Our butterfly of the month for April 2012 is the relatively common Eurema species, the Chocolate Grass Yellow.   The species is distinctive in having a solid dark brown patch at the apical area of the underside of the forewing.  The species is seasonally common, and up to over two dozen individuals have been observed puddling at one time.  Male Chocolate Grass Yellows are regularly observed to puddle at damp sandy and muddy spots in the nature reserves.

The species is widespread in Singapore and occurs in the nature reserves as well as in urban parks and gardens.  The butterfly often flies with other Grass Yellow species in Singapore.  The upperside features a black marginal border on both the fore and hindwings.  Females are rarer and the marginal border thicker but more diffuse.

Read all about it at the Butterflies of Singapore BLOG.

The Striped Blue Crow is a relatively common Danainae that is quite widespread in Singapore.  It can usually be found singly in the nature reserves as well as at urban parks and gardens.   Whenever there are flowering trees like the Syzygium sp., this species can often be spotted amongst other species of the Danainae subfamily, feeding on the flowers.  Males of the Striped Blue Crow are also observed to puddle at damp sandy spots along streams where the sand has been contaminated with decomposing organic matter.

The Striped Blue Crow’s colourful caterpillar feeds on a variety of host plants, many of which are lactiferous.  The caterpillar is able to sequester the poisonous alkaloids in its body as it feeds, rendering the adult butterfly protection by being distasteful to predators.  The adult butterflies display aposematic warning colouration.  The males are a shiny iridescent blue on the upperside of the forewings, whilst the female has less blue on the forewings, but sports the striped pattern of the other distasteful Danainae species like the Blue and Dark Glassy Tigers. 

Read all about it at the Butterflies of Singapore BLOG.