Butterflies in May 2024 - new places and new lifers

I visited two new locations in the month of May and they brought me a few new lifers. Weather in May has been quite good with sunny skies and high humidity. In such weather, butterflies of various species came out and naturally followed by some rare ones. I even managed to get some nice photos as well.

When the sun comes out so as the butties. However, they will usually wait for the sun to be slightly warmer before they expose themselves.

Red Harlequin 

(Paralaxita telesia lyclene)

This is an eye level connection. Perfecto !

Pale-haired Palm King

(Amathusia ochraceofusca)

One of those many varieties of Palm Kings in this region.

Bicolor-haired Palm King

(Amathusia friderici holmanhunti f. utana)

Cyclops Bushbrown

(Culapa mnasicles perna)

This is not an ordinary bushbrown baby ! It's rare and my lifer.

Moore's Palm Redeye

(Erionota hiraca)

According to Dr Kirton, this skipper is smaller than Erionota thrax (Banana Skipper) and has the upperside FW apex whitened. In CP5 book, it is named E. acroleuca apicalis which they described as rare. 

Purple-streaked Catseye

(Coelites euptychoides humilis)

Together with other species such as Thaumantis, and Zeuxidia, this Catseye frequents the dark alleys of the jungle path.

Silver-spotted Lancer

(Plastinga naga)

First time seeing it after so many years. So it should be an uncommon species.

Banded Swallowtail

(Papilio demolion demolion)

I had many nice photos of this Papilio and this is just one of them. Once it starts puddling, you can approach it very near.

Malayan Cruiser

(Vindula erota chersonesia)

This Vindula is larger than the usual Cruiser (Vindula dejone erotella). So happy to see it up close. It is so 'friendly' that you could probably use a macro lens to take its photos.

                                                                                
                                                               

                    Malayan Yeoman                                                    Lesser Cruiser                              

                   (Cirrochroa emalea emalea)                                   (Vindula dejone erotella)                                                        

In a hot and dry season, even rocks can provide the desire minerals. Apparently only males will puddle for salts?

Branded Yeoman

(Algia fasciata)

This is a not so common Yeoman. 

Branded Yeoman

(Algia fasciata)

I think this is a localised and seasonal species.

What a beautiful specimen.

Wizard

(Rhinopalpa polynice eudoxia)

Female - slightly larger than the males.

Chocolate Royal

(Remelana jangala travana)

and its not so friendly looking butt.

                                  

Plush

  (Sithon nedymond nedymond)

Male

Also probably a seasonal species cause if you see them in one location, you would probably see them in other areas as well.

A puddling group is always fun to watch.         

You can see several species in one go. Here there are probably at least 6 species of different butterflies puddling in harmony.

More puddling group.

The one in the middle is a Catopsilia pomona pomona f . hilaria

Lemon Immigrant

The second one from the right is a Catopsilia pomona pomona f. alcmeone

Lemon Immigrant

The middle one should be a male Lesser Cruiser (Vindula dejone erotella)

                                                  Those two are Orange Gulls (Cepora iudith malaya)

Quite often seen nowadays.

Redspot Sawtooth

(Prioneris philonome themana)

This one is much larger than the above Cepora (Orange Gulls).

Orange Albatross (Appias nero figulina) and a Common Bluebottle (Graphium sarpedon luctatius)

Now, how about the one below here?

 
                                          Pink Albatross / Red Albatross?                             

                                                         
                       Great Orange Tip                       

                     (Hebomoia glaucippe)                      

                      

Another excellent specimen

Fivebar Swordtail

(Graphium antiphates itamputi)

Here is a recent surprise find. A prince came to my area.

           
        Black Prince            

                  (Rohana parisatis siamensis)                         

          

It was seen for the first time (I think) at the usual butterfly spot in Hulu Langat. This species is more often seen at Gopeng, Perak.     

Common Nawab

(Polyura athamas)

It can fly quite fast actually when disturbed.

These are two different individuals. Male n female perhaps?

  
                                          Ultra Snow Flat                                            

                   (Tagiades ultra)                       

Straight Snow Flat

(Tagiades parra naxos)

Common Redeye

(Matapa aria)

Here is something different from the book.

Experts have identified the above as a Common Tit (Hypolycaena erylus teatus)

Did the extreme climate just changed / diluted its colors?

                                  

                                      Here are some comparisons of Ace skippers.                                 
                                                               

Left = Zema Banded Ace (Halpe zema zamba)

Right = Dark Banded Ace (Halpe ormenes vilasina)

                                                                                   
                         Left = Branded Straw Ace (Pithauria marsena)          

              Right = Amber Ace (Halpe veluvana brevicornis)

                              - a possible lifer if my ID is correct                                           

Here is another Ace !

Pale Marked Ace

(Halpe hauxwelli) 

                                              A comparison of some common Silverlines                                                   

                                                                        
                                                Long-banded Silverline (Spindasis lohita senama) - right                                  

                                              Club Silverline (Spindasis syama terana)  - left                               

HERE COMES MY FAVOURITE PART OF EVERY POSTS

IDENTIFICATION OF ARHOPALAs / OAKBLUEs

                                                                    White-dot Oakblue        

(Arhopala democritus lycaenaria)

    

                                            Long-celled Oakblue                                                 

                

                (Arhopala aurea)                    
                                                                              

                                                                               
                                            (Arhopala kurzi)                                               

                                           Yellow-disc Tailess Oakblue                                                     

                    (Arhopala perimuta regina)                              

                                                                             
                                                 Moore's Oakblue                                                         

                                    (Arhopala moorei busa)                                          

Green-suffused Oakblue

(Arhopala trogon)

It has a beautiful shinning green upperside.

                                                                Long-celled Oakblue                                                 

                

                     (Arhopala aurea)        

(Arhopala agesias)

Shining Plushblue 

(Flos fulgida singhapura)

Lastly I end this month's post with a one in a life time photo.

The above photo should support the theory that some Lepidopteras do help in the pollination process.

HAVE A GREAT TIME WITH YOUR BUTTERFLY FRIENDS !!

Butterflies in April 2024 - Burara, Hasora et al

Looks like the month of April 2024 is filled with Hasora and Burara species. These species mainly appear at dawn or dusk where there are less light. Hence you can see that their eyes are slightly larger than other day-time species like Arhopalas. 

Violet Awl

(Hasora leucospila leucospila)

Lifer !!

Violet Awl

(Hasora leucospila leucospila)

They are quite a fast flyer.

Since they like to hang around at dimly lit places, you will need to use an external flashlight to get clearer photos of them.

Violet Awl

(Hasora leucospila leucospila)

Looks like the one I saw above is a male.

Orange Branded Awl

(Burara oedipodea oedipodea)

This Burara is uncommon and it's the first I am seeing it. It can be differentiated by other similar looking orange colored Awls by its bluish thorax.

Plain Banded Awl 

(Hasora vita vita)

The above three Awls were all missing when others visited the same location subsequently. It shows that there is a possibility that they might just be frightened away if their habitat has been disturbed. 

Except for this Awl.

Yellow Banded Awl

(Hasora schoenherr chuza)

This Awl was seen a few times and on a few different locations as well. It is the most common Awl you would come across over here. But photographing it can be a challenged unless it stops flying around.

Lets move to other interesting species.

Angled Cyclops

(Erites angularis)

You won't get to see Cyclops on the plains or forest edges. Usually they are found inside the forest.

Angled Cyclops

(Erites angularis angularis)

I have noticed that Cyclops like to fly close to the ground as well.

Although they can be skittish but they are not really some fast flyers.

Hanging nearby is another Cyclops and it's reported to be rare some more.

Cyclops Bushbrown

(Mycalesis mnasicles perna / Culapa mnasicles perna)

Initially I had just passed it off as a Faunis until another butterfly group expert corrected its ID. This has to be another lifer !!

Malay Forest Bob

(Scobura phidita)

Like its name suggest, most of the time I've only seen them inside the forest.

Bamboo Tree Brown

(Lethe europa malaya)

It was seen on the top of a bamboo like its name suggest. Have not seen this species for a long time.

Common Red Forester

(Lethe mekara gopaka)

This is not a common species as it name may suggests.

Another forest citizen.

Common Red Forester

(Lethe mekara gopaka)

Once it comes down to puddle you can get quite close to it.

Pygmy Posy / Lesser Posy

(Drupadia rufotaenia rufotaenia)

A pristine looking as well as an uncommon Posy.

White-tipped Palmer

(Lotongus calathus calathus)

When they are in season, they can be seen in a few places. So they might not be rare after all.

Here, it got spooked by the flash light which shows its hyline spots.

Royal Assyrian 

(Terinos terpander robertsia)

A popular species among the photographers due to its colorful wings. I got a few hundred 'likes' for the above photo alone but unfortunately it didn't reach a thousand like some photos out there.

Silver Forget-me-not

(Catochrysops panormus exigus)

Its scientific name sounds just as interesting as its common name. However, you don't see this species so often like a Jamides or a Nacaduba.

At times you don't have to travel far to see your lifer. They can visit you instead like this Jamides.

Royal Cerulean

(Jamides caeruleus)

Not many people like to photograph an Allotinus - probably for the following two reasons - i) they can be difficult to identify and ii) their outlook are generally plain.

Small Malayan Darkwing

(Allotinus strigatus malayanus)

Rounded Darkwing

(Allotinus corbeti)

                                                          

                                                      

Common Faun 

(Faunis canens arcecilas)

Here comes the 'giants' !

Koh-i-noor

(Amathusidia amythaon dilucida)

At first it was just at the side of the trail and I didn't notice it until it flew deeper into the bush. I had to climb a steep slope just to take this photo.

Palm King

There are a few Ssp of Palm Kings here and I think the above could be an Amathusia friderici holmanhunti.

This is probably the largest of them all.

Great Saturn / Giant Saturn

(Zeuxidia aurelius aurelius)

The above is a male and its field marks are all highlighted in the photo.

Here comes the species I liked most - Arhopalas

  

                                                               Long-celled Oakblue

                                                                  (Arhopala aurea)                             

Another lifer !

Arhopala caeca

(No common name for this one yet)

Large Metallic Oakblue

(Arhopala aedias agnis)

Large Metallic Oakblue

Showing its upperside

Large Metallic Oakblue

This is the same individual as above. Like most experienced butterfly spotters / entomologist would advise you, the tail alone is not necessarily a good indicator of an Arhopala. Here you can see that its tornal tails are 'missing'. So if you go for just the tail, you might just misidentify this oakblue.

I believe this is a Moore's Oakblue (Arhopala moorei busa). 

I think ID is at 95% correct.

Here is another one.

Small Tailess Oakblue

(Arhopala antimuta)

ID is also probably 95% correct.

Elasticity

It doesn't bend it like Beckham but it almost managed it.

WHAT A MONTH AND CAN'T WAIT FOR MAY 2024 !!