Butterflies in June 2021 (Part 3) - Rare and Enchanting Butterflies

In this final 3 part series of butterflies in June 2021, I will highlight those rare and uncommon ones which came out from the deep forest. Its amazing to see these rare insects in a lowland forest without having to venture into a primary forest. 

The above skipper is called a Brush Flitter and is reported to be very rare in this region

Its scientific name is: Hyarotis microsticta microsticta It came like a flash of light and landed on a waist high bush for just a couple of shots and then off it went. It was probably traversing from one valley into another and stopped momentarily to see what was this human being up to. 

Ultra Snow Flat (Tagiades ultra)

This flat is reported to be uncommon to moderately rare and it was seen in the morning

The above Ultra Snow Flat was however seen way up on the middle of a tall tree.

Silver-spotted lancer / Chequered Lancer  (Pastingia naga)

The above skipper is considered as moderately rare.

White Palm Bob (Suastus everyx everyx)

This tiny little skipper was once reported to be very rare in this region.

Abnormal / Strange Sergeant, Athyma clerica clerica (Butler)

The above butterfly is also reported to be rare in this region

The Indigo Flash (Rapala varuna orseis)

It stayed high up on the palm tree and refused to come down to eye level

The above Rapala is considered uncommon

Green Oakblue (Arhopala eumolphus maxwelli) 

Although it is uncommon but it is the least uncommon among the green oakblues in this region.

Malayan Baron (Euthalia monina monina decorata)

The above male is reported to be uncommon among the ssp.

The above is the more common form of a Malayan Baron (Euthalia monina monina)

The Chocolate Royal (Remelana jangala travana)

Lastly but not least, I finally met again with the enchanting and beautiful Blue Dandy. It is considered rare in this region.

Blue Dandy (Laringa castelnaui castelnaui)

This time there were two of them dancing and displaying their full colors in front of me. In some folklores, it was said that butterflies can appear as fairies to the unaided mortal eyes. 

They were just flying around at ground level.

Understanding the origins of morphological variation is the main goal of evolutionary development biology (Evo-Devo).

Apparently the scales on a butterfly does not only cover their wings but also their legs and major parts of their body (i.e parts of their thorax, abdomen and even genitalia areas). According to Professor Richard R Ffrench  (2018), butterflies which have "Type IIa" scales will have their visual appearance associated with both their ventral and dorsal side of their wings. In other literatures, it was also said that the iridescent blue colors, typically of certain tropical butterflies are generated physically i.e by structural elaboration of the scales. The above does not have any white outline on its wing peripheral.

While this one above has whitish outline on its wings peripheral.

(Note: the above two Laringas are reportedly to be males)

LOOKS LIKE JUNE IS THE MONTH WHEN NATURE WAS AT ITS BEST

Butterflies in June 2021 (Part 2)

The mid month of June continues to be a happening time. Saw many butterflies mating and breeding together with some rare ones appearing from the deeper forest.

A pair of Neptis miah batara (Small Yellow Sailor)

A male Neptis miah batara (Small Yellow Sailor)

A female Neptis miah batara (Small Yellow Sailor)

Neptis miah batara (Small Yellow Sailor) - underside profile

Neptis miah batara (Small Yellow Sailor) - frontal profile

A female Bifid Plushblue (Flos diardi capeta)

A female Bifid Plushblue (Flos diardi capeta)

A female Bifid Plushblue (Flos diardi capeta) oviposition.

Knight (Lebadea martha malayana)

A female Malayan Viscount (Tanaecia pelea pelea)

A female Malayan Viscount (Tanaecia pelea pelea) - frontal view

Common Tit (Hypolycaena erylus teatus)

Common Tit (Hypolycaena erylus teatus) - male

A female Plain Banded Awl (Hasora vitta vitta)

A female Plain Banded Awl (Hasora vitta vitta)

An old friend came visiting 

Club Silverline (Spindasis syama senama)

Detached Dart (Pothantus trachala tytleri)

Rustic (Cupha erymanthis lotis)

Vagrant (Vagrans egista macromalayana) (Fruhstorfer)

Malay Yeoman (Cirrochroa malaya malaya)

Malayan Pied Blue (Megisba malaya sikkima)

Yellow-based Lancer (Pyroneura natuna)

Status: uncommon

Small Branded Swift (Pelopidas mathias mathias)

Common Birdwing (Troides helena cerberus) - female

Here is something which I seldom come across.

                      These are the caterpillars of Banded Swallowtail (Papilio demolion demolion)

Banded Swallowtail (Papilio demolion demolion)

Banded Swallowtail (Papilio demolion demolion)

Watch out for part 3 of June butterflies series.

Butterflies in June 2021 (Part 1)

The month June welcomed a few returning butterflies from May 2021 as well as some new ones. The positive development was that a significant number of butterflies were appearing. This was probably due to the more sunny weather occurring in June. In addition it also appears that breeding session has started with a number of breeding activities been recorded. For part 1 of the three series, here are some of the butterflies which I have manage to photographed.

Malayan Tailed Judy (Abisara savitri savitri)

This should be a returning species as it was last seen in February 2021.

Malayan Punchinello (Zemeros emersoides albipunctatus)

This female Plush (Sithon nedymond nedymond) is a new addition

The above looks like a Tree Yellow (Gandaca harina distanti)

Yellow-disc Oakblue (Arhopala perimuta regina)

Ciliate Blue (Anthene emolus goberus)

This is a female Common Jay (Graphium doson evemonides)

The Commander (Moduza procris procris)

Apparently this one is a Violet Four-line Blue (Nacaduba subperusia lysa)

The Lance Sergeant (Athyma pravara helma)

The Colour Sergeant (Athyma nefte subrata) - upperside

Gender: male

The Colour Sergeant (Athyma nefte subrata) - underside

Common Five-Ring (Ypthima baldus newboldi) in the midst of mating

Blue Posy, Drupadia scaeva scaeva (Hewitson)

Blue Posy, Drupadia scaeva scaeva (Hewitson) - 

The difference between with and without sunlight exposures

Branded Imperial (under direct sunlight)

                                                 Branded Imperial (under a shade)                                     

                                             

       Mottled Bush-Brown (under direct sunlight)   

Mottled Bush-Brown (under a light shade)    
    

 

Common Five-ring (under direct sunlight)   

Common Five-ring (under a light shade)   

Spotted Plum Judy (Abisara geza niya)

Tawny Palmfly (Elymnias panthera panthera)

                              MORE BUTTERFLIES CONTINUING IN PART 2 .......