Understanding the butterflies of Peninsular Malaysia - Jan 2021

There are currently about 1182 species of butterflies been recorded in Malaysia (Wilson et al, in Norfazliana et al., 2018) with almost 80% of them are found in East Malaysia (i.e in Borneo Island) (Yong HS, 1983; Corbet and Pendlebury, 1992). Butterflies have many roles to play in our ecosystem. Not only are they the food source of many animals like birds and mammals but they are also well known pollinators.

Butterflies are also an important part of conservation efforts. The threat of extinction of some species are real. The loss and degradation of its forest habitat due to anthropogenic activities and poaching were some of the main concerns. Its elegance and beauty also provide a sense of eureka to nature lovers when one sees them (especially the rare ones).

The monsoon season is still continuing in this region as I write. It will probably ends somewhere in mid February. Nevertheless the butterflies took the advantage of intermittent sunlight to come out and enjoy themselves. Here are some of them which have been spotted recently.

Branded Imperial (Eooxylides tharis distanti)

Status: common

Branded Imperial (Eooxylides tharis distanti) - minus its tail

 

Small Yellow Sailor (Neptis miah batara)

Status: uncommon

Small Yellow Sailor showing its under wings

Small Yellow Sailor (front view)

                                                                                                                   

 A comparison between a 'Common Lascar' (Pantoporia hordonia) - left and a 'Small Yellow Sailor' (Neptis miah batara) (right)                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

                                                                  

Common Posy (Drupadia ravindra moorei)

Status: common in certain areas

I find that 'Common Posy' is much more skittish than the above 'Branded Imperial'

Yamfly (Loxura atymnus fuconius)

Although 'Yamflies' are reported to be common but it's not easy to see them either

Malayan Tailed Judy (Abisara savitri savitri)

Status: uncommon

Like a singer under a spotlight

Starry Bob / Malay Chestnut Bob (Iambrix stellifer)

Status: uncommon to rare

Starry Bob / Malay Chestnut Bob showing its upper wings

                                                                                          

   

A comparison between a 'Chestnut Bob' (Iambrix salsala salsala ) - left and a 'Starry Bob' (Iambrix stellifer) (right)

                                        

Red-spot Duke (Dophla evelina compta)

Status: common to uncommon

Mottled Bush Brown (Mycalesis janardana sagittigera)

Status: common

Nearly step on it a few times as it likes to puddle close to the side of the trail.

Malayan Five-Ring (Ypthima horsfieldii humei)

Another common butterfly 

Centaur Oakblue (Arhopala centaurus nakula)

Status: seasonal/uncommon

Its upper side is bluish 

Peninsular Ace (Halpe pelethronix pelethronix)

Status: common to uncommon

Just like birds, certain butterflies allow you to get very close to them.

Peninsular Ace showing its upper sides.

HAPPY BUTTERFLY SPOTTING !!

Inaugural Butterfly Spotting Trip - 9 January 2021

This was my maiden field trip strictly just for butterfly. Three of us set out at about 9.15am in a slightly overcast looking sky. (note: usually butterflies don't come out very early in the morning so there is no need to venture out so early like some birders do). Destination was a nearby forest in Hulu Langat, Selangor, West Peninsular Malaysia. All in all we spotted close to 25 species/sub species of butterflies (i.e including skippers). I scored two lifer butterflies myself on this trip. Here are some of their photos.

      Yellow Glassy Tiger (Parantica aspasia)

                                                         (showing its upper wing patterns)

 Yellow Glassy Tiger (Parantica aspasia)

   (showing its under wing patterns which is quite similar as its upper wings albeit less intense in color)

Club Silverline (Spindasis syama)

Quite a common forest edge butterfly

My fist lifer

Purple-streaked Catseye (Coelites euptychioides)

Despite coming out in the open, it still looks quite dark overall.

More often than not you will only see a flash of bright blue thing flying across the jungle trail.

My second lifer albeit a blurry one

I think it could be a Zebra Ringlet (Ragadia critolaus). It was seen at the same trail as the above 'Catseye'.

Dark Blue Jungle Glory (Thaumantis klugius)

It was also seen inside the dark gloomy trail as the above butterflies.

Banded Tree-Brown (Lethe confusa)

This tree-brown was seen foraging on a wet forest floor.

Common Three-Ring (Ypthima horsfieldii)

I think the above skipper could be a 'Rice Swift' (Borbo cinnara)

Correction: the above skipper is actually a 'Contiguous Swift' (Polytremis lubricans)

                                            Chestnut Bob (Iambrix salsala)

                   

                                                        Common Faun (Faunis canens)

                                                  Lesser Darkwing (Allotinus unicolor)

                                                                    To be identified blue

(note: the above butterfly could be 'Poritia philota philota' (Malayan Gem). Thanks to Monsieur Liew.

                                    This could be a Chocolate Demon (Ancistroides nigrita)

I think the above skipper could be a 'Purple Tufted Lancer' (Isma protoclea)

Correction: the above skipper is actually a 'Malay Forest Bob' (Scobura phiditia)

Status: Rare

Merci beaucoup Monsieur Liew !

I believe the hobby of butterfly watching / butterfly spotting is going to be a popular sport in the near future in this region. With that there should also be more field trips organised in the future. Fingers crossed.

Butterflies in Jan 2021

The monsoon season has continued unabated. Mornings are usually cloudy with some light drizzle or heavy rain. Butterflies usually only comes out when the weather is hot and humid. Here are some of them that I managed to captured on pixel recently.

Common Nawab (Polyura athamas)

                                                                       

Common Nawab puddling on some loose soil

Rustic (Cupha erymanthis lotis)

Malayan Tailed Judy (Abisara savitri savitri)

Salt licking on a shoe print.

Great Egg-fly (Hypolimnas bolina bolina) 

Common Posy (Drupadia ravindra moorei) - female

Common Posy (Female) - spreading its upper wings

Common Posy (female) showing both sides of wings

Chocolate Pansy (Junonia iphita ida)

(note: photo id credit to Monsieur Liew)

Malayan Six Rings (Ypthima fasciata)

(note: photo id credit to Monsieur Liew)

According to Monsieur Liew, this is most likely a Striped Blue Crow (Euploea mulciber)

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2021 !