The Flight of Dandy Boys (Laringa castelnaui castelnaui)

One of the best moments of butterfly watching is when we are able to watch rare butterflies flying leisurely around you. Blue Dandy (Laringa castelnaui casteinaui) as entomologist called them are deep forest insects / butterflies. I often seen them only in the morning and by noon they will venture back into their forest homes.

When I first encountered them in April this year, they were in quite pristine condition. Here you can see a small chip in their hindwing.

This was another male. Both were seen chasing each other.

They are both graceful as well as fast flyers.

Sometimes they can be seen doing 'dogfights' high up on the tress.

They hardly land on the ground for puddling. Most of the time they were airborne.

Their underside wings (ventral) is not as striking as their upperside wings (dorsal) as can be seen above and their various photos in my previous posts.

It's not easy to take their in-flight photos due to my limited camera range but somehow I still managed to get some decent shots. 

So far I have not come across any of their females displaying in-flight behavior.

I have only seen two males so far.

Hopefully there will be more of them in the near future !

Butterflies in September 2021 (1st Half)

Here are some butterflies in the first quarter of September 2021 (1 - 10 September). Not many were seen during this time as the rain continues to pour on alternate days. 

Hidden in between the jungle litter was this Blue-banded Jungle Glory (Thaumantis klugius lucipor)

Not too far from the above uncommon butterfly, came along this Dark Jungle Glory (Thaumanthis noureddin noureddin). Both the above butterflies are denizen of the thick forest. Due to their cryptic behavior - staying away from the main trails, they are seldom seen. 

This butterfly is only common in the forested regions

Yellow-barred Pan (Xanthotaenia busiris busiris)

Malayan Viscount (Tanaecia aruna aruna)/(T. pelea pelea)

Same common name but different Ssp. (I think)

Malayan Yamfly (Loxura cassiopeia cassiopeia)

Some literature have also named it as the Great Yamfly. This butterfly is less common than Loxura atymnus fuconius.

Purple Bush-Brown (Mycalesis orseis)

As we know, butterfly's wings are covered with tiny microscopic scales which when in contact with sunlight will produce different hue of colors

The above is a Royal Assyrian (Terinos terpander robertsia)

A Royal Assyrian in flight

Another Royal Assyrian

Commander (Moduza procris milonia)

A rather off-colored Common Imperial (Cheritra freja frigga)

This could be due to either aging or too much of sunlight (intensity of the light)

HAPPY BUTTERFLY DAY !!

Butterflies in August 2021 (2nd half)

Rain continued through out in August hence limiting the chances of seeing more butterflies. Here are just a handful of them seen in late August.

This is a new addition to the location. The best time see them is after an overnight rain.

Straight Line Map (Cyrestis nivea nivalis)

Blue Glassy Tiger (Ideopsis vulgaris macrina) 

There were lots of them lately - due to a flowering plant. 

The above is a 'Dark Glassy Tiger' (Parantica agleoides agleoides)

Probably the best find in the month of August 

Its a toast between Pyroneura flavia fruhstorferi (Lesser Lancer) and P. natuna (Yellow-based Lancer)

Common Yeoman (Cirrochroa Tyche rotundata)

Plain Banded Awl (Hasora vitta vitta)

Stripped Blue Crow (Euploea mulciber mulciber)

In my area, they are not as common as the "Spotted Black Crow"

Spotted Black Crow (Euploea crameri bremeri)

Striped Black Crow (Euploea eyndhovii gardineri)

The above 'crow' is also seldom seen here.

Another headache - is this a Tanaecia iapis puseda or T. godartii ?

Pointed Palmfly (Elymnias penanga penanga)

It was first seen in early July.

Common Tit (Hypolyvaena erylus teatus)

Miah Neptis Batara (Small Yellow Sailor)

This species has become quite common at my location

Miah Neptis Batara (Small Yellow Sailor)

This is a male

Archduke (Lexias pardalis dirteana)

The above is a female

UNTILL WE MEET AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER - ADIOUS !