Despite fewer trips in April, I am still able to showcase a few nice and rare species' photos. First up is this magical Deramas.
Deramas anyx (Eliot)
A young but experienced butterfly spotter took me to his secret place up in a hill recently. As we exit from the car, the first butterfly we saw was this super rare Deramas ! It was identified by an experienced entomologist. Apparently this Deramas has no common name yet. Perhaps it can be named as "Blue Mamat" 😄😄
Resting nearby to the above Deramas is this large skipper.
Coconut Skipper
Hidari doesoena doesoena
This is not your ordinary Coconut Skipper. It is rarer as well as larger than the usual Hidari irava.
Coconut Skipper
Hidari doesoena doesoena
Apparently this ssp is only confined to the highlands (as per CP book).
Euripus nyctelius euploeoides f isina
This female form of Euripus is quite rare and if you consider a ssp as a lifer than this can be one.
Courtesan
Euripus nyctelius euploeoides f isina
It was seen up on the same hill as well.
Next up are some lowland species.
Malayan Count
Tanaecia godartii asoka
I don't have many shots of this pristine and uncommon female form.
White-beaked Sunbeam
Curetis felderi
Only my second time seeing this Curetis.
White-beaked Sunbeam
Curetis felderi
Luckily I was able to get a shot of its upperside otherwise identification can get more difficult.
White-beaked Sunbeam
Curetis felderi
After a few shots, off it went and never came back.
Long-branded Blue Crow
Euploea algea menetriesii
Note the two different wing colours.
Long-branded Blue Crow
Euploea algea menetriesii
This 'Crow' is less common as compared to other Euploea.
Long-branded Blue Crow
Euploea algea menetriesii
There were two of them.
Whitespot Palmer
Eetion elia
Not rare but only occasionally you will get to see this skipper.
Blue Line Brilliant
Simiskina pharyge deolina
Already seen this species in a few places and the above was seen in Chongkak.
Common Jay
Graphium doson kajanga
This 'Jay' is slightly less common than its other ssp - G. doson evemonides.
The Great Sergeant
Athyma larymna siamensis
This is an uncommon Athyma.
The Great Sergeant
Athyma larymna siamensis
This is only my second time seeing this species. The first time was in Genting. This one refused to come down.
Narrow-bordered Hedge Blue
Udara placidula irenae
This 'Udara' was gotten from BT.
Falcate Oakblue
Mahathala ariadeva ariadeva
An unusual scientific name for an Oakblue instead of 'Arhopala'.
Aberrant Oakblue
Flos abseus abseus
Another unusual looking one.
Buddha Oakblue
Arhopala buddha cooperi (Evans)
Quite a regular feature at my local hill.
Dark Hedge Blue
Plautella cossaea pambui
A tiny fella.
Little Maplet
Chersonesia peraka peraka
After confirming its identity from another sifu, now I am more confident to differentiate the various Maplets.
This excellent skipper has reappeared again.
White Club Yellow Palmer
Zela excellens
Last seen was on September 2024. This time it was found at a different site.
Chocolate Royal
Remelana jangala travana
A splendid looking male.
This Ringlet has many common names.
Malayan Ringlet / Brown-banded Ringlet / Striped Ringlet
Ragadia makuta siponta
Apparently this species is absent from Singapore at the moment. So it looks like Singaporean spotters need to travel here to see it. 😛
Now I will show you a comparison of some lookalike skippers.
Common Palm Dart
Telicota colon stinga
I strongly believe that it's a T. stinga. Can you see the small 'brand' there? Apparently only Telicota species has this mark.
Common Palm Dart
Telicota stinga
It was busy with its lunch.
Common Palm Dart
Telicota stinga
I took the opportunity to take as many angle shots as possible. Here is an upperside shot.
Hope I am correct with my diagnosis so far.
Chinese Dart / Confucius Dart
Potanthus confucius dushta
Joining the above Telicota is this Potanthus.
Chinese Dart / Confucius Dart
Potanthus confucius dushta
They seem to like these flowers of the 'Spanish Needles' (Bidens pilosa / Bidens elba).
Chinese Dart / Confucius Dart
Potanthus confucius dushta
While they are happily nectaring, I took as many shots as possible.
Painted Jezebel
Delias hyparete metarete
This Jezebel also came to join the party.
Tufted Jungle King
Thauria aliris pseudaliris
As I was climbing up the slope, this beauty stopped right in front of the track.
Here is a rare surprise and another beauty.
Red Imperial
Suasa lisides lisides
Female
My first sighting of this species was at Gopeng and it was a distant shot. This one here is more friendly as it was just about 2 feet away and it was shot at my local patch some more ! This one is really rare.
