Butterfly Sightings in Hong Kong 2016

[Peacock Royal]

These were taken last weekend at Fung Yuen Butterfly Reserve at Tai Po again.
No chance to shoot this week as the weather today and yesterday were cold and cloudy.

5. Which Pieris ? HK has two species, P. rapae and P. canidia.
6. Parantica aglea
7. Melanitis phedima
8a. Zemeros flegyas . A long distance shot - Interesting to see the aberration on one side of the wings only.
8b. Zemeros flegyas

[Psyche]

Post 7 no 1.

Pieris canidia.
The FW black border have the inner margin saw-toothed.

TL Seow:Cheers.

[Peacock Royal]

Thanks Dr Seow
A few more shots taken today and yesterday.
9. Faunis eumeus
10 and 11: Papilio agestor
12. Suastus gremius
13. Parasarpa dudu

[Psyche]

Post 9 no. 4

Although Suastus minutus aditia is not recorded in HK, the whitish shading & ill-defined spots indicate it is this species.
This pair matches C&P4 plate 54/58 very well.

The degree of white shading & the size of the spots are very variable.
An example of S. minutus aditia Thailand.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bZ5-OwTWPE...-Palm-Bob).jpg

Examples of S. gremius from HK.
http://static.inaturalist.org/photos...JPG?1429869436
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5308/5...9bf9bd65a1.jpg

TL Seow: Cheers.

[Peacock Royal]

Thanks Dr Seow for highlighting the possible distinguishing differences between S. minutus and S. gremius
Here are two more shots (same individual) flitting around at the same location as the mating pair - it has a tendency to open its wings once it perched.

[Psyche]

These two species can be very confusing sometimes.

The markings are so variable that they seem to overlaps sometime.

Typically male gremius have 3 subapical spots & female two; cellspots variable in both sexes.
HW underside typically three prominent spots in space 1b, 2, & 3.
http://butterflycircle.blogspot.my/2...-palm-bob.html

S. minutus have 2 subapical spots or less.cellspots variable.
HW underside may be white shaded; 2 prominent spots in space 1b & 2, spot 3 being absent or vestigial.
http://wingscales.com/content/record/569-1-44077.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f...2/3S7_7981.jpg
http://wingscales.com/content/record/570-1-8f2ec.jpg
http://www.samuibutterflies.com/02_i...utusaditia.jpg


So there is a strong suggestion this S. minutus aditia.
However, the spots have a pale ring & this is only seen in S. gremius.

It appears this is a localised colony of S. gremius with small & reduced spots.

TL Seow : Cheers.

[Peacock Royal]

Thanks Dr Seow
14. Artipe eryx
15. Parathyma sulpitia
16. Astictopterus jama
17. Hyarotis adrastus