Identification of Oakblues (July 2023)

Oakblues or scientifically called Arhopala are one of the most intriguing and beautiful butterfly species. Their mostly bluish-purple and sometimes greenish upperside can be a sight to behold. However, most of the time these species of butterflies would seldom show their open-wing and identification of them from their underside (UN) is a challenge for many of us. Nevertheless, I have tried my best level to identify the following Arhopalas based on a few pertinent features and at the same time comparing other 'confirmed' photos available from the net. No matter how diligently I have tried, I must admit that I can still be wrong with their ID.

There are what I think six important features (A - F) which can be used to identify the species.

So based on the above features, I have identified what I think should reflect their respective species. All of them were seen in July 2023.

The above is a Vinous Oakblue (Arhopala athada athada).

It would makes things easier if you can remember the colors of the upperside. All the Arhopala photos taken here have bluish colour on their upperside.

Another shot of the Vinous Oakblue.

Next one is quite a commonly seen Arhopala I believe.

This one looks like a Major Yellow Oakblue (Arhopala major major). 

It looks like we got a 'seahorse' there.

This one looks more like a Broad Yellow Oakblue (Arhopala amphimuta amphimuta)

Broad Yellow Oakblue (Arhopala amphimuta amphimuta)

Arhopala kurzi 

Arhopala kurzi 

apparently it has no common name at the mo.

Another Arhopala major major I think.

This one was taken without a flash light.

WILL BE SHOWING MORE OAKBLUES IN THE FUTURE.

Butterflies in June 2023

In the month of June, there were not many rare ones seen but I did saw some colorful ones though. Here are some of them.

This is a Red Harlequin (Paralaxita telesia lyclene)

Red Harlequin (Paralaxita telesia lyclene)

It was seen up on a hilly area and under some low shrub just beside a trail

Red Harlequin (Paralaxita telesia lyclene)

Occasionally it would fly to other nearest bush.

It will hop from one leaf to another, twisting and turning as it goes around the leaf as though like doing some sort of ritual or dance. All the photos were taken without using any flash.

Not far from the above Harlequin, there was another Harlequin lurking. This time it is a Malayan Red Harlequin

Malayan Red Harlequin (Paralaxita damajanti damajanti)

This one hardly moves around and not as friendly as the above Harlequin.

I must admit that I still got a lot to learn about skippers.

According to a sifu, the one which is looking at you above is a Lesser Lancer (Pyroneura flavia fruhstorferi).

Is this also a Lesser Lancer (Pyroneura flavia fruhstorferi)?

Nope ! - it's a Malayan Yellow-veined Lancer (Pyroneura latoia latoia). Those two features are key indicators to look in a Pyroneura latoia.

Malayan Yellow-veined Lancer (Pyroneura latoia latoia)

This lancer is slightly larger and much more common.

Straight Plum Judy (Abisara kausambi kausambi)

Chestnut Angle 

(Odontoptilum angulatum angulatum)

 

Common Darkwing

(Allotinus horsfieldi permagnus (Fruhstorfer)

Orange Emigrant (Catopsilia scylla cornelia)

You can see its vibrant orange-coloured HW when it opens its wings hence its name I guess. This one was seen on a plain in the northern state of Kedah.

This one below is reported to be a migrating butterfly species.

Mottled Emigrant (Catopsilia pyranthe pyranthe)

Cycad Blue 

(Chilades pandava pandava / Luthrodes pandava pandava)

Elbowed Pierrot (Caleta elna elvira)

This is perhaps the only uncommon one seen this month.

Dark Flat (Tapena thwaitesi bornea)

Reported to be rare here.

Common Mormon 

(Papilio polytes romolus stichius)

Common Mormon 

(Papilio polytes romolus stichius)

Malayan Pied Blue

(Megisba malaya sikkima)

Lemon Pansy 

(Junonia lemonias lemonias)

This species is quite common up in the Northern states of the Peninsular. Elsewhere you can hardly see them.

Here is a Posy which unlike other Posies. Look carefully.

This is a Lesser Posy (Drupadia rufotaenia rufotaenia)

Lesser Posy (Drupadia rufotaenia rufotaenia)

Lion Palmfly

(Elymnias nesaea lioneli)

'Roaming' on the ground.

Dried Leaf Palmfly

(Elymnias saueri saueri)

Reverted back to Dried Leaf Palmfly.

Yellow Flat 

(Mooreana trichoneura trichoneura)

Blue Begum 

(Prothoe franck uniformis)

This species was last seen by me in September 2022 (i.e 9 months ago).

Lastly here is what I believe are two versions of the White Imperial species.

Could this be a White Imperial (Neomyrina nivea hiemalis)?

While this one is a White Imperial of the Ssp (Neomyrina nivea periculosa)? or perhaps it's the same one from the above Ssp.

White Imperial (Neomyrina nivea periculosa)?

You can see that its bands were darker as compared to the first White Imperial. Both were seen nearby to each other.

Here are a few more species which I managed to take before the end of June 2023.

Black and White Helen

(Papilio nephelus sunatus)

Red Demon

(Ancistroides armatus armatus)

Dwarf Banded Demon

(Notocrypta pria)

Reported to be rare but I have seen them in other places such as Raub and Gopeng.

Common Palmfly

(Elymnias hypermnestra nimota)

Male

Great Mormon

(Papilio memnon agenor f. butlerniarus)

Female

I think the above Mormon is a rare Ssp.

White-striped Snow flat (tentative ID)

(Tagiades cohaerens cinda)

The other possible ID would be a Tagiades ultra.

Spotted Spark

(Sinthusa malika amata)

This is an uncommon species. Last seen was in June 2022. Wow! exactly one year.

Blue Catseye / Straight-banded Catseye

(Coelites epiminthia epiminthia)

This is a forest dwelling resident which came out to sample other richer minerals by the roadside. You can see a smiley figure at its FW apex.

Banded Swallowtail 

(Papilio demolion demolion)

 Narrow-branded Dart

(Telicota ohara jix)

Palm King

(Amathusia phidippus phidippus)

Velvet Flat

(Celaenorrhinus ficulnea queda)

In the wild you can hardly notice it because it tends to land under the leaves most of the time. 

That's my lifer for this month.

It's a rare opportunity to take photographs of a very seldom reported skipper.

So I took it back, took a few shots and then released it back again.

THAT'S ALL FOR THIS MONTH ! 

SEE YA NEXT MONTH !