be quite common like in this place but generally they are uncommon in many places I believe. 

Here is an uncommon Nawab.

Jewelled Nawab (Polyura delphis concha) 

Only saw it twice in my lifetime. 

This Nawab is slightly larger than the earlier Nawabs.

This one is a Lesser Cruiser (Vindula dejone erotella)

This is strictly a forest species and a scarce one !

Here is another uncommon species.

This is a  Branded Yeoman (Algia fasciata fasciata)

My lifer.

There are not many times you can see a Curetis opening up its wings.

This is a Curetis feeda (Parallel Sunbeam)

Open wings and underwings features will surely confirm its ID.

Looks like quite a friendly Parallel Sunbeam (Curetis freda)

The next Curetis ID can be quite tricky and biologist usually doesn't like speculations.

For the sake of discourse - I will ID this one as a Curetis sperthis sperthis (Rounded Sunbeam). Unfortunately I do not have a dorsal shot of its wings.

Now we move on to a slightly 'easy' butterfly

This is a Banded Blue Pierrot (Discolampa ethion thalimar)

Here it is again in the company of two Anderson's Grass Yellow / One-spot Grass Yellow (Eurema andersonii andersonii). It has a very nice upperside wing colours.

Banded Blue Pierrot (Discolampa ethion thalimar) with an Elbowed Pierrot (Caleta elna elvira)

Puddling alone on the sand.

Banded Blue Pierrot (Discolampa ethion thalimar)

This one should be easy.

Common Hedge Blue (Acytolepis puspa lambi)

This is a Prosotas aluta nanda (Barred Line Blue)

Nacaduba berenice icena (Rounded Six Line Blue)

White Four-line Blue (Nacaduba angusta kerriana)

 

After the small ones then came the bigger ones.

Blue Catseye (Coelites epiminthia)

In the forest at times you can come across this Bamboo Tree-Brown (Lethe europa malaya). This is a male and I would say that this is an uncommon butterfly.

They can be uncommon at times but at the right spot, they can be fairly common

Tawny Rajah (Charaxes bernardus crepax)

This one can be fairly common in the forest especially near some wet sandy patches.

Straightline Mapwing (Cyretis nivea nivalis)

This one looks quite pristine.

Malayan Owl (Neorina lowii neophyta)

Most of the time you can see them flying around rather than puddling.

Here it is again - Glorious Begum (Agatasa calydonia calydonia)

When it is puddling, it will allow you to come quite close unless you walk around like a baby elephant.

Another big one.

Red Helen (Papilio helenus helenus)

This is a Branded Straw Ace (Pithauria marsena)

This one is quite a large skipper and is fairly common at this location.

I didn't want to photograph this moth (yes it is a diurnal moth!) but sifu informed me that it is a rare moth which looks like a wasp ! Unfortunately I have forgotten its name at the moment.

THAT'S ALL FROM THE FOREST OF PAHANG.