Butterflies in April 2023

After the Browings have left in March, there are still much to see in April. Maybe it could be due to the long hot weather or perhaps due to the many holidays which allowed me to explore more places. Here are a few interesting species which I have managed to find.

Here is a confrontation between a Dark Tit / Brown Tit (Hypolycaena thecloides thecloides) and a Weaver ant. Looks like the little ant has caused a lot of damage.

Dark Tit / Brown Tit (Hypolycaena thecloides thecloides)

From the above first photo, you might probably understand why scientist name it Dark / Brown Tit but I strongly urged current entomologists to try amending some of the species' common name to a more decent one.

Its underside looks definitely much prettier.

Wavy Maplet (Chersonesia intermedia) 

The identification remarks: HW protrusion / ("tanduk") not obvious, FW tip not dark enough and postdiscal stripes looks quite broader than C. rahria. Other info: overall looks more orengey and smaller in person than C. rahria.

Plain Yellow Lancer (Xanthoneura corissa indrasana)

Like all skippers it is also quite territorial. Saw it chasing other skippers away. 

Peablue (Lampides boeticus)

This butterfly is reported be a a migratory species.

Peablue (Lampides boeticus)

It looks like a male and it is sampling on a flower of Chinese Violet (Asystasia gangetica micrantha)

Peacock Pansy (Junonia almana)

One of the best photos I ever had with this species.

Horsfield's Baron (Tanaecia iapis puseda)

The Colonel (Pandita sinope sinope)

Penang mainland area seem to be its stronghold. 

The other locations where has also been reported were in Fraser's Hill.

The Colonel (Pandita sinope sinope)

It seems to enjoy the Banticoot berries of Leea indica plant. 

Malayan Plum Judy (Abisara saturata kausambioides)

A smart girl - laying her eggs beneath the leaf so as to avoid the preying eyes of predators as well as the sun and rain.

Malayan Plum Judy (Abisara saturata kausambioides)

Dried-leaf Palmfly (Elymnias saueri saueri)

Only once in a while you will get to see this Palmfly. So its must be quite rare or maybe moderately rare.

Eurema andersonii andersonii (One-spot Grass Yellow / Anderson's Grass Yellow)

                                     Someone said he saw a figure of S'pore's Merlion head on its FW.

          

      

     One-spot Grass Yellow / Anderson's Grass Yellow       

Grass Yellows are reported to be in season around March and April where you can find them more.

Yellow Glassy Tiger (Parantica aspasia)

Although common but never as many as a Blue Glassy Tiger at any one time.

This should be a Common Four Ring (Ypthima huebneri) - one 'eye' larger than the other.

Looks like there is a walking Orchid?

Orchid Tit (Chliara othona semanga)

Due to its small size, I had to go nearer to see what it is before I took a shot.

Orchid Tit (Chliara othona semanga)

Had to kneel down a bit lower in order to get these shots.

Clipper (Parthenos sylvia lilacinus)

I think this is no longer a common butterfly. Last seen by me was many years ago

Jacintha Eggfly (Hypolimnas bolina jacintha)

Common Tit (Hypolycaena erylus teatus)

Male

An opened wing shot of a male Common Tit.

An 'unidentified' flying skipper - enjoying its breakfast on some snakeweed flowers.

Here are a few tricky ones.

                                               

Different colors but same species.

They are both Appias albina albina (Common Albatross)

                                                                

Common Albatross (Appias albina albina)

                             Common Albatross (Appias albina albina)               

It looks like a Common Sailor (Neptis hylas) but it is not.

This is a Clear Sailor (Neptis clinia leuconata)

Side profile of a Neptis clinia (Clear Sailor)

Clear Sailor (Neptis clinia)

                                   

                           

Chocolate Sailor

Neptis harita harita (Moore) 

          

Here is an uncommon one.            

Fuliginous Sailor

(Lasippa monata monata)

            

     Here comes the "soldiers".                      

Malayan Laskar (Lasippa tiga siaka)

Perak Laskar (Pantaporia paraka paraka)

Upside view

Perak Laskar (Pantaporia paraka paraka)

Side view

Perak Laskar (Pantaporia paraka paraka)

I think it is slightly larger than the Malayan Laskar.

Back to some common butterflies.

The Commander (Moduza procris milona)

Malaccan Cerulean (Jamides malaccanus malaccanus)

Male

Dwarf Banded Demon (Notocrypta pria)

Notocrypta quadrata

Looks like it's playing with water bubbles. 

So far I can't find any common name for the above skipper in the literature.

Small Red Bob (Idmon obliquans obliquans)

The arrow is pointing at its horn-liked Palpis.

Jamides pura pura (White Cerulean)

Malayan Five Ring (Ypthima horsfieldii humei)

Apparently the male is the one on the left (facing downwards)

Pointed Line Blue (Ionolye helicon merguiana)

Male

Jewel Four-line Blue (Nacaduba sanaya elioti)

Male

I think he is checking whether that rock is some kind of a jewel which he can sell.  You will usually find 'Nacaduba' at ground level and hardly at tree tops.

I think this one is also an Anderson's Grass Yellow (Eurema andersonii andersonii)

Black Prince (Rohana parisatis siamensis) - his girlfriend

Black Prince (Rohana parisatis siamensis) 

He got struck by lightning earlier.

Chocolate Soldier (Junonia iphita)

Same fella again.

Chocolate Soldier (Junonia iphita)

Chocolate Demon (Ancistroides nigrita maura)

Lastly this is my lifer in April.

Club Beak (Libythea myrrha hecura)

Club Beak (Libythea myrrha hecura)

After so many years looking for it, only seen it this time.

This is its upperside.

Butterflying is like birding - sometimes luck plays a part.

Club Beak (Libythea myrrha hecura)

THAT'S ALL FOLKS.

TILL WE MEET AGAIN IN MAY 2023

 

 

Scoring some brownie points with Brownwings

Sometime in mid-March, I decided to explore a new trail hoping to see some lifers or rare butterflies. Initially there were just some common ones appearing like Archduke, Skippers, Grass Yellows and a couple of Prosotas and Pierrots. Then as I walk further about 50 meters from the trail head, I stumble upon a colony of Brownwings. I hardly seen a Brownwing and suddenly there were a few of them flying around and the good news is that they were 'nesting' there as well.

Brownwings in my opinion are nothing spectacular in terms of colors but they got a unique character as they will oviposit their eggs into a colony of ants and their larvae / "cats" are said to be carnivorous. In the next few slides you will be able to see the natural symbiosis between two biological insects in action. According to literature, most Miletus in the exception of Biggs' Brownwing (Miletus biggsii) are either just fairly common or rare. So let us get to know some of the Brownwings seen at this 'sacred' site.

Initially I thought it could be a Round-band Brownwing (Miletus gopara gopara) but I think it was just a Biggs' Brownwing (Miletus biggsii).

Biggs' Brownwing (Miletus biggsii)

Here it is again as it flew to a more shady place.

The next Miletus could be rare / very rare.

Miletus gallus gallus (Extended Brownwing) ?

Miletus gallus gallus (Extended Brownwing)

This is probably a male as it hardly fly around. It just stood there like a statue.

Miletus gallus gallus (Extended Brownwing)

Miletus gigantes (Giant Brownwing)

Looks like its underside markings are less profound as the M. gallus gallus.

Miletus gigantes (Giant Brownwing)

Miletus gigantes (Giant Brownwing)

At that time, only the Great Brownwing (Miletus symethus petronius) was active in oviposting.

Great Brownwing (Miletus symethus petronius)

As it flew casually around, I followed it while trying to take its upperside photos which is crucial to ID Miletus species.

Great Brownwing (Miletus symethus petronius)

 

Great Brownwing (Miletus symethus petronius)

Apparently this is the second most commonest Miletus after the Biggs' Brownwing.

Great Brownwing (Miletus symethus petronius)

Once it spotted a group of ants which I was informed that it is from the Dolichoderus sp, it lands to inspect. I think you will often encounter these ants inside the forest and they do bite although not really painful.

It will then used its antenna to 'communicate' or check the site.

It would then move around to check the site further - probably discussing some arrangements with the ants or giving them some of its juicy excrements. 

Its presence attracted more ants.

Finally it decided to 'deposit' only one egg at that site. You can see here that one of the ants was trying to bite its legs.

It then flew away to check another location. This place doesn't look good.

Then it deposited another egg at another site. 

Based on this brief observation, it appears that the Brownwings are quite active in the month of March and April. After witnessing all these episodes, I decided to check the trail again towards end of April but the Brownwings were all gone except one which was seen at a distance. Not sure whether their non-presence were due to the continuous overnight rain or whether they have moved on. The only way to find out is to survey the place again in May. 

THAT'S ALL FROM ME THIS TIME!

MUCHO GRACIAS !!