Butterflies in August 2021 (1st Half)

This month of August probably seen less butterflies due to the beginning of the monsoon season i.e "Monsoon Barat Daya" (Southwest Monsoon) which usually starts from May to September. Here are some of the ones seen during the 1st half of August.

When I first saw this mating pair, high up on the tree, I thought they might be a new species appearing at my local patch.

But luckily they flew down much to my relief.

Upon checking with my field guide, I discovered that they were actually a mating pair of Laringa castelnaui castelnaui or commonly known as "Blue Dandy".  

Malayan Snow Flat (Tagiades calligana)

Pointed Palmfly (Elymnias penanga penanga)

Great Egg-Fly (Hypolimnas bolina bolina)

Great Egg-Fly (Hypolimnas bolina jacintha) - female

Great Egg-Fly (Hypolimnas bolina jacintha) - female

In some butterflies, you will never get bored taking their photos over and over again.

Rustic (Cupha erymanthis lotis)

Rustic (Cupha erymanthis lotis)

Tiger Palmfly (Elymnias nesaea lioneli)

Spotted Black Crow (Euploea crameri bremeri) - under a shade

Spotted Black Crow (Euploea crameri bremeri) - in the open

This skipper below is probably the most significant find in the month of August.

Yellow Palm Dart (Cephrenes trichopepla)

The above skipper is reportedly originated from Australia. So far I can't find any literature which can describe how it came about in this region. According to SG Butterfly Circle, it was first spotted in S'pore in 1999 and in M'sia, LC Goh was probably the first to see it in March 2009. Since then, this skipper has been recorded in Johor, Malacca, NS, KL, Selangor and Penang. It resembles a lot like a Telicota, but it sheer size of 2cm will separate it from the much smaller Telicotas. I think they might be considered as uncommon here but this species can also be found in urban parks or your neighbourhood . 

For comparison, here is a Telicota

Orange Palm Dart (Telicota augias)

HAPPY BUTTERFLY WATCHING !

Butterflies in July 2021 (2nd Half)

 The 2nd half of July witnessed several old and new butterflies emerging. 

Aw ! what an awl !

Plain Banded Awl (Hasora vitta vitta)

Like most awls, when they fly close-by you can actually hear their wing beats which sounded like a buzzing bee.

Tiger Palmfly (Elymnias nesaea lioneli)

This is the best photo of this species I have gotten so far.

Dried-leaf palmfly (Elymnias saueri saueri)

Status: rare

Elymnias saueri saueri (upperside)

Dried-leaf palmfly (Elymnias saueri saueri)

Malayan Sunbeam (Curetis santana malayica)

Elymnias penanga penanga (Pointed Palmfly)

Malay Yeoman (Cirrochroa malaya malaya)

Malayan Lascar (Lasippa tiga siaka)

Tanaecia pelea pelea (Malayan Viscount)

Yamfly (Loxura atymnus fuconius) - female

 Malayan Baron (Euthalia monina monina) - male

 

Chequered Lancer (Plastingia naga) 

Palm King (Amathusia phidippus phidippus)

Palm King

 

Butterfly wings contain a series of living cells which function requires aa range of temperatures. Scientist have found that butterflies regulate their wing temperatures through both structural and behavioral adaptations.

Behavioral adaptation - research has found that butterflies at higher altitudes could warm up by dorsal basking i.e with their wings fully open or partially open. Sometimes you could also see them rotating their body to maximise the coverage.

Structural adaptation - engineers and biologist from Columbia University of Engineering & Applied Science found that butterfly wings are loaded with a network of mechanical and temperature sensors called androconial pads which allow butterflies to accurately determine the intensity and direction of sunlight.

Archduke (Lexias pardalis dirteana)

 

Male                                                                   Female   

 

Gem Demon (Ancistroides gemmifer gemmifer)

Gem Demon

Abisara saturata kausambioides (Malayan Plum Judy)

  

                             Without Flash                                                             With Flash                                                               

                       

           

                 A rather off coloured "Rapala domitia domitia" (Yellow Flash)              

White Hedge Blue (Udara akasa catullus)

Arhopala eumolphus maxwelli (Green Oakblue) 

Dot-dash sergeant

Athyma kanwa kanwa 

Athyma nefte subrata (Color Sergeant)

HAVE A WONDERFULL DAY !

Butterflies in July 2021 (1st Half)

The month of July saw just a few butterflies due to the rainy weather and the extended lockdown. Most of the photos here are those butterflies which appeared in late June and early July. Most of them were seen basically from nearby parks and gardens.

This skipper was once described by the literature as a common garden butterfly but nowadays I believe you can hardly see them.

Grass Demon (Udaspes folus)

It was seen on a periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) flower which is located in my neighbourhood. 

So lucky that it stood there for a couple of minutes.

Many butterflies (especially rare ones) seldom open their wings but when one opens it wings, it's like a grand invitation for you to appreciate their beauty.

Nacaduba sanaya elioti (Jewel Four-Line Blue).  

To identify this small butterfly an expert had earlier alerted me of its 'tail-less' feature.  

Here's the underside of the Jewel Four-Line Blue

The one above had been identified by an expert as a male Jamides bochus nabonassa (Dark Cerulean).

Common Cerulean (Jamides celeno aelianus)

A female Abisara saturata kausambiodes (Malayan Plum Judy)

Arhopala perimuta perimuta (Yellowdisc Oakblue)

Athyma kanwa kanwa (Dot-dash Sergeant)

The above is a seldom seen female Athyma nefte subrata (Colour Sergeant)

Observing a butterfly ovipositing in your garden is a chance of a life time. Here is a common female Pygmy Grass Blue (Zizula hylax pygmaea) doing just that.

The female Pygmy Grass Blue was seen ovipositing on a young flower bud of a Ruellia squarrosa (Water Bluebell).

You can see one of its eggs here

Another one can be seen on the top flower bud.

To minimise the risk of losing all its eggs, it will spread it across all the young flower buds as seen from the above photos.

Tailed Jay (Graphium agamemnon agamemnon)

A common butterfly along the forest trails which is more often observed flying around than landing on a leaf.

Spotted Black Crow (Euploea crameri bremeri)

This is an uncommon 'Delieas' which is reported to be a migrating butterfly.

Red-based Jezebel (Delias pasithoe parthenope)

Malayan Sunbeam (Curetis santana malayica)

Check out its different antenna colors

 Fluffy Tit (Zeltus amasa maximminianus)

Common Imperial (Cherita freja frigga)

Pointed Palmfly (Elymnias penanga penanga) 

The above butterfly is a rather uncommon male which has a beautiful deep bluish purple on its forewing upperside.

Blue Posy (Drupadia scaeva scaeva)

Blue Posy (Drupadia scaeva scaeva) - female

The Malay Yeoman (Cirrochroa malaya malaya)

Trying to blend in with the color of the leaves.

A loving pair of Dark Banded Ace (Halpe ormenes vilasina)

Harlequin (Taxila haquinus haquinus)

There was once a campaign in Singapore to save its population in the island.

Here are a few common skippers which you might probably encounter

Swinhoe Ace (Halpe wantona)

Halpe pelethronix pelethronix (Peninsular Ace)

Pothantus omaha omaha (Lesser Dart)

Plain Tufted Lancer (Isma iapis iapis)

Oriens gola pseudolus (Common Dartlet)

A pristine looking Branded Imperial (Eooxylides tharis distanti)

Hypolimnas bolina (Great Eggfly)

Apparently there are two ssp of bolinas in this region i.e i) H. bolina bolina and ii) H. bolina jacintha. H. bolina bolina which is the 'original' ssp in this region was reportedly been displaced by H. bolina jacintha since about 30 years ago. It was also said that interbreeding between the ssp has occurred and that the female form has many variables.

I presumed the above is a H. bolina bolina as H. bolina jacintha is now quite uncommon.

Another H. bolina bolina - a female I presumed.

Lastly but not least, here is a common butterfly which you will encounter 

Common Five-Ring (Ypthima baldus newboldi)