Comparison and identification of Butterflies - Jan 2023

Welcome back to a brand new year !! Hope things will get better this year especially in terms of spotting some rare and colourful butterflies. Weather has been unpredictable in January 2023 - mostly cloudy and windy with some rain in the evening. I managed to get some rare butterflies to start the new year and also I would like to share some field marks of a few "difficult" butterflies.

Let me start with this pristine and colourful female Blue Pansy (Junonia orithya wallacei) 

It was seen on some plains with tall weeds in the Northern state of Kedah.

This is a female Chocolate Soldier (Junonia iphita horsfieldi). It was seen in the jungles of Pahang.

This is a White-bar Bush Brown (Mycalesis anaxias senoi)

This species is more common up on the hilly terrains than in lowland forest.

Malayan Wanderer (Parenonia valeria lutescens) 

This one was seen near the GAP.

Here is a rare butterfly which ventured into a wrong place.

Taraka hamada mendesia (Forest Pierrot)

We released it after taking its photo. Nevertheless it was a significant find due to its rarity status.

Here is another forest dweller.

Common Faun (Faunis canens arcesilas) - male

Common Faun (Faunis canens arcesilas) - Female

Dark Archduke (Lexia dirtea merguia) - female

This species can only be seen mostly in a dense forest areas.

Yellow Glassy Tiger (Parantica aspasia aspasia)

Quite common here but apparently rare in Singapore. Here it is seen with the flowers of Siam Weed (Chromolaena odorata) which is reported to have originated from the Americas and its poisonous.

Here is another species which was seen near the Siam Weed.

Continental Swift (Parnara ganga ganga)

It can be identified from its very short antenna and larger hyaline spots.

Indigo Flash (Rapala varuna orseis)

This is the first time I am able to see its upperside colours.

I believe this is a Lesser Dart (Potanthus omaha omaha)

A Potanthus omaha couple I think.

                                                             
                      Common Four-Ring                                      Common Five-Ring                          

                            (Ypthima huebneri)                                         (Yphtima newboldi)                                 

Here comes the tiny ones and the blues.

                        Lesser Grass Blue (Zizina otis lampa)                

Tailless Line Blue (Prosotas dubiosa lumpura)

Barred Line Blue (Prosotas aluta nanda) and Common Hedge Blue (Acytolepis puspa lambi)

                                                               
                                Cycad Blue (Luthrodes pandava pandava)                         

                                                     
                                   Rounded Six-Line Blue (Nacaduba berenice icena)                   

Rounded Six-Line Blue (Nacaduba berenice icena)

                  Common Line Blue (Prosotas nora superdates) - female            
                               

Pointed Ciliate Blue (Anthene lycaenina miya)

Malayan Four-Line Blue (Nacaduba pendleburyi)

                            

Okay ! now we go into the comparisons of some quite common but can be 'difficult' species.

                                                                        
                        Glassy Cerulean (male)                                    Malaccan Cerulean (Female)                 

                         (Jamides parasaturatus)                                         (Jamides malaccanus)                          

Common Cearulean (Jamides celeno aelianus)

Banded Demon (Notocrypta paralysos varians) or perhaps a Clavate Banded Demon?

As mentioned in the CP5 field handbook, it has a white hyaline dot in space 4.

What about this one below here.

I believe it could be a Clavate Banded Demon (Notocrypta clavata clavata)

According to CP5 again, there is no spot in space 4 in the male.

How about this one?

                                                               
                        No hyaline spots and white discal band did not reach the costal space.

So could it be a N. paralysos or perhaps a N. clavata ?

           Lastly here comes the very rare ones.

White Club Flitter / Brush Flitter (Hyarotis microsticta microstictum)

Although the literature says that this skipper is rare but I think it's more like uncommon cause it can be seen occasionally at my local patch. So looks like it's more of a localised species.

The next one is my lifer and probably a rare one.

Initially I thought it could be a Notocrypta quadrata but after looking at its whitish antenna, this is most likely a Demon Flitter (Oerane microthyrus neaera)

Demon Flitter (Oerane microthyrus neaera)

The best thing about this skipper is that it was found in a nearby forest and not in a deep forest.

The next one is also a super rare species.

Initially I reckoned that it could be a Poritia phama rajata based on the two dots on its FW. But after reviewing all the images further I guess it is a "Green Gem" (Poritia pleurata). Both are super rare ones.

Green Gem Poritia pleurata 

Although it looks tattered but it can still be identified.

So lucky to get this defining shot.

It perched quite a distance away, so most of the shots are not as sharp as I wish.

In case you are visiting Peninsular Malaysia to view the various endemic / common butterflies, this is a general diagram / outline of the terrains where you can find them.

TILL THEN - ADIOS AMIGOS ! 

ENJOY THE BEAUTY OF THE BUTTERFLIES WHEREVER YOU MAYBE!

Butterflies in December 2022

As we welcome the new year, some of us would have make some grand wishes. There might be some who wish to get more richer while some would just wish that they are healthy and fit. For me my wish is that I will be fit enough to enjoy my hobby of photographing as many butterflies as possible. There is no other better butterfly to end the year 2022 than a pristine looking female Charaxes bernadus crepax (Tawny Rajah).

Tawny Rajah (female)

I took loads of shots of this butterfly as it puddled leisurely around.

I felt liked it has descended down from Heaven as it appeared suddenly in front of me.

The female of this species is huge and this one is not bothered by my close presence.

When a butterfly is beautiful, it will be nice whether it goes upside down or whether it goes sideways.

At a certain angle, her antenna looks a bit bluish in colour.

Tawny Rajah Charaxes bernadus crepax

Taking minerals from a concrete embankment.

Next up is a Tajuria.

Flash Royal (Tajuria deudorix ingeni)

This species I believe is not common.

This butterfly was seen in Gopeng, Perak.

Another beauty from Gopeng.

Burmese Cerulean (Jamides philatus subditus)

Long Branded Blue Crow (Euploea algea menetriesii) 

To confirm the nomenclature of this butterfly is not easy. One also need to see its 'brand' as shown by the photo below.

It can be seen mostly in lowland areas.

At a certain angle, you can see a bluish sheen at its forewing costa region.

Long Branded Blue Crow (Euploea algea menetriesii) 

Stripped Blue Crow (Euploea mulciber mulciber)

This male 'crow' is even more common then the earlier one.

Malayan Lascar (Lasippa tiga siaka) 

A little chip at the tip of its forewing doesn't hurt.

Yellow Flash (Rapala domitia domitia)

This one looks like a male.

Prosotas nora superdates (Common Line Blue)

The more yellowish colour of this butterfly points it to a female.

A Dark Glassy Tiger (Parantica agleoides agleoides) sampling a flower of the bidens plant.

This is most likely a male and it's smaller than the rest of the Parantica subspecies.

A nice looking Dark Grass Brown (Orsotriaena medus cinerea)

Lastly here is a seldom photographed female Red Spot Duke (Dophla evelina compta)

Although the male looks more colourful but she has her own beauty.

She is a strong flier and seldom come down to rest except this time.

THAT'S ABOUT IT !

SAYONARA FOLKS. TILL WE MEET AGAIN NEXT YEAR WITH MORE INTERESTING PHOTOS OF THE BUTTERFLIES IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA