Butterflies in January 2025

Its new year again. January came and gone very fast. In the early parts of the month it was raining quite a lot. However, I still managed to score many lifers up on a hill than the lowlands. Here are a few interesting ones which I saw in the lowlands.

Fulvous Dawnfly

Capila phanaeus ferra

From the many photos of this species out there, I noticed that most of them do not have the white spots on their hindwings as compared to this one. Even CP book shows both male and female have dark spots. However, a few photos from Thailand did show photos similar to the above. Hence, it looks like there are many questions to be answered here - was it just a variation, was this a descendant from the Northern side like the Julia heliconian or could it be a new subspecies? My lifer of course and not many local butterfly spotters here have seen it I believe.

Purple Broken-band Oakblue 

Arhopala alitaeus mirabella

Not really a sharp photo but just good enough to ID this Oakblue.

Slowly but surely my Arhopala count will rise. Here is another lifer.

Buddha Oakblue

Arhopala buddha cooperi

I didn't expect to see this species at lowland as most its photos depicted in iNaturalist were captured quite high up like in Fraser's Hill.

Here is a major find I think.

This Mycalesis was seen inside a primary forest in the state of Pahang. It was seen alone beside a stream. From its underside features, they appear to point to this species. Apparently this species is very rare in Peninsular Malaysia.

Horsfield's Bushbrown 

Mycalesis horsfieldi hermana

This one looks like a female.

Yellow Grass Dart 

Taractrocera archias quinta

This is only my second time seeing this Dart. The first time was with a group of butterfly spotters in FRIM, Kepong.

Dartlets like most skippers can be difficult to ID if we don't see their pertinent features.

This is a Ceylon Dartlet.

Oriens goloides

                                                                                      
                                              Ceylon Dartlet                                                 

                 

           Oriens goloides             

Aberrant Oakblue

  Flos abseus abseus

Aberrant Oakblue

  Flos abseus abseus

                                                          

                      Large Long-banded Flitter                                          Plain Tufted Lancer        

                         Isma umbrosa umbrosa                                               Isma iapis iapis

Common Duffer

Discophora sondaica despoliata

Male

Black-veined Tiger

Danaus melanippus hegesippus

Yellow Orange Tip

If you refer to CP's book, the above looks like the Ssp Ixias pyrene birdi bicoloured female. 

Rajah Brooke's Birdwing

Trogonoptera brookiana albescens 

Rajah Brooke's Birdwing

Trogonoptera brookiana albescens 

All were males this time.

Here's a new addition.

Chestnut Bob

Iambrix salsala 

Small Branded Swift

Pelopidas mathias mathias

This one I believe I am about 98% correct.

Forest White

Udaiana cynis cynis

Female

A highly localised species.

This is another forest citizen.

Banded Blue Pierrot

Discolampa ethion thalimar 

Female (upperside dark - no blue at all). It was seen at Taman Negara.

THAT'S ALL FOR THIS MONTH !

Butterflies of Genting Highland - 2024

Genting is well known for its resort and theme parks. A very commercialise place with only a few small pockets of forest remaining for nature lovers. Nevertheless there are still some interesting montane butterflies which you can't get to see them in lowlands. Here are just a few of them.

 Forest Pierrot 

Taraka hamada mendesia

A small butterfly with hairy legs.

Forest Pierrot 

Taraka hamada mendesia

Apparently this species can also be found as far as India and Japan.

Lesser Pierrot 

Taraka mahanetra

This Pierrot can only be found in this region.

Status: rare

Lesser Pierrot 

Taraka mahanetra

Looks like a female.

Red Caliph

Enispe duranius corbeti

This one I believe is also a montane / sub-montane species.

Red Caliph

Enispe duranius corbeti

So lucky to see it.

White-banded Oakblue

Arhopala ijanensis

Most of the montane Oakblues are quite rare including this one.

White-banded Oakblue

Arhopala ijanensis

It has a bright bluish upperside.

Powdered Oakblue

Arhopala bazalus bazalus

Tailed Judy

Abisara neophron chelina

This Abisara is only common in sub-montane areas for example from Fraser's Hill upwards (i.e about 1000 meters asl and above).

                                                                                   
                                              Horsfield's-branded Yamfly                                            

                             Yasoda pita dohertyi                         

This Yamfly is common only in hilly or sub-montane areas.

Branded Yamfly

Yasoda pitane laruta

This Yamfly is also a montane specialist.

White-banded Palmfly

Elymnias dara darina

So far I have not seen this Elymnias in lowlands.

Grey Count

Tanaecia lepidea matala

This Tanaecia is more common up on the hills rather than lowlands.

Grey Count

Tanaecia lepidea matala

An underside profile. Very dull looking.

Leopard Lacewing

Cethosia cyane

According to the CP book, this Lacewing is native to India and was only discovered here as latest as in 1997. I have never seen this Lacewing in any lowlands so far.

Leopard Lacewing

Cethosia cyane

I also noticed that Lacewings are quite fond with Latana flowers.

Now we come to some species which can be seen in the highlands as well as lowland areas.

Plain Green Palmer

Pirdana distanti distanti

Status: rare

Striped Green Palmer

Pirdana hyela rudolphii 

Status: rare / uncommon

Striped Green Palmer

Pirdana hyela rudolphii 

When I first saw this species, it was in one of the lowland trails but apparently it is reportedly more common in the higher elevations.

Detached Dart (edited)

Potanthus trachala tytleri (edited)

Detached Dart (edited)

Potanthus trachala tytleri (edited)

Initially I tot I saw a luzonensis but it turns out to be just a Potanthus.

Malayan Swift

Caltoris malaya

This is my best shot of this skipper. 

Malay Forest Bob

Scobura phiditia

This Bob can also be found in lowland areas such as in Hulu Langat.

Large Dart

Potanthus serina

Great Sergeant

Athyma larymna siamensis

My lifer.

Status: rare

Great Sergeant

Athyma larymna siamensis

It's larger than other Athyma.

Plain Lacewing / Orange Lacewing

Cethosia methypsea methypsea

This Lacewing is quite 'famous' in every highlands.

Plain Lacewing / Orange Lacewing

Cethosia methypsea methypsea

Malayan Lacewing

Cethosia hypsea hypsina

I have seen this one in the lowlands as well.

White Tiger / Black-veined Tiger

Danaus chrysippus chrysippus

Another common species in the highlands.

White Tiger / Black-veined Tiger

Danaus chrysippus chrysippus

Occasionally you can also see them in the lowlands.

Smaller Wood-Nymph

Ideopsis gaura perakana

You can see them quite often in the hilly areas.

Striped Ringlet

Ragadia makuta siponta

This species can also be found in lowlands but they are more common in higher hills.

Malayan Snow Flat

Tagiades calligana 

I did not manage to see many Flats during my visits.

Common Snow Flat

Tagiades japetus

This Flat was seen at the trail head.

Blue Germ

Poritia erycinoides phraatica

Male

Blue Germ

Poritia erycinoides phraatica

Female

Blue Germ

Poritia erycinoides phraatica

Occasionally you can see this Gem in lowlands too.

Streak Blue Brilliant

Simiskina pheretia

This Simiskina is the most common one you will get to see in the highlands. Elsewhere I believe it should be uncommon.

Another lowland species.

Purple Duke 

Eulacera osteria kumana

Female

Striped Blue Crow

Euploea mulciber mulciber

Female.

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN. 

 I HOPE TO GET MORE CHANCES TO SEE MORE LIFERS THE NEXT TIME HERE!!