The Conjoined Swift (Pelopidas conjunctus conjunctus)
The medium sized skipper was a new discovery for Singapore when it was first recorded some time back from Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. It is fast-flying, like most skippers and zips around rapidly when feeding at flowers. It has pale yellowish-white hyaline spots on the forewings and a distinctive spot at space 1b of the forewing. The two cell spots on the forewing above are separated.
This large individual was shot last weekend at the newly opened Jurong Eco Garden near the Nanyang Technological University (NTU). It was moving quickly around the Ixora flowers extending its long proboscis as if it were fly-fishing, and each time accurately hitting the mark to feed on the nectar from the flowers.
