The Starry Bob (Iambrix stellifer)
A Starry Bob feeding on the flower of the Bandicoot Berry (Leea indica)
We have just passed the peak of the summer season in the northern hemisphere this month. The summer of 2026 has become one of the most talked-about seasons in recent years, with record-breaking temperatures, prolonged heatwaves, and growing concerns about climate resilience across the globe sparked by an extreme El Nino effect. At least 35,000 people died during Europe’s four record-breaking, back-to-back heatwaves this summer than would normally be expected, as many countries like France, Germany and Spain recorded temperatures in excess of 40degC.
News of the war in the Middle East seems to have tapered off as the US and Iran's on-and-off ceasefire has made the region experience a new norm as far as peace is concerned. The US' imposition of new tariffs has initiated a different kind of "war" amongst various nations, and in the recent week, US-Canada relations appear to have taken a turn for the worse. And to add some "humour" into the fray, the US President has unilaterally decided to re-name Lake Ontario to Lake America to spite Canada!
Singapore celebrated its 61st birthday after independence, and this year's National Day Parade returns to the National Stadium after the last parade was held at the Stadium in 2016. Traditionally the NDP is held at the Padang and Marina Bay Floating Platform. The venue at the Stadium can accommodate up to 55,000 spectators compared to the smaller venues at the Padang and Marina Bay. In future, with the completion of the NS Square in 2027, which will replace the Floating Platform at Marina Bay, the NDPs will likely return to the Marina Bay area.
A Starry Bob feeding on the flower of the Elephant's Foot (Elephantopus scaber)
Local news that dominated online portals for a while involved an altercation between a concerned father who physically attacked a senior person who patted his daughter on the head, supposedly because he found the little girl cute. It sparked off a debate amongst netizens about personal physical boundaries, society's interpretation of any physical interactions with children and the use of uncalled for physical force on a senior citizen. Eventually, the victim was found to have a fracture after his fall and further investigations by the authorities are ongoing.
Also dominating the news in Singapore were nature groups and other stakeholders' call for the conservation of forested land at Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks areas that the government had announced plans for public housing. As the debates continue and feedback collected to decide on the eventual extent of forest clearance, another announcement regarding the amalgamation (and reclamation) of the islands off the south-west coast of Singapore sparked concern about the potential loss of biodiversity in the marine and intertidal habitats.
Our Butterfly of the Month for August 2026 is a small Hesperiidae, or Skipper, the Starry Bob (Iambrix stellifer). One of two species of the genus Iambrix that can be found in Singapore, the Starry Bob is much rarer that its common cousin, the Chestnut Bob (Iambrix salsala). The Starry Bob is a forest-dependent species and seldom found outside the sanctuary of Singapore's forested areas.
The adults are small and the 3rd segment of the palpi is long and thin, appearing like a "horn" when viewed close up. On the upperside, both sexes are dark brown. The male is unmarked but the female has several white post-discal spots on the forewing. The eyes are dark brown throughout, whilst the antenna is brown with a tinge of orange just behind the apiculus.
On the underside, the wings are brown to dark brown overlaid with ochreous scales. In pristine individuals, the apical area of the forewing is shaded a distinct orange to yellowish brown. There are variable number of silvery spots on both wings. In fully-spotted specimens, the forewing features post-discal spots in spaces 2-5 and one spot near cell-end, and the hindwing features post-discal spots in spaces 1b, 2, 5 and 7, and one spot near cell-end. Noteworthy is that the spot in space 5 on the hindwing lies further out and about half way between cell-end and the wing margin. In the look-alike species Chestnut Bob (Iambrix salsala), this spot lies just beyond the cell.
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A Starry Bob puddling on damp ground
The caterpillar host plants of the Starry Bob are grasses that are mainly found in forested areas - Centotheca lappacea (Poaceae, common name: Sefa), Lophatherum gracile (Poaceae).
Text by Khew SK : Photos by Khew SK, Koh CH, Loh MY, Low JK, Jonathan Soong, Horace Tan, Anthony Wong and Benjamin Yam.
