BLOG Update – Life History of the Common Red Flash
by Commander on Jan.23, 2012, under Early Stages and Life Histories
The Common Red Flash is an attractive hairstreak, in particular the male, where the crimson-red uppersides are a sight to behold when they sunbathe in the late afternoon hours of the day. ButterflyCircle unofficially considers this species as Singapore’s national butterfly as it metaphorically represents the “Little Red Dot” which Singapore is often referred to. The Common Red Flash is a fast-flying butterfly and males have often been encountered dog-fighting amongst open grassy fields on a hot day.
In Singapore, they have been successfully bred on two locally common host plants as shown in Horace Tan’s meticulously documented article in the blog. The species is by no means abundant or common, but can be found in certain localities along the forest edges of the nature reserves where the host plants thrive. However, as both host plants are seen as secondary forest “weeds” any clearing of these plants for development or a more manicured landscaping would threaten the existence of this butterfly.
And with this little butterfly of auspicious red, ButterflyCircle wishes all its Chinese members a Happy, Prosperous and Healthy Year of the Dragon! Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Read all about it at the Butterflies of Singapore BLOG.
Butterfly of the Month – December 2011
by Commander on Jan.02, 2012, under Butterfly of the Month
Our final Butterfly of the Month for 2011, the Scarce Silverstreak (Iraota rochana boswelliana). This pretty Lycaenid is a zippy flyer and flies at high speeds when alarmed. However, it is moderately common in Singapore, as its caterpillar host plant, Ficus microcarpa, has been cultivated as roadside hedges and a common landscaping ‘filler’ plant used typically as boundary bushes. Males are spectacular, with its upperside a shining greenish-blue, with broad black borders. Females are a drab bronzey brown and unmarked.
The undersides of the Scarce Silverstreak feature cryptic patterns of brown and silvery-white streaks. The large tornal lobe features a black eyespot. There are three pairs of tails at the hindwings, with each thick black tail ending in white tip. The butterfly, particularly the female is often seen at the bushes of its host plant during the late morning and early afternoon hours of the day.
Read all about it at the Butterflies of Singapore BLOG.
