Butterflies in December 2022

As we welcome the new year, some of us would have make some grand wishes. There might be some who wish to get more richer while some would just wish that they are healthy and fit. For me my wish is that I will be fit enough to enjoy my hobby of photographing as many butterflies as possible. There is no other better butterfly to end the year 2022 than a pristine looking female Charaxes bernadus crepax (Tawny Rajah).

Tawny Rajah (female)

I took loads of shots of this butterfly as it puddled leisurely around.

I felt liked it has descended down from Heaven as it appeared suddenly in front of me.

The female of this species is huge and this one is not bothered by my close presence.

When a butterfly is beautiful, it will be nice whether it goes upside down or whether it goes sideways.

At a certain angle, her antenna looks a bit bluish in colour.

Tawny Rajah Charaxes bernadus crepax

Taking minerals from a concrete embankment.

Next up is a Tajuria.

Flash Royal (Tajuria deudorix ingeni)

This species I believe is not common.

This butterfly was seen in Gopeng, Perak.

Another beauty from Gopeng.

Burmese Cerulean (Jamides philatus subditus)

Long Branded Blue Crow (Euploea algea menetriesii) 

To confirm the nomenclature of this butterfly is not easy. One also need to see its 'brand' as shown by the photo below.

It can be seen mostly in lowland areas.

At a certain angle, you can see a bluish sheen at its forewing costa region.

Long Branded Blue Crow (Euploea algea menetriesii) 

Stripped Blue Crow (Euploea mulciber mulciber)

This male 'crow' is even more common then the earlier one.

Malayan Lascar (Lasippa tiga siaka) 

A little chip at the tip of its forewing doesn't hurt.

Yellow Flash (Rapala domitia domitia)

This one looks like a male.

Prosotas nora superdates (Common Line Blue)

The more yellowish colour of this butterfly points it to a female.

A Dark Glassy Tiger (Parantica agleoides agleoides) sampling a flower of the bidens plant.

This is most likely a male and it's smaller than the rest of the Parantica subspecies.

A nice looking Dark Grass Brown (Orsotriaena medus cinerea)

Lastly here is a seldom photographed female Red Spot Duke (Dophla evelina compta)

Although the male looks more colourful but she has her own beauty.

She is a strong flier and seldom come down to rest except this time.

THAT'S ABOUT IT !

SAYONARA FOLKS. TILL WE MEET AGAIN NEXT YEAR WITH MORE INTERESTING PHOTOS OF THE BUTTERFLIES IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

Butterflies in November 2022

There are not many butterflies seen this time due to the continuous monsoon rain in this region. Here are just a few interesting ones.

Plush (Sithon nedymond nedymond)

Finally got a photo of this male species. Most of the time it was the female which appeared.

Malayan Birdwing (Triodes amphrysus ruficollis)

Male

Malayan Birdwing (Triodes amphrysus ruficollis)

Males of this species are generally smaller than the females.

Yellow-barred Pan (Xanthotaenia busiris busiris)

Brown King Crow (Euploea klugii erichsonii)

This king crow was seen in Penang mainland.

Dark Blue Tiger (Tirumala septentrionis septentrionis)

Gem Demon (Ancistroides gemmifer)

Yellow Orange Tip (Ixias pyrene birdi)

Yellow Orange Tip (Ixias pyrene birdi)

Male

Yellow Orange Tip (Ixias pyrene birdi)

Female

No lifers for this month but butterfly spotting trips shall continue nevertheless.

Butterflies in October 2022: Some lessons on butterflies' ID

For this October there were three rare ones seen. Some were straight forward while some need close observation before one can verify their existence. Here is the first one.

Koh-i-Noor (Amathuxidia amythaon dilucida)

This is a male. Saw its bluish and white band upperside when it flew off. It is reported to be rare probably due to its cryptic personality and its sensitivity towards human presence. I was lucky to get some photos of it before it flew away. Also thanks to a fellow butterfly enthusiast who alerted us of its presence.

When I first saw it, it perched quite low and partially hidden by some bushes. So I quietly moved to a higher ground so that I could get a full view of it. Very happy to finally get my target species after so many years.

Here is a rare skipper with a rather unusual scientific name. My 'lifer' # 338.

Ge geta (Circular Tufted Demon)

Three pertinent field marks can be seen here which points them to the species:

1) Long antenna, 2) Smaller hyaline spots and 3) Darker underside.

The third rare one is also another skipper.

White-tipped Palmer (Lotongus calathus calathus)

It perched nicely for this shot.

White-tipped Palmer (Lotongus calathus calathus)

If you may have noticed the other subspecies i.e Lotongus avesta - it has two small spots at its forewing apex area which are absence in the above species.

Arhopala species are difficult to identify but with the help from experienced butterfly spotters you can actually confirmed their respective ID.

This is a Broad Yellow Oakblue (Arhopala amphimuta amphimuta).

The above species was identified from the "V" shape at its lower arm as indicated above. Reported to be a common butterfly by CP5 but I hardly come across it.

Here is a 'Neptis' which would need closer examination to positively ID it.

This is a Neptis harita harita (Moore) aka Chocolate Sailor. One of its important feature is the little protrusion on its forewing band as indicated above.

An underside view of a Chocolate Sailor

I saw two of them.

Here is a comparison of two female Tanaecia.

                             

          Horsfield's Baron (Tanaecia iapis iapis)         Malayan Viscount (Tanaecia pelea pelea)            

   

Other than their forewing markings, Tanaecia iapis iapis is slightly larger in appearance than T. pelea pelea.

Here are a few tiny butterflies which I came across during my trip to a mangrove area in Penang.

Gram Blue (Euchrysops cnejus cnejus)

Looks like this species is more common in the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia.

Gram Blue

Gram Blue

The next butterfly below here is even more tiny.

Lesser Grass Blue (Zizinia otis lampa)

Lesser Grass Blue (Zizinia otis lampa) - Male

Lesser Grass Blue (Zizinia otis lampa)

Lesser Grass Blue (Zizinia otis lampa) - Female

All were seen at a flat grass land near the mangroves.

Now back to the jungle species.

This is a Large Long-branded Flitter (Isma umbrosa umbrosa)

Quite common it seems.

Common Bush Brown (Mycalesis janardana)

The Knight

Prosotas nora superdates caught in flight

Common Line Blue

Along side with Rustic (Cupha erymanthis), you would most likely also find a Junonia on a bright sunny day.

Chocolate Pansy (Junonia hedonia)

Tawny Rajah (Charaxes bernadus) 

Tawny Rajah is reported to be uncommon but at its favourite locations, it can be quite common.

Common Hedge Blue (Acytolepis puspa lambi)

One of the better photos I have taken on this species.

Common Hedge Blue (Acytolepis puspa lambi)

IT'S ALMOST YEAR END ! HOPE TO SEE MORE NEW BUTTERFLIES !