Samui - 2013

[Painted Jezebel]

My first trip out of the year (my first for a month owing to my broken collar bone), and there is still little about.

Arhopala agaba (Purple-glazed Oakblue). Strange that I only found this for the first time last year, as I now seem to come across it quite often, though it is very skittish and seems to know the most inconvenient places to perch for photographers.

[Leopard Lacewing]

Nice shot, Les! :thumbsup:
Take care too!

Cheers!

[WillFolsom]

Bones get a little more brittle as time goes bye! Can't be swinging from one tree to another chasing butterflies without bumping into something! Glad to see you are able to get out! William

[moloch]

Glad that you are out again. Did you have a crash with the bike? Hope that it mends well.

Regards,
David

[Painted Jezebel]

Thank you for your concerns.

No, not a bike accident. I was simply at home and leant over to pick up my crash helmet, prior to going out, and 'crack'!

Unfortunately, this is a recurrence (4th) of an old injury, and I will be stuck with the possibility of it rebreaking for the rest of my life, the bone will remain fragile. I need to rest it for a while, so my proposed trip round Khao Luang, south of here on the mainland, has been postponed for a month at least. Even just carrying the camera aggravated it as I found out on my trip on the 6th January on Samui, when I took the photo.

[Painted Jezebel]

Fed up staying at home to rest, so I went out at last, and am so pleased I did! I managed to see three species I had not seen even once in 2012, namely Horaga syrinx, Ixias pyrene and Delias pasithoe. Unfortunately none were obliging enough for me to get any photo.

However, I did see a new species for Samui. Cirrochroa emalea emalea (Malay Yeoman).:gbounce: - No. 349
1) The photo from Samui (only one I managed but sufficient for record purposes). So....
2) One I prepared earlier (from Malaysia)
3) Abisara saturata maya (Forest Judy)
4) Quite a large Skipper, hiding in undergrowth by a weaver ant nest, so sorry about quality! No idea of ID.

[Psyche]

The wingshape is distorted by the topdown perspective.
The palpi 2nd segment (below the eye) is normal & non-protruding ruling out the Ancistroides group.

It is in the Baoris group.
The abdomen is lightly banded & this is seen in Baoris, not in Caltoris.
eg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist%20V2/CI/mugshots/Baoris%20farri%20farri/Baoris%20farri%20farri%20-%20Horace%20Tan.jpg
Baoris penicillata from Sri Lanka.
http://www.slbutterflies.com/Image.php?cid=237&pid=637

Baoris penicillata is the species most likely to lose all the smaller spots & appeared plain brown in profile.
This specimen is quite worn, & is porbably this species.

TL Seow:cheers:

[Painted Jezebel]

Thank you. I had suspected that genus, but was at a loss as to which species. This is the one I still need a voucher specimen for.The ants prevented me in that respect many viewers will be pleased to hear!

[Commander]

The ants prevented me in that respect many viewers will be pleased to hear!

Yes, we 'murderers' will be going extinct soon! :bsmile:

[Painted Jezebel]

Very windy today, making photography very challenging. Nothing new today, in respect of species, but I did find something I was not expecting.

I have shown Caprona agama agama (Spotted Angle) before, but now I can provide a complete set!
1) Wet season form (slightly darker)
2) Dry season form f. erosula (slightly lighter)
3) The new one! Dry season form f. saraya (very different spotting). There were a huge number about, and they were right next door to my house. I have no idea how I have missed it before.

[Angiud]

I love the #3, beautiful and never seen before!

[Bluebottle]

A very attractive Angle, Les :thumbsup:

[Psyche]

Caprona agama agama is one of those butterflies with an inexplicable disjunct distribution.
It is found in continental Asia and again in Java & Sulawesi.
However, it is unknown in Sumatra, Malaya & Borneo.

TL Seow:cheers:

[Psyche]

How do you tell the difference between C. agama & alida.
I noticed the records of C. agama are all from the north in Yutaka.

The wsf & dsf of C. alida also looks very similar.
http://old.hkbutterfly.org/images/Caprona_alida_wsf.jpg
http://images5.fotop.net/albums5/tommychan/hong_kong_butterfly/Caprona_alida_2.jpg

The typical wsf C. agama agama from India has whiter spots.
http://www.flutters.org/home/photogallery/plog-content/images/butterfliesbrnbspnbspnbsphesperiidae-the-skippers-br/skippers---hesperiidae/spottedangle_1_gopakumar.jpg
Two from Thailand.
http://www.raorakpar.org/img/thaplan160553-01.jpg
http://tolweb.org/tree/ToLimages/hesperidae-caprona-agama.250a.jpg

TL Seow:cheers:

[Painted Jezebel]

How do you tell the difference between C. agama & alida.
I noticed the records of C. agama are all from the north in Yutaka.


A very good question, which since finding the f. saraya yesterday has been occupying my mind, in case I should have it wrong. Until then, I had been quite happy I had been right.

I had not seen the w.s.f of C. alida pictured at all, and had wrongly assumed that it only existed in the form which looks like f. saraya. I, also had looked at geographical distribution, and C. alida is only found to the north, and not, in pockets, further south such as Java.

To quote Pinratana on C. alida, which I prefer to use than Pisuth for descriptions..."difficult to separate with certainty from C. agama, especially in d.s.f, except by disection of male genitalia. In w.s.f the spots are usually a richer yellow than in C. agama, on forewing the inner spot in space 1b is double (single in agama) and on hindwing the inner spot in space 7 is absent or vestigial. In the d.s.f. only the brown form has been recognised, and the underside is usually less frosted so that the dark spots show up better."

Incidentally, the typical w.s.f of C. agama you picture is a female which has larger and whiter spots than the male.

I am undertaking further investigations to ensure I have got it right (or wrong)-More work! Whichever species, it is an extension of the known range in Thailand, neither species being recorded from the Peninsular before, to my knowledge.

I attach another old w.s.f. photo which, to me, does not show rich yellow spots as found in C. alida.

[Angiud]

Just to post an unusual underside picture of aCaprona agama

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6185/6095193027_5b2c3dc995_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/angiud/6095193027/)
The Spotted Angle (http://www.flickr.com/photos/angiud/6095193027/)

[Psyche]

I think you have Caprona alida.

Here is Antonio's shot of the male wsf.
It fits Pinratana's description of C. alida, ie.
1. The basal spot on the forewing is doubled.
2. The innermost spot in space 7 on the hindwing (just below the forewing double spot) is vestigial.
3. The spots are yellower.
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6088/6095725548_a828d429b8_z.jpg

This from Thailand, I am sure is a male not a female of C. agama.
1. The forewing basal spot is single.
2. Hindwing innermost spot in space 7 (below the forewing spot) is large.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/17487183@N00/3910638305/

This another male C. agama from Thailand showing the same features.
http://butterflylife67.multiply.com/photos/photo/6/11

TL Seow:cheers:
PS. The female C. alida(HK) is paler & could be mistaken for a male C. agama.http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8141/7404875762_6f184de940_z.jpg

[Painted Jezebel]

I now see precisely what you mean. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I now have some amendments to make:cry: !

I think Pisuth shows wrong specimens in his second edition too, the males appear to have double sub-basal spots as well, the female appears right.

[Angiud]

I post a shot of the upperside of the same specimen, pic taken at KPG:

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6088/6095725548_a828d429b8_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/angiud/6095725548/)
The Spotted Angle (http://www.flickr.com/photos/angiud/6095725548/)

[Psyche]

Now having a long good look at your male pic again , Antonio, I have to make a slight correction of C. alida.

The forewings are held too far down so the whole of space 7 of the hindwings are hidden.
The small dot below the forewing double basal spot is actually a reduced central cell-spot of the hindwing.
Although Pinratana mentioned the basal spot in space 7 being vestigial. the central cell-spot is also much reduced in C alida.(Have checked out all valid images.)

In this female alida from HK, the forewing basal spot in space 1b is split into two, & the hindwing central cellspot is reduced to a small round spot.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8141/7404875762_6f184de940_z.jpg

In this example from Thailand which should be a female agama, the basal forewing space1b spot is single, & the hindwing central cellspot is large.
The basal space 7 spot is small but not vestigial.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/63288875@N04/7654395012/

This example of a male C. alida from HK has the hindwing central cellspot split into 2 small spots. Forewing have the usual basal spot doubled.
http://m7.i.pbase.com/g5/98/670198/2/101044637.jngmmYR9.jpg


TL Seow:cheers:

[Painted Jezebel]

Still not much about, though I am now distinctly confused at to whether we are in the dry or wet season, as I came across both forms of C. alida today!

Only thing worthy of showing is a, for me, unusual upperside of Miletus chinensis learchus, male. (Flash induced, of course, so not perfect)

[Painted Jezebel]

Being depressed about the lack of morning activity, I tried the afternoon, yesterday. Same result! However, I did, at last, manage an unimpeded shot of the female Lethe mekara gopaka (Common Red Forrester), a male already nailed. Location not the best with regards to lighting, but anyway, here it is.

[Painted Jezebel]

After nearly a month of inactivity on the Island, I decided now was the time to check if anything had improved regards numbers. Simple answer...No! However, this may be due now to the heat, which even I would describe as 'blistering'. I like the heat, but the last few days have been too much.

Two from today:
1) My annual sighting of the rare Elymnias obnubila (Chestnut Palmfly)
2) Catapaecilma major emas (Gray Tinsel). This species never behaves as a good model, and always manages to land in difficult positions, at least for me!

[Painted Jezebel]

Temperatures hitting 40c. yet again, as has been the case here ever since my return from Kaeng Krachan! Butterflies are too sensible, unlike me, to be out in this temperature, and so, still very little flying, even in my garden!

Only one from today, Mahathala ariadeva ariadeva (Malayan Falcate Oakblue), with its peculiarly shaped hindwing. One of those species I see once, or at most twice, a year.

[Psyche]

As Samui is Sundanian territory what you have is M. ariadeva ariadeva.

M. ameria ameria has a darker underside with obscure markings.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/lyc4/82700001.html
http://images5.fotop.net/albums3/justinlaw/Mahathala_ameria/IMG_0400.jpg

Taxon ariadeva was formerly considered a ssp. of M. ameria.

The two overlaps widely further north.

TL Seow:cheers:

PS. I see you have the correct name on your website. An unintented slip.

[Angiud]

Wow Les, interesting Lycaenidae. Never seen in KPG, it looks like a Surendra.

What do you think if we go a couple of days on the mainland? But close. Maybe from Tuesday?

[Peacock Royal]

The shape of its hindwings are interesting and weird - look like being eaten by its predators.

[Painted Jezebel]

As Samui is Sundanian territory what you have is M. ariadeva ariadeva.

PS. I see you have the correct name on your website. An unintented slip.

Yes, an unintended slip, indeed. Heat exhaustion!!!! Sorry and thank you. The post has been corrected.

Antonio, I was going off island on Tuesday anyway, so a couple of days off would be great. Must be back for Thursday, however.

[Painted Jezebel]

Nearly 6 months since I last posted on this thread! Shows how bad it has been up here.

Today I went to an area I had not been to for a long while as it never gave me anything. Nothing new, I think, but I managed to see some species I had not seen for a couple of years at least, so it was, for a change, worthwhile. Best from today:

1) Lamproptera curius curius (White Dragontail) - only my second for the year.
2) Melanitis phedima abdullae (Dark Evening Brown) - A particularly well marked specimen and my first for the year.
3) Neptis miah batara??? (Small Yellow Sailor) - I am not sure about this one, it was too large for a Lasippa or Pantoporia sp., so I immediately thought about N. miah. However, the underside looks completely wrong to me, though it may just be the light. I had not seen this species for 3 years.
4) Psuedoborbo bevani? (Bevan's Swift) - Not sure if this is right, or even if the Genus name is correct as I have seen it called Borbo bevani. All my photos of Borbo cinnara have no forewing cell spots, and this one has a single small spot. (upperside only shown to help with id)

[Psyche]

Post 29.

Neptis miah is right. All the markings matched in the right places.

Pseudoborbo bevani.
This looks right too.

The only consistent difference I can find is that in B. cinnara FW spots 2 & 3 are crescentic/lunulate; spot 4 tend to be big.
http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/BorboCinnara/BorboCinnara_KSaji_ad956.jpg

In P. bevani FW spots 2 & 3 are quadrate; spot 4 tends to be small.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7041/7042615117_e664442cce_z.jpg

It is surprising that P. bevani ranges from India to Sulawesi but have never been recorded in Malaya.

TL Seow:cheers:

[Psyche]

Pseudoborbo Lee 1966 seems to have gain wider acceptance over the years as is often the case with a regional revision.
It was based on some difference in the genitalia from other Borbo species.
Vane-Wright & de Jong 2003 felt it was unjustifued.

Many dedicated butterfly websites retain the name Borbo bevani.

TL Seow:cheers:

PS. Spot size variable, ?tend to be smaller eastwards from India.
Himalaya foothills.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ipv2ANcCwUU/T1EGERY0EEI/AAAAAAAABgI/4mkTKr2sH_E/s512/Hesperiidae%25252C%252520Pseudoborbo%252520bevani% 25252C%252520Bevan%252527s%252520Swift.jpg
HongKong.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8468/8141467426_20efa00688_h.jpg
Taiwan.
http://image.digitalarchives.tw/ImageCache/00/24/a1/f8.jpg

[Psyche]

There are too many points indicating the skipper is Borbo cinnara.

B. cinnara can have spots 2 & 3 almost quadrate as seen below.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/Rice_Swift_(Borbo_cinnara)._At_Yavatmal,_Maharasht ra..jpg

The points for B. cinnara are.
1. FW spot 1b is strongly present (absent or faint for bevani presumably for the female as well).
2. Spot 4 is rather large (usually very small in bevani.)
3. Spot 3 appeared crescentic in the side view.
4. Tornus appeared strongly produced (in flight) ( tornus rounded in bevani.)

TL Seow:cheers:
PS. A good example of a P bevani male from HK showing rounded/quadrate spots & lack of spot 1b.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8335/8141433833_b41f535518_b.jpg

[Painted Jezebel]

Thank you. I had another look at my photos after your earlier post and had started to have doubts myself.

Ah well, nothing new. But at least I saw a couple of species again after a long wait (Nacaduba angusta, Neptis miah). Nice to know they are still here.

[Painted Jezebel]

Although it was raining heavily yesterday morning, I was out and about as I had agreed to take Peter Eeles (driving force behind the superb website http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk on a butterfly photographing trip. He was most interested in seeing some of the longer tailed Lycaenids, but the weather did not look good for them. Eventually we did find a pair of dogfighting Fluffy Tits. It made his day, as the longest tailed species he had seen before was the PeaBlue (known in England as the Long-Tailed Blue!), and ever since his childhood, looking at tropical butt books, the tails had fascinated him.

I did find this Athyma perius perius -Common Sergeant (below), which looked a bit odd to me. The orange markings on the head did not seem familiar. However, on checking back home with my existing photos, these markings appear normal for this species, at least here on Samui. I can not find any other Athyma species with them, so could this be used as an diagnostic feature, not that it is really needed as it is easily identifiable anyway? I have not seen these orange markings mentioned in any literature.

[Commander]

Not new, Les. Other than the fact that the orange in the individual that you shot was probably illuminated more distinctly by your flash. Take a look at the shot from Malaysia by LC here (http://www.butterflycircle.com/showthread.php?10739-The-Common-Sergeant), and an earlier shot by Sunny here (http://www.butterflycircle.com/showthread.php?4112-Catch-at-AHBT-6th-Jul-06). The orange collar is quite obvious in both. :)

Sunny, just looking at your old thread made me :bsmile::bsmile::bsmile:!!!

:whistle:

[Painted Jezebel]

Cheers, SK. Is this the only Athyma to have this? If it is, I just wonder why it is never mentioned.

[Commander]

Cheers, SK. Is this the only Athyma to have this? If it is, I just wonder why it is never mentioned.

I guess the physical attributes of the wing patterns are distinctive enough. Though I would agree with you that the orange collar and head is prominent enough to warrant some mention.

[Silverstreak]

:bsmile::bsmile::bsmile::bsmile:




Sunny, just looking at your old thread made me :bsmile::bsmile::bsmile:!!!

:whistle:

[Painted Jezebel]

Still nothing about! Worst year I can remember here. I decided to make my annual pilgramage to the only location where I can find a little jewel of a butterfly, just to ensure that the small colony is OK. I think this is the most southerly colony in Thailand.

Saw two specimens in the usual place, though I was told by a neighbour that the plot of land is to be built on!:cry::thumbsdow The odd thing is, there is a lot of the host plant on a larger area of land across the road, but no specimens were found there despite an extensive search.:thinking:

Chilades putli - Small Grass Jewel