04 April 2013

Random Gallery - Bluebottle

Random Butterfly Gallery
The Common Bluebottle (Graphium sarpedon luctatius)



When butterfly season returns, particularly in Malaysia and Thailand, sandy riverbanks can be teeming with hundreds of puddling butterflies. When disturbed, the cloud of colour created by these flying jewels that leap into the air is absolutely breathtaking! In Singapore, such sights are rare, and on occasional instances, only up to a dozen puddling butterflies can be observed puddling together.

This shot, taken last weekend by ButterflyCircle member Simon Sng, shows a trio of Common Bluebottles puddling on a sandy streambank within the nature reserves of Singapore. All lined up and puddling in unison, the Bluebottles are sipping critical nutrients from the moist sand. This fast-flying species are much easier to photograph when they are distracted whilst puddling.

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5 comments:

  1. Noushka4/4/13 11:26 PM

    Always such a pleasure to come and admire your butterflies!
    Your explanations are great and your photos are outstanding!
    I really hope to comee and see for myself in not to far future!
    Congratulations!

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  2. Nick Morgan5/4/13 3:14 AM

    Fantastic picture as ever. So, what is the butterfly season in the tropics? I imagine that it must be to do with the wet and dry seasons? But then I can't see the advantage of either season. And I know that some butterflies have wet and dry season forms!

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  3. Commander5/4/13 6:53 PM

    Thanks for your kind comments, Noushka. Do visit us often. :)

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  4. Commander5/4/13 6:55 PM

    Thanks, Nick. Usually, after the rainy months of the year end, the weather clears up and with new plant growth, butterfly season kicks in around Mar-Jun in a typical year. However, there are butterflies throughout the year in this part of the world - just that there is low activity during the rainy months. In recent years, the effects of global warming have somewhat turned the weather patterns topsy-turvy.

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  5. Nick Morgan6/4/13 4:08 PM

    Thanks Commander. I have often wondered about this. Here it is easy - the weather warms up in spring and the butterflies start appearing. They die off or hibernate in the winter. I'll remember this is we have any future holidays to the tropics!

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