Saw my first Graphium species today, probably a Common Bluebottle, but it didn't hang around... I also saw a couple of new Skippers, of which this was one: Common Palm Dart (I think). DSC00480.JPG Finally managed to catch a Club Silverline with its wings open: DSC00478.JPG The final pic is one from ...

The Ateneo territory is only 83 hectares, surrounded by concrete on all sides. Amazingly, after six weeks I'm still finding new species at almost one a day! I finally caught up with a hungry Lemon Emigrant Catopsilia pomona , form crocale , I think. A photograph cannot do this species justice; in fl...

Now fairly confident that the Allotinus species shown with ants is Allotinus fallax.

Tony M.

After a couple of forced days off, I ventured out again this morning. Only saw one newby - a tiny Lycaenid, which I think is a Pygmy Grass Blue Zizula hylax . Its jizz was quite different from the Lesser GB, and it was much more ready to settle. I also post a photo of an amazing Shield Bug - a real ...

Mainly cloudy this morning. Usually means that not so many butterflies are seen, but those that do appear are more likely to be sitting still. I had previously watched several, I think, Wanderers Pareronia boebera flashing about the forest margins, but had never seen one settle. I was astonished tod...

The initial confusion was because I had mis-spelled alphenor as elphenor - a totally different species. Mea very culpa - apologies

Tony.

What were the grounds for identifying the alphenor as polytes, . I have just joined the Singapore Butterfly Group, and one of their members posted a 'correction'. I have also seen a female polytes on the campus, and assumed that the Asian guy was correct. I hadn't realised that a tailless variety o...

It has just been pointed out to me (courtesy of the Singapore Butterfly Site), that the supposed Papilio elphenor, previously posted, is, in fact, a male Common Mormon Papilio polytes. The lack of tails fooled me completely. There's so much to learn....

Tony M.

A cooler day today - like about 27 instead of 32! It was immediately apparent that there were many more butterflies about. Club Silverlines all over the place, although none with open wings. There was much to calm the senses, and delight the eye... DSC00414.JPG I saw my first Elbowed Pierrot, which,...

Thanks, Nick, for a great suggestion - wilco and report. Just off for my morning search - hope to have something to post later...

Tony.

A quick trawl on the net suggests pasithoe from the black/yellow uw distribution. Happy to be corrected .

T.M.

Further to my last, the RBJ may be Delias henningia, rather than D. pasithoe. Not sure how to separate them.

T.M.

Only one new one today, sadly suffering from a set to with a bird by the look of it. Amazing colours - an insect I had not seen before.

Red Base Jezebel:
Tony M.

Thanks, Guy - of course it is!

Don't know how I missed it - I went twice through the Phillipine Lycaenid list - D'oh!

Must start taking more care

Tony.

This has me completely flummoxed, in that it has no tails.. There doesn't seem to be any divergence in the marginal line, which would allow for tails being lost, and the fringing looks complete. Any ideas?

Tony M.

Not a lot to see, today. It's becoming more difficult to find new species. Finally managed to catch what I assumed was an Ancyra Blue, with open wings. Most of the Lycaenids here are AB, but looking at the hw black marks, I'm less sure. Another one for Guy, I'm afraid :oops: : DSC00386.JPG . Tony M.

Thanks, again, Guy for your expert input. I was not happy with erylus , the eye colour was wrong, and there was a dot rather than a line at the hw costa, but my only reference book is 'The Butterflies of Singapore' by K S Khoon - not ideal. The skipper ID looks spot on - a seriously stunning little ...

Spent the last three days at an Eco-Resort about 100km. south of Manila. We were shown to our 'hut', to find a Golden Birdwing floating about in the garden! Looked like my kind of place... Sadly, we had rain and cloud for most of our stay :( . I did manage to get out for a couple of hours each day, ...

Thought I was due for another blank day, when I spotted this beauty in the undergrowth. I think it must have been freshly emerged.

Papilio alphenor
Tony M.

After another look, and considering the apparent immobility of the spider, I think this may be a fungus affected, dead spider. Can't imagine how I didn't see it before - d'oh! Must try harder...

T.