RON - BUTTERFLY GALLERY (Malaysia)

The month of July 2023 will now be officially considered my most exciting month in my entire butterfly spotting adventures. Not only did I saw many new butterflies but those very rare ones have also appeared before my eyes. Together with the trip to Fraser Hill I have 'collected' at least 15 lifers within this month. I shall include the photos of the Fraser's Hill trip in the next post. Meanwhile here are some of the other amazing butterflies which I have seen in July 2023.

Great Mormon (Papilio memnon agenor)

This time the four of us saw two of them which stayed nearby to each other. This one looks slightly different than the top one.

Great Mormon (Papilio memnon agenor)

Common Yeoman

(Cirrochroa tyche rotundata)

Common Yeoman (Cirrochroa tyche rotundata)

Its colour almost blending well with the road.

This is an Intricate Jester

(Symbrenthia hypatia chersonesia)

Dark Evening Brown (Male)

(Melanitis phedima abdullae)

Dark Evening Brown (Female)

(Melanitis phedima abdullae)

Arhopala kurzi

Apparently there are no common names for this Oakblue yet !!

Autumn Leaf

(Doleschallia bisaltide continentalis)

Here are the kings of Lepidoptera.

Palm King (Amathusia phidippus phidippus)

Palm King (Amathusia binghami)

The above is from a different Ssp.

Blue Catseye

(Coelites epiminthia epiminthia)

The above is a creature of the dark trails. Hardly comes out in the open.

According to people who are familiar with Allotinus species, this one could be a Broad-branded Darkwing (Allotinus leogoron).

Rounded Darkwing (Allotinus corbeti)

A couple of Rounded Darkwings (Allotinus corbeti)

Common Bluejohn (Deramas livens livens) ??

Brownwings are exciting butterflies but this time not many were seen.

Extended Brownwing (Miletus gallus gallus)

....and this is the best way we identify a Miletus - i.e from the dorsal views.

Extended Brownwing (Miletus gallus gallus)

Extended Brownwing (Miletus gallus gallus) discussing some private matters with some ants friends.

Extended Brownwing (Miletus gallus gallus)

I love the shape of its eyes - like some alien being.

Royal Assyrian (Terinos terpander robertsia)

It came out just after the rain stops.

Hesperiidae family is mainly consist of skippers and they are the least abundant in any butterfly surveys.

Conjoined Swift (Pelopidas conjunctus conjunctus)

Contiguous Swift (Polytremis lubricans lubricans)

Golden Dart (Pothantus flavus)

This one could be uncommon I think.

Narrow-banded Bob

(Telicota ohara jix)

Note the additional 'foreleg' which a local scientist informed me that it has many functions such as defence, locomotion, and sensory. Not sure whether both male and females have this little organ.

A few more local ones before the BIG ones.

Dried Leaf Palmfly

(Elymnias saueri saueri)

Yellow Archduke (Lexias canescens pardalina)

This is an uncommon Archduke.

Sumatran Gem

(Poritia sumatranae sumatranae)

White Imperial

(Neomyrina nivea periculosa)

Silver-forget-me-not

(Catochrysops panormus exiguus)

NOW HERE COMES THE 'REALLY' RARE ONES !!

Brown Forest Bob (Scobura woolletti)

Malayan Nawab (Charaxes moori moori)

I think this Nawab might not be really rare but it should still be very uncommon.

Malayan Nawab (Charaxes moori moori)

Red Edge

(Semanga superba deliciosa)

There are only a few reported cases of the above species in iNaturalist. As I know there are only two reported cases in Penang island and this one is probably one of the very few seen in Klang Valley.

Maculate Lancer

(Salanoemia sala)

In real life, this lancer looks a little greenish on its underside.

This is how it would look like from a distance. Quite a tiny fella.

Maculate Lancer

(Salanoemia sala)

It landed near a dark and shady bush. Although it was not spooked by me but I still cant get a nice shot of it. I believe this one too has little reported sightings.

Lastly this should be the best of the lots.

Oriental Blue Tiger

(Tirumala limniace exotica)

It was seen flying casually around but unfortunately it did not stop at all. Initially I thought it could be one of those Parantica and luckily I got this one and only record shot. I went back the following day to find it but unfortunately it can't be found.

WHAT A MONTH IT HAS BEEN. LOOKING FOWARD TO MORE BUTTERFLY ADVENTURES IN THE FUTURE AND OF COURSE MORE RARE ONES !!

Oakblues or scientifically called Arhopala are one of the most intriguing and beautiful butterfly species. Their mostly bluish-purple and sometimes greenish upperside can be a sight to behold. However, most of the time these species of butterflies would seldom show their open-wing and identification of them from their underside (UN) is a challenge for many of us. Nevertheless, I have tried my best level to identify the following Arhopalas based on a few pertinent features and at the same time comparing other 'confirmed' photos available from the net. No matter how diligently I have tried, I must admit that I can still be wrong with their ID.

There are what I think six important features (A - F) which can be used to identify the species.

So based on the above features, I have identified what I think should reflect their respective species. All of them were seen in July 2023.

The above is a Vinous Oakblue (Arhopala athada athada).

It would makes things easier if you can remember the colors of the upperside. All the Arhopala photos taken here have bluish colour on their upperside.