Butterflies in July 2025 - Popinjay, Tinsel and lots of other exciting species (Part 1)

Wow ! July 2025 has to be the best month in my entire butterfly trips so far ! Although I have yet to reach the 600 magical number but I got some of my mega jackpots as well as other exciting butterflies.

My first mega jackpot !

Popinjay

Stibochiona nicea subucula

It's not very large though - about the size of a male Horsfield's Baron (Tanaecia iapis)

Popinjay

Stibochiona nicea subucula

This butterfly has been in my wish list for many many years and finally I got to photograph it. At that point of time it was alone and quite skittish. Although there are many records of this species in overseas, but over here I believe it's quite rare and appears to confined mainly in the state of Pahang.

My 2nd mega Jackpot !

Evan's Tinsel

Catapaecilma evansi evansi

It appeared just when my camera settings went berserk. Nevertheless it's my lifer and a rare species.

Evan's Tinsel

Catapaecilma evansi evansi

In real life, its actually quite small (roughly about 1.5cm) and luckily another butterfly spotter has spotted it first otherwise I would have miss it.

I also noticed that in the months of June to July, the Imperials, Royals and Tajuria species came out in abundance. Here are some of them.

Double Tufted Royal

Dacalana vidura azyada

This Dacalana has eluded me for many years. Seen it a few times but unable to photograph it until recently. It flies very fast and more often likes to land upside down under a leaf which makes it quite difficult to photograph. Some literature also named it as a 'Medium-branded Royal'.

Here is another exciting find with a perfect background and a pristine specimen.

Elegant Cyclops

Erites elegans distincta

This is the rarest among all the Cyclops.

Malaysian Albatross

Salatera panda distanti f sulphurea

This is my first time seeing the female of this ssp.

Lifer !

Blue Imperial

Ticherra acte liviania 

Off all places, it landed on top of a blue car.

Blue Imperial

Ticherra acte liviania 

This one is a female. Among the Imperial butterflies, I now left only the Orange Imperial (Ritra aurea) to be seen.

Here's another pristine specimen.

Common Red Forester 

Lethe mekara gopaka

This is a male and it looks a bit like the Blue Catseye (Coelites epiminthia)

Horsfield's Baron

Tanaecia iapis puseda

Female

First time seeing such a lovely purplish streak across its HW.

Lesser Pierrot

Taraka mahanetra 

Another tiny butterfly which mostly confined to the highlands.

Black-veined Tiger

Danaus melanippus hegesippus 

This butterfly is very common but this one has a different pattern on its upperside hindwings.

Blue Darkwing

Allotinus subviolaceus

Allotinus is a difficult species to identify and this was naturally identified by an experienced butterfly spotter.

Allotinus portunus maitus

This Allotinus apparently has no common name yet.

Now, let us have some sparkling moments.

Narrow Spark

Sinthusa nasaka amba

A tiny butterfly.

Spotted Spark

Sinthusa malika amata

Another small one.

Dried-leaf Palmfly

Elymnias saueri saueri

Can be a difficult to ID unless you see its upperside as well.

Dried-leaf Palmfly

Elymnias saueri saueri

A comparison of skippers.

                                                        

Left: Clavate Banded Demon (Notocrypta clavata clavata)

Right: Restricted Demon (Notocrypta curvifascia corinda)

White-bar Bush Brown

Mycalesis anaxias senoi

This Bush Brown always likes to lurk under thick bushes on hilly places.

Speaking of dark places, here are a few species which you can find in those areas.

Malayan Nawab

Polyura moori moori

Orange Gull

Cepora iudith talboti

Jewelled Nawab

Polyura delpis concha

Malay Rajah

Charaxes distanti distanti

Great Mormon

Papilio memnon agenor

Great Mormon with a Red Helen

Common Nawab

Polyura athamas athamas

Lesser Cruiser

Vindula dejone erotella

Most likely it's the one !

Constable

Dichorragia nesimachus deikoes 

Constable

Dichorragia nesimachus deikoes 

It's upperside and underside are both equally stunning !

Blue Begum

Prothoe franck uniformis

I think this Begum is more common than the Glorious Begum. 

Blue Begum

Prothoe franck uniformis

Always happy to see a Begum.

THAT'S ALL FOR NOW ! 

LOOK OUT FOR MORE EXCITING SPECIES IN PART II

Butterflying for the 600 milestone

There are already quite a number of butterfly spotters who have reached the 600 milestone. Now I have 585 species. Yep ! 15 more species to go for the 600 magical number ! In June 2025 I managed to do a few short butterfly trips and score a few lifers which added up to the current total.

Lifer # 1.

Great Mormon

Papilio memnon agenor f. distantianus 

According to CP5, this female version of Great Mormon is quite common in the Northern States i.e from Selangor onwards. No wonder I can't find it around my area. I saw this one near Ipoh. 

Common Mime

Papilio clytia clytia

I think this Papilio is not so common but it's not rare either. This is only my 2nd time seeing it.

Common Mime

Papilio clytia clytia

So lucky to get this open wing shot.

Bamboo Tree Brown

Lethe europa malaya

This species is a forest dwelling butterfly. This one is a male.

Courtesan

Euripus nyctelius euploeoides 

This is another forest dependent species.

My 2nd lifer !

Great Evening Brown

Melanitis zitenius auletes

This is a male and I believe it's not common. However, in iNaturalist, there seem to have quite a number of the female version which I think can be questionable unless those spotters have also seen their upperside before they submit their records. This is because the female version of this species is very similar to the more common female Evening Brown (M. leda leda).

Great Evening Brown

Melanitis zitenius auletes

This male was quite obliging. Although it was busy feeding and ignore my presence, I still kept my distance so as not to spook my lifer.

Green Imperial

Manto hypoleuca terana

This is a localised species.

Green Imperial

Manto hypoleuca terana

Not many clear shots but just happy to see it again.

Green Imperial

Manto hypoleuca terana

I actually have all three Imperial colours - Green, Blue and Red !

Silver Royal

Ancema blanka blanka

An uncommon species. Lionel de Nicéville reported this butterfly back in 1894 and I have only discovered it in June 2025. 😛 Lifer # 3.

Silver Royal

Ancema blanka blanka

It was puddling on natural minerals. No baits were used.

Silver Royal

Ancema blanka blanka

Luckily it allowed me a few shots before it flew away and never return again.

Silver Royal

Ancema blanka blanka

Off it goes.

Columbine

Stiboges nymphidia

This was the first time that I have managed to see its metal mark hence that's why this species of butterfly is included in the Metalmark group of butterflies.

Columbine

Stiboges nymphidia

It's not a strong flyer as I have observed.

Columbine

Stiboges nymphidia

Note: It's the same fella but when I changed my position, the metalmark is no longer visible.

Red Lacewing

Cethosia biblis perakana

A couple of months back I got the female and now I am so happy to see the male.

Red Lacewing

Cethosia biblis perakana

This is a highland species. 

There are so many 'ghostly' images on its wing😮

White Dragontail

Lamproptera curius curius

Maybe that's why they call it a dragon tail. Always a delight to see it.

 

White Dragontail

Lamproptera curius curius

It came down to take a sip at the natural water flowing down on the side of the trail.

White Dragontail

Lamproptera curius curius

I like the way they fly - can turn around like a helicopter. It has a brown colour probosis.

White Dragontail

Lamproptera curius curius

They all looked pristine over here.

Chocolate Tiger

Parantica melaneus sinopion

I think this species is quite common but their numbers are always less.

White Ciliate Blue 

Anthene licates dusuntua

I don't think you can see this Ciliate Blue everyday. 

White Ciliate Blue 

Anthene licates dusuntua

It is fast flying and small.

White Ciliate Blue 

Anthene licates dusuntua

Not sure whether it's a male or female.

Dark Tit

Hypolycaena thecloides thecloides

Although you can see many of its photos around but it is actually not common.

Dark Tit

Hypolycaena thecloides thecloides

An opened wing shot.

Dark Tit

Hypolycaena thecloides thecloides

Note: That patch/brand on its FW wasn't mentioned in CP5.

Here's another uncommon one I believe

Dark Cupid

Tongeia potanini glycon

It is just as colourful and small as the Orchid Tit

Dark Cupid

Tongeia potanini glycon

It didn't stayed long for any sharper shots.

Here is a resident butterfly which you can't miss if you visit this limestone cave.

Black Prince

Rohana parisatis siamensis

Male

You can also see its 'strobe lights' on each of its wing tips.

Black Prince

Rohana parisatis siamensis

This one shows his side profile.

Black Prince

Rohana parisatis siamensis

Female

Here's a surprising lifer for me. A young but experienced butterfly spotter called 'He-he Cat' has kindly confirmed this Grass Yellow for me. 😀

Scarce Grass Yellow

Eurema lacteola lacteola

Scarce Grass Yellow

Eurema lacteola lacteola

An uncommon Grass Yellow.

Believe it or not ! this skipper is also my lifer.

Besta Palm Dart

Telicota besta bina

 

Besta Palm Dart

Telicota besta bina

Accompanied by a Malayan Pied Blue (Megisba malaya sikkima)

Here's another uncommon and localised butterfly

Red-tailed Marquis

Bassarona recta monilis

Red-tailed Marquis

Bassarona recta monilis

There were two of them.

Here is their underside profile

         Red-tailed Marquis

Bassarona recta monilis

Here is a different Marquis.

Banded Marquis

Bassarona teuta rayana

Banded Marquis

Bassarona teuta rayana

As the above Marquis are localised species, you probably may find it difficult to see them elsewhere.

Malayan Birdwing

Troides amphrysus ruficollis

A gentle flyer.

Malayan Birdwing

Troides amphrysus ruficollis

There are not many photos which show these two features together on this species.

Striped Blue Crow

Euploea mulciber mulciber

Monsieur Liew had just confirmed that this is a Common Albatross (Appias albina albina). Its underside is rather creamy white than yellowish as seen in CP5 book. This butterfly is not so common as other Appias.

Some how that day, there were a small group of them puddling.

Common Albatross 

Appias albina albina

Here are a few common butterflies on a man-made structure. 

Red Helen

Papilio helenus helenus

Note: there are no baits used but some how they can sense that there are minerals in these dry concrete.

Malayan Yeoman

Cirrochroa emalea emalea

Malayan Nawab

Polyura moori moori

Finally my last lifer in June 2025

Spotted Zebra

Graphium megarus megapenthes

When it first appeared, I thought it was just another Blue Glassy Tiger (Ideopsis vulgaris).

Spotted Zebra

Graphium megarus megapenthes

Although at some angle, it looks bluish, but then I noticed that the patterns / stripes on its wings are a little different. That's when I realised that this is a different species and started to take more shots.

Spotted Zebra

Graphium megarus megapenthes

Here it is with the earlier lifer (Scarce Grass Yellow).

Spotted Zebra

Graphium megarus megapenthes

Its flight is quite casual like those of Blue Glassy Tiger and luckily it was quite friendly.

 A comparison between a Spotted Zebra and a Blue Glassy Tiger.

                                                                       
                                                         

THAT'S ALL FOR NOW !

HOPE TO REACH THE 600 MILESTONE BY YEAR END !