Some rare and uncommon butterflies in February 2023

At nearly 400 species of butterflies been photographed I thought the number of rare butterflies seen will dwindled but somehow I still managed the record of seeing a rare butterfly each month. So for the month of February 2023 there were at least three rare ones seen and all of them were skippers. 

The first rare/uncommon one seen is this skipper.

Ceylon Dartlet (Orions goloides). 

Its ID was confirmed by a more experienced entomologist from Singapore.

It landed just a few feet away from me. 

I am glad that I took some of its photos as initially I thought it might be just some Potanthus or other common Orions. It was busy feeding on the Bidens Pilosa flowers hence I had the opportunity to take photos of it from a few angles.

There were two of them actually.  They were seen just by the forest trail.

The next rare one is also a skipper. It's a Demon Flitter (Oerane microthyrus neaera). If you look at the previous post I might have actually seen it earlier but was not really sure of its ID. So the following week, I went back to the same location to try to look for it again. Initially I was unable to locate it but after walking for about 100 meters away I bumped into this one. It might be the same one I have seen earlier but this one was seen even closer.

This was seen at a different location then the above skipper. 

The only thing which differentiate it from other skippers are the whitish bands at its antenna. 

I wish I could show photos of it from different angles but it kept flying off and returning with the same pose and position. 

It was also seen near the forest trail but slightly deeper inside.

The third rare skipper, however, was photographed from quite a distance away but it is still unmistakable and it has a very peculiar scientific name.

Grass Bob (Suada swerga suava)

Grass Bob (Suada swerga suava)

I went back to the same spot to look for it the following day but unfortunately it did not appear again. 

After seeing all those rare ones, these are a few not so common ones.

Indian Cupid / Tailed Cupid (Everes lacturnus rileyi)

According to the CP field guide, this species can only be seen sporadically.

Common Sergeant (Athyma perius perius) is finally back. 

I believe this Athyma could be a localised species as some butterfly spotters have reported seeing it quite often at their sites. The last time I saw this species was in Penang - sometime back in July 2022.

Here is another uncommon one I think.

Dusky Cerulean (Jamides cunilda nisanca)

This is a male because I saw its deep blue upperside but was unable to photograph its magnificent colours.

Here comes the more common ones.

Common Tit (Hypolycaena crylus teatus)

A partially open dorsal view was good enough to confirmed that it's a male.

It takes lots of luck to photograph a BiF (Butterfly in Flight).

This should be a Common Sailor (Neptis hylas papaja)

Here it is again after flying a short distance and landed on a leaf to rest.

A farewell shot.

Elbowed Pierrot (Caleta elna elvira)

It's a small butterfly which has an erratic flight pattern.

THAT'S ALL FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2023.

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!