Bush Browns of Singapore : Part 2

Bush Browns of Singapore : Part 2

Featuring the Mycalesis species of Singapore

A Burmese Bush Brown (Mycalesis perseoides perseoides) puddling at damp sand

In this second part of the article on the Bush Browns of Singapore, we take a look at the remaining 3 species of Bush Browns that are cryptic and are more challenging to distinguish due to their generally similar appearances. These 3 species are not uncommon and are widely distributed across Singapore from parks and gardens to the forested nature reserves.

A Dark Brand Bush Brown (Mycalesis mineus macromalayana) perches on a leaf

The species are not particularly attractive to the casual observer, being typically brown with a series of submarginal ocelli across both wings. As they are alert and skittish and when disturbed, quickly fly off amongst the low shrubbery and grassy habitats where they prefer, many observers will often ignore them in the field.

A Long Brand Bush Brown (Mycalesis visala phamis) perches on a blade of grass

The Bush Browns are sometimes seen feeding on the ripened fruits of the Singapore Rhododendron (Melastoma malabathricum). They are rarely seen feeding at flowers, but occasionally encountered puddling at damp trails and streambanks or feeding on the sap of damaged trees and branches. Most of the time, they are spotted perched on the tops of leaves with their wings folded upright.Occasionally, particularly in the early morning hours, some individuals may be seen opening their wings to sunbathe.

4. The Dark Brand Bush Brown (Mycalesis mineus macromalayana)

The Dark Brand Bush Brown is probably the most common and widespread amongst the Bush Brown species. It can be found in urban parks and gardens and even in pockets of greenery the vicinity of residential estates. The species' caterpillar host plants are grasses - Cow Grass (Axonopus compressus) and Buffalo Grass (Paspalum conjugatum).

Upperside of a sunbathing Dark Brand Bush Brown

A Dark Brand Bush Brown feeding on the ripened fruit of the Singapore Rhododendron

The species is a drab greyish-brown upperside and a paler underside that features a white post-discal band across both wings (this band is much wider in the female compared to the male). There are usually two large ocelli on the underside of the forewing with some obscure smaller ocelli which can be variable in different individuals.

ID Key and Tips - What to Look Out For :

1. White striae around the eyespots are thin and narrow.
2. Hindwing inner margins of eyespots form a sharply triangular and deep indentation from the white band in the upper half.
3. Lower 4 eyespots in line. (This ID Key is used to separate this species with the Dingy Bush Brown featured in Part 1 of this article)
4. Discal line may be absent in some individuals.

5. The Long Brand Bush Brown (Mycalesis visala phamis)

The Long Brand Bush Brown appears quite similar to the previous species, and found in almost the same localities and habitats. The Bush Browns usually prefer shaded or semi-shaded environments and fly low amongst the grassy undergrowth. The caterpillar host plants are also grasses but different from those of the Dark Brand Bush Brown. The two locally known host plants are Isachne globosa and Ottochloa nodosa, which the species shares with a number of other Satyrinae and Hesperiinae butterflies.

A rare "dry season form" of the Long Brand Bush Brown with reduced ocelli

The Long Brand Bush Brown is very similar to the Dark Brand Bush Brown and is difficult to separate when in flight or from field observations. However, the Long Brand Bush Brown usually has faint squiggly lines on the underside of both wings.

ID Key and Tips - What to Look Out For :

1. White striae around the eyespots are thickened and enhanced.
2. Hindwing inner margins of ocelli form a more regular shallow indentation opposite the white band.
3. Dark discal line less irregular but without a spike or "tooth" at vein 1b of the hindwing.

6. The Burmese Bush Brown (Mycalesis perseoides perseoides)

The Burmese Bush Brown is the last of the lookalike Mycalesis species that is found in Singapore. It closely resembles the preceding two species and the diagnostic physical features should be scrutinised from photographs to distinguish the differences amongst these lookalike species of Bush Browns. It is also found in the same habitats as the earlier two species and occasionally flies together with the other two species in the same localities.

Upperside of a sunbathing Burmese Bush Brown

The Burmese Bush Brown is a dull brown on the upperside with a large yellow-ringed ocellus in space 2 of the forewing. This is typical of the other species of this genus. The underside is a paler brown with the characteristic white post discal band across both wings. The submarginal ocelli are yellow-ringed. On the underside of the forewing, there are occasionally faint lines. The brown discal line is irregular and stretches down to almost the dorsal edge, with a "tooth" at vein 1b.

ID Key and Tips - What to Look Out For :

1. White striae around the eyespots are thickened and enhanced.
2. Hindwing inner margins of ocelli form a jagged edged indentation opposite the white band.
3. Dark discal line is irregular and with a spike or "tooth" at vein 1b of the hindwing.

Hopefully, this article can help in a small way to aid butterfly watchers to distinguish the different species of Bush Browns in Singapore.  There are two other species of lookalikes in Malaysia and it is hoped that we will be able to find them in Singapore one day in the future.

Text by Khew SK : Photos by James Chia, Khew SK, Loke PF, Nelson Ong and Horace Tan

References : 

Bush Browns of Singapore : Part 1

Life History of Dark Brand Bush Brown (Mycalesis mineus macromalaya)

Life History of Long Band Bush Brown (Mycalesis visala phamis)

Life History of Burmese Bush Brown (Mycalesis perseoides perseoides)

Special thanks to Dr Seow TL for his help in crafting the ID keys to separate field shots of these Mycalesis species.