Butterflies in October 2024

The month of October saw the returned of those species which I have only encountered once before. Both of them appeared after a year's gap.

Red Edge

(Semanga superba deliciosa)

It was seen at the same location but several meters away from its initial location. This time it perched quite high up among the ferns (paku pakis). I believe this is an uncommon species or perhaps a moderately rare one.

Maculate Lancer 

(Salanoemia sala)

Here is another one which appeared after a year's gap. This one was seen at a different location. It was seen inside a small trail beside the main trail.

Maculate Lancer 

(Salanoemia sala)

Its underside colour is supposed to be greenish but even without using flash, I could see that it is already quite pale in colour. Literatures have described this species as been rare in this region.

Plain Blue Crow

(Euploea modesta modesta)

Some 'crows' can also be a bit tricky to identify. This 'crow' is reported to be rarer by CP.

Spotted Black Crow

(Euploea crameri bremeri)

Looks like October is the month of emerging 'crows'. This one is more common.

Narrow Spark

(Sinthusa nasaka amba)

It tried to hide itself using the same leaf colour.

Courtesan 

(Euripus nyctelius euploeoides)

This is a male and this species it not really common as well.

  Malayan Gem

                              (Poritia philota philota)                         

One of the rare opportunities to be able to see the upperside of this Gem.

Malayan Baron

(Euthalia monina monina f. decorata)

This Baron species has been quite active in appearance since late August. 

Tiger Palmfly

Elymnias nesaea lioneli 

It flew down to the roadside and it is quite common at this trail located near the city of KL.

There are a few variants of Catopsilia and this is just one of them.

Lemon Emigrant

(Catopsilia pomona pomona f. catilla)

White Club Yellow Palmer

(Zela excellens)

You can clearly see its white patch near its club.

Common Red Flash

(Rapala iarbus iarbus)

Little Maplet

(Chersonesia peraka peraka)

They don't call this little one for nothing. It's actually very small.

Common Palmfly

(Elymnias hypermnestra discrepans)

I saw its forewing stripe which most likely point to this species.

Colour Sergeant 

(Athyma nefte subrata)

Male

                                                             

                                                                

                                                                            

Abberant Plush Blue

(Arhopala abseus abseus)

Lesser Cruiser 

(Vindula dejone erotella)

                                   

Lesser Cruiser 

(Vindula dejone erotella)

Underside view

Dacalana.

Long-celled Oakblue

(Arhopala aurea)

                                                                              
                                    Yellow-disc Tailess Oakblue                                

                        (Arhopala perimuta regina)                      

Bright Oakblue

(Arhopala sublustris ridleyi)

Bright Oakblue

(Arhopala sublustris ridleyi)

          

Blue Posy

(Drupadia scaeva scaeva)

Common Brownie 

(Miletus chinensis learchus)

Female 

It is larger as compared to other Miletus and its upperside is dark coloured.

Lifer if ID is correct.

Common Hedge Blue

(Acytolepis puspa lambi)

THAT'S ALL FOR THIS MONTH. HOPE TO SEE MORE NEW SPECIES IN NOVEMBER !

Enchanting and rare butterflies in September 2024

The unpredictable weather continues in September. It was windy and cloudy in the morning and rain came pouring down in the afternoon most of the time. In between those times, there were only a few hours of sunlight. Despite the unfavourable weather conditions, I still managed to score a few rare and interesting species. 

Malay Rajah 

(Charaxes distanti distanti)

One of the most sort after 'Rajah' by butterfly photographers.

Malay Rajah 

(Charaxes distanti distanti)

It is more orangey looking than the more common 'Tawny Rajah'.

Dark Flat 

(Tapena thwaitesi bornea)

This uncommon / rare flat decided to seek some salty mineral from my hand. This is only my second time seeing it.

Banded Red Forester

(Lethe minerva minerva)

This is an uncommon forester and it's a male. It's like having gold flakes stuck on its HW. Surprisingly at the moment there are no records yet in iNaturalist for this species.

White Tiger

(Danaus melanippus hegesippus)

This Danaus continued to appear frequently in September.

Aberrant Oakblue

(Arhopala abseus abseus / Flos abseus abseus)

This Arhopala is actually quite small - about the size of a Nacaduba.

Autumn Leaf 

(Doleschallia bisaltide pratipa)

This Autumn Leaf species comes in a few forms / colours.

This Prosotas was seen on a hill side and it has a dark bluish upperside. Hence I believe (about 95%) that it is a male Prosotas pia pia (Margined Line Blue)

Pale-tailed Awl 

(Hasora myra funebris)

Although not rare but I think not many people has photograph this Awl - probably due to its skittish behavior and also its dull brown colours which may have also caused people to overlook it.

A comparison of Nawabs

                               

                          Malayan Nawab                                                      Plain / Southern Nawab                          (Polyura moori moori)                                              (Polyura hebe chersonesus)

                                                            

Indian Yellow Nawab

(Polyura jalysus jalysus)

This Nawab is easier to identify due to its larger 'green leaf' on its side. Also note its bluish leg.

Dark Posy

(Drupadia theda thesmia)

At certain places this Posy has become quite common.

Common Mormon

(Papilio polytes romulus)

Like most of its close relatives, this Mormon can be seen more often flying restlessly along the trails but this male did came down momentarily to puddle.

A comparison of Graphiums

                                                                        

                                 Striped Jay                                                             Common Jay    

                  (Graphium bathycles bathycloides)                       (Graphium doson evemonides)

A comparison of Lemon Emigrants

   

                        Lemon Emigrant                                                         Lemon Emigrant

          (Catopsilia pomona pomona f. alcmeone)             (Catopsilia pomona pomona f. hilaria)

A comparison of Purple Duke (Eulacera osteria kumana)

                                                                     

                                     Male                                                                          Female

A comparison of Barons

                              Malayan Baron                                                      Horsfield Baron

                     (Euthalia monina monina)                                        (Tanaecia iapis puseda)

                                                                         
         Malayan Baron     

                         (Euthalia monina monina)                        

A comparison of green Oakblues. Both have metallic green uppersides.

                                                                             

                     Arhopala aurea                                                            Arhopala trogon

                (Long-celled Oakblue)                                            (Green-suffused Oakblue)                                                                 

Dark Jungle Glory 

(Thaumantis noureddin noureddin)

                                                                      

Dark Jungle Glory 

                           (Thaumantis noureddin noureddin)                               

White-banded Awl

(Hasora taminatus malayana)

This Awl has been appearing in many locations lately including Singapore.

White-banded Awl

(Hasora taminatus malayana)

I would describe this Awl as seasonal and just moderately common.

Constable

(Dichorragia nesimachus deiokes)

Always a delight to see this uncommon deep forest butterfly.

Common Jester 

(Symbrenthia lilaea luciana)

Common Gem

(Poritia hewitsoni taleva - corbet)

Sumatran Gem

(Poritia sumatrae sumatrae)

Blue Leaf Blue

(Amblypodia narada tanooana)

This is a uncommon and probably quite rare species.

Miletus gigantes

Giant Brownwing

                                                                       

    Small Leopard   

                          (Phalanta alcippe alcesta)                         

   Small Leopard   

   (Phalanta alcippe alcesta)   

An upperside view of a Caleta elna elvira 

Elbowed Pierrot

Wizard

(Rhinopalpa polynice eudoxia)

Male

I always prefer this side view rather than the top view.

Here comes the uncommon ones.

White Club Yellow Palmer

(Zela excellens)

Apparently at this point of time, there were only 6 records in iNaturalist. It is just about the size of a Pyoneura (Lancer). I was so lucky to spot it. The above was just a record shot before it zip away like a supersonic jet. Then to my delight, it flew back and landed not too far away.

White Club Yellow Palmer

(Zela excellens)

This photo (including the above one) was taken without using a flash.

White Club Yellow Palmer

(Zela excellens)

I couldn't get close enough as it perched on a slope and at the same time I couldn't move further back as the ravine is just behind me. This one was taken with a flash.

White Club Yellow Palmer

(Zela excellens)

At about 100 meters away, I think I have spotted another one. This one looks slightly more pristine. Both are males I believe.

                                                               
           Tiger Lascar / Fuliginous Sailor                                          Colour Sergeant                      

(Lasippa monata monata)                                         (Athyma nefte subatra)

Here is another rare jewel of the forest.

Common BlueJohn

(Deramas livens livens)

It was seen just beside a trail. At first I thought it could be a Nacaduba but upon closer look, I realised that it's a different species. It also looks like some Simiskina and Surendra from afar. I didn't manage to get any other angle shots as it stayed in the same position for quite some time. CP says this is the most likely 'Deramas' one would encounter among other equally rare 'Deramas'. When I tried to move closer it finally flew off. That's when I saw its blue upperside which confirmed that the above is a male. It's an incredible discovery indeed.

Common BlueJohn

(Deramas livens livens)

I have also found that apparently there are still some Deramas out there which have yet to be described by science.

Straight Line Mapwing

(Cyretis nivea nivalis)

Male

They liked trails which are soggy and shady.

Here is an Egg-fly which I seldom encounter.

Jacintha Egg-fly

(Following CP book as reference, this looks like a Hypolimnas bolina jacintha f. incommoda.

Jacintha Egg-fly

(Hypolimnas bolina jacintha f. incommoda)

This female Egg-fly is huge.

Eyed Cyclops

(Erites argentina delia)

Scarce Saturn

(Zeuxidia doubledayi doubledayi)

Another quite rare species.

Lesser Long-spot Flitter

(Isma bononia bononia)

This is an uncommon skipper.

Lesser Long-spot Flitter

(Isma bononia bononia)

This is only my second encounter with this skipper.

Here is one of my fav !

A beauty to behold for the eyes only.

Blue Begum

(Prothoe franck uniformis)

Blue Begum

(Prothoe franck uniformis)

This is its natural pose - facing downwards from a tree trunk.

Blue Begum

(Prothoe franck uniformis)

When it begins to puddle you can actually get quite close to it.

Blue Begum

(Prothoe franck uniformis)

A group photo after a successful outing.

Also in September, we held an indoor talk on butterflies titled 'The Whys of Butterflies' which was conducted by Dr Rosli Omar at Sunda Shelves, TTDI.

Full attendance !!

WHAT AN INCREDILE MONTH !