Life History of the Sky Blue

Life History of the Sky Blue (Jamides caeruleus caeruleus)

Butterfly Biodata:
Genus: Jamides Hübner , 1819
Species: caeruleus H. Druce, 1873
Sub-species: caeruleus H. Druce, 1873
Wingspan of Adult Butterfly: 30mm
Caterpillar Local Host Plants: Saraca cauliflora (Leguminosae, common name: Yellow Saraca)

Physical Description of Adult Butterfly:
The Sky Blue is a member of the elpis subgroup, which is characterized by the post-discal band on the forewing beneath being completely dislocated at vein 3. Beneath, on the hindwing, the second white stria from the base in space 7 is either in line with the third stria from the base in the cell, or at least nearer to this stria than to the second cell stria. Above, the male is sky blue, with forewing border increasing to about 1.0mm at the apex, and with marginal spots absent from the hindwing. The female has blue deeper and more shining than the other species of the group. Each hindwing features a large black-centred orange-crowned tornal spot, submarginal orange markings along veins 1b and 4; and a white-tipped filamentous tail at the end of vein 2.


A male Sky Blue perching on a leaf in an urban garden.


The same male Sky Blue giving us a glimpse of its sky-blue upperside.

Field Observations of Butterfly Behaviour:
This species is rarely encountered in Singapore. There were only a handful of sightings of lone specimens in the nature reserves until the discovery of a small colony in an urban garrden in the early part of this year. At this site, the males were observed to be flying around in sunny weather, and puddling on wet ground. A number of females were also busy with their egg-laying tasks on the Saraca flowers which were blooming at that time.

Early Stages:

The local host plant, Saraca cauliflora (Yellow Saraca) is a small to medium-sized tree with pinnate leaves in 4-6 pairs. The flowers are orange-yellow in large clusters on trunk or branches. Seed pods are large, flat and purple. Yellow Saraca can be found in many parts of Singapore such as urban parks, roadsides as well as the nature reserves. The early stages of the Sky Blue feed on various parts of the flowers.


Yellow Saraca: cauliflorous flowers (left); pinnate leaves and seed pod (right).



A mother Sky Blue laying her eggs within a cluster of Yellow Saraca flowers.

Eggs of Sky Blue are laid in the flower clusters of the Yellow Saraca, typically singly on flower parts such as the petal, sepal and pedicel . The egg is disc-like (about 0.6-0.7mm in diameter) with a depressed micropylar, and light green in colour. The surface is covered with a reticulated pattern of intersecting ridges.


Left: egg laid on petal; Right: empty egg shell.

The collected eggs took 2-2.5 days to hatch. The young caterpillar emerges after nibbling away sufficiently large portion of the egg shell. Measured at a length of about 0.9mm, its pale yellow body is cylindrical in shape, sporting long fine setae (hairs) and a dark head capsule. A black prothoracic shield is prominently featured.


A newly hatched caterpillar of the Sky Blue, length: 0.9-1.0mm.

The newly hatched grazes on the surface of flower petals or bores into a flower bud for the goodies within. Later instar caterpillars also eat the pedicel of the flowers. As it feeds and grows, it gradually takes on a yellowish brown coloration with a strong pinkish tinge.


1st instar caterpillars. Top: late in this stage, length: 2.5mm.
Bottom: in dormant mode prior to moult, length: 2mm.

After about 1-1.5 days of growth and reaching a length of about 2.5mm, the caterpillar has its body shortened while lying in a dormant stage to prepare for its moult to the next instar. The moult eventually takes place after 0.5-0.75 day in the dormant stage. The 2nd instar caterpillar is yellowish brown with very strong hint of pink and red. The body surface appears to be covered with tiny reddish spots, and fine setae. The prothoracic shield is black in colour.


2nd instar caterpillars. Lengths: 2mm (top); 3.5mm (bottom).

The 2nd instar caterpillar reaches a length of about 3.5mm, and after about 2-3 days in this stage, it moults again. The 3rd instar caterpillar has numerous short and fine body setae. There are rather faint dorsal and lateral markings on the reddish brown body. Both the dorsal nectary organ (on the 7th abdominal segment) and tentacular organs (on the 8th abdominal segment) are now easily discernible. The 3rd instar takes 2.0-2.5 days to complete with the body length reaching about 6.0mm.


Two views of a 3rd instar caterpillar, late in this stage, length: 6mm.

Late 2nd and late 3rd instar caterpillars, both in shortened and dormant stage prior to their moults.

Moulting to the 4th instar.

The 4th (and final) instar caterpillar is similar in appearance to the 3rd instar caterpillar. Overall, the caterpillar has taken on a darker shade of reddish brown. With increased size and greater contrast in the markings around them, the nectary organs now are now very prominent. Contrasting markings with sinusoidal outlines run dorsally from the prothoracic segment to the dorsal nectary organ.


4th instar caterpillar feeding on Yellow Saraca flowers.
Top: middle-aged, length: 9.5mm.
Bottom: late in this stage, length: 12mm.

Nectary organs and prothoracic shield of a 4th instar Sky Blue caterpillar.

After 4-5 days of growth and reaching a maximum length of around 12mm in the final instar, the body of the caterpillar gradually shrinks, and finally takes on a dark purplish brown coloration. All bred specimens chose to enter their pre-pupatory phase in tight pockets of space within leaf debris. At the chosen spot, the caterpillar readies itself for pupation by spinning a silk girdle and a silk pad. The caterpillar secures itself to the silk pad via claspers on its posterior end.

Two views of an immobile pre-pupatory larva of the Sky Blue.
The silk girdle can be easily seen.

Pupation event of a Sky Blue caterpillar.

Pupation takes place after one day of the pre-pupal stage. The pupa has the typical lycaenid shape. It is beige in base color with a fair number of brown and black specks. The pupa has a length of about 9mm.


Two views of a pupa of the Sky Blue, length: 9.2mm

Five days later, the pupa becomes darkened in color signaling the imminent emergence of the adult. The markings on the upperside of the forewing become visible through the pupal skin, and it is now possible to tell the gender of the soon-to-emerge adult. The next day the adult butterfly emerges from the mature pupa.


Two views of a mature pupa of a female Sky Blue.


A newly eclosed female Sky Blue


References:

• The Butterflies of The Malay Peninsula, A.S. Corbet and H.M. Pendlebury, 4th Edition, The Malayan Nature Society.
• Butterflies of Thailand, Pisuth Ek-Amnuay, 1st Edition, 2006

Text and Photos by Horace Tan

Butterfly of the Month - July 2009

Butterfly of the Month - July 2009
The Leopard (Phalanta phalantha phalantha)

This month, we feature a rather common urban butterfly that is "resident" whenever the characteristic Weeping Willow tree (Salix babylonica) is cultivated. The host plant is a sculptural tree that is a favourite with landscape architects, gardeners and tree lovers for its dramatic appearance and rounded, weeping shape.. The Weeping Willow's grace comes from its sweeping, low branches that droop to create its familiar “falling” canopy.

The month of July normally sees hot and humid conditions as the full effect of summer is felt around the northern hemisphere. However, it is still strangely wet for July as far as Singapore is concerned, with many days of rain over the past few weeks. But in these hot months, and the prospects of the El Nino effect hitting countries around the world, rain is always welcomed. The imminent haze from the slash and burn habits of neighbouring countries has also been somewhat lessened by the rains.

The Leopard's wings are coloured a bright cheery orange and are ornamented with black spots and streaks. The underside is paler, with the spots and streaks less defined. The submarginal borders of both wings have a light violet sheen as do the forewings' cell area.

The species is common in urban areas where its host plant is found. Where the effect from pesticides are minimised, the butterfly can always be found fluttering around the leaves of the Weeping Willow in parks and gardens. The Leopard has a rather restless flight, always on the move as it flutters from flower to flower. Rarely has it been observed with its wings opened flat to sunbathe, or stopping to rest with its wings folded upright. It's a busy butterfly - always moving and fluttering, as if there was a lot of work and feeding to do all the time.

A mating pair of Leopards

Being skittish, it is not the easiest of butterflies to photography, even though it is common. Perhaps the cool early morning hours and the later part of the evening would be the best time to try to catch this butterfly at rest where it will be more cooperative for a shot.

Males and females look very similar, and around the host plant, often several of them can be found fluttering and frolicking amongst the long drooping leaves of the Weeping Willow. The caterpillars are well camouflaged, but the pupa bears very attractive red outlined silvery spots. The life history as recorded is rather short - around 16-18 days in total from egg to eclosion.

The Leopard is certainly one of the urban butterflies that will be appreciated for its beauty and rich cheery orange colour, and a species that should be helped to survive in our urban parks and gardens through judicious horticultural planting and the minimisation of the use of pesticides.

Text by Khew SK : Photos by Anthony Wong, Bobby Mun, Federick Ho, Horace Tan, Tan CP & Khew SK ; Life History by Soon Chye

Fascinating Fraser's Hill

Fascinating Fraser's Hill
An old Friend Revisited



About Fraser's Hill

Rising 1,500 meters above sea-level on the Titiwangsa mountain range of Peninsular Malaysia is Fraser's Hill. Named after a solitary Scottish pioneer, Louis James Fraser, who set up a tin-ore trading post in the 1890s, it actually consists of seven hills. Fraser's Hill is truly an idyllic place for one to rest, relax and to escape from not only the heat and humidity but also the hustle and bustle of city life. It is one of the prettiest of the Malaysian Hill resorts. Sometimes referred to as the "Little England", the architecture of many of the older buildings on Fraser's Hill reflect colonial style designs.

The iconic Clock Tower at the Town Centre is a familiar sight as one passes the gateway into Fraser's Hill

After a long time since my last trip to Fraser's Hill some time in the later part of the 20th century, I decided to make a trip up to revisit some of my old butterfly hunting grounds on this hill resort. As fortune would have it, my sister in law managed to get her company accommodation at the Frasers Pine Resort, and off we went on a road trip starting from Singapore. Setting off at a very sane hour of 9:00am, we set off from home in two cars. Being a weekday, the traffic at Tuas Checkpoint and also on the Malaysian side was light and we were off on the start of the 400km road trip via the N-S highway in no time at all.

Driving on the N-S expressway is a breeze. But watch the speed limits and the local Malaysian fuzz on the lookout for speedsters!

Driving on the highway was fine, though one has to keep alert for the traffic police road blocks for speeding. The official speed limit is 110kph, and we kept to it (most of the time) although ever so often we had cars zooming past us as though the Devil himself was on their tails.

Thank goodness for technology. Our voice-guided GPS showed us the way to our destination (well, it works most of the time!)

With the use of our trusty Garmin GPS, we were reasonably confident of not getting lost - even though at times, the device can get abit cranky and made us go round in loops. After a short pitstop in Kuala Lumpur for lunch, we made our way out of the city and headed to Rawang and Kuala Kubu Bahru, which is the village gateway leading up to Fraser's Hill. From here on, the road is very windy, and speeds below 50kph are the norm, unless one wants to end up at the bottom of a ravine.

We made it past the Gap (which is currently under renovations) and waited at the entry gateway to the road up to Fraser's Hill. The narrow winding road goes on for about 8km to the top of the hill station, and is scheduled one-way up/down traffic. Contrary to what I had been told, this up-down schedule is still in force, as the other new road which allowed for a single way up and down previously, was damaged by a severe landslide in 2007. A bridge was destroyed, and the re-construction is still in progress. As we were slightly early before the 5pm upward schedule, we waited patiently by the roadside. I was surprised to be greeted by a female Malayan Birdwing, coming down in the late hours to feed on the flowers of the Mussaenda bushes. A Chocolate Tiger also fluttered nearby, but neither of the butterflies were cooperative subjects for good shots.

Waiting for the gate to open for the upward traffic schedule. The sign shows the schedules for up and down traffic, so plan your timing carefully if you do not want to wait.

Accommodation for us was the Frasers Pine Resort, a series of serviced apartments built into the sloping topography of the hillside. With three bedrooms, attached bathrooms, a living room and kitchen, it was sheer 5-star luxury compared to the spartan accommodation that we had at Endau Rompin. (Not to mention hot water for bathing!)

A view to the lower apartments at the Frasers Pine Resort. We stayed at a similar apartment at the middle level of this development.

Fraser's Hill is well known to the bird-watching community for its rich bird life, and indeed, the International Bird Race 2009 had just been held a couple of weeks before our trip here.

Saturday morning had us out in the early sunshine, and a cool breeze blowing. The car's thermometer read 20degC. The Red Spot Jezebel (Delias descombesi eranthos) were out in numbers and several were feeding on the flowers of the Lantana bushes. Somehow, the red Lantana flowers appeared a deeper red than their lowland varieties.

We visited a flower garden, the children's playground and several other town centre spots which had pretty flower beds all abloom. This was where I managed to spot several Purple Sapphires (Heliophorus epicles tweediei) one of the signature Lycaenids of montane environments like Fraser's Hill. We visited the steep Bishop's Trail, but decided to leave the rather tough trail for another future visit. So we left the trail, but not before the friendly local leeches managed to take a sip of Singaporean blood.

The Mapwings came out to play. There are two different species of the Cyrestis shown here.

In the later part of the morning, we headed for the Jeriau Waterfalls, where we encountered many puddling species. The magnificent Rajah Brooke's Birdwings were zooming and gliding past us, but none cooperated to stop for a good shot. There were many puddling Mapwings (Cyrestis spp), a couple of Great Mormons, Chocolate Albatrosses and so on. The catch of the day and the entire trip, must have been the Constable (Dichorragia nesimachus deiokes) of which there were two speedy individuals that were cooperative enough for some good shots.

The catch of this trip - the Constable (Dichorragia nesimachus deiokes)

We called it a day as we had to head back to the Frasers Pine Resort for our catered lunch. After a lazy afternoon, we headed to Ye Olde Smokehouse for a spot of English tea. A trip up Fraser's Hill would not be completed without sampling the excellent English scones with strawberry preserve and thick cream, complete with Earl Grey tea.

At Ye Olde Smokehouse for afternoon tea. Scones and apple pies with strawberry preserve and cream. A spot 'o Earl Grey tea, anyone?

On Day 2, we headed out to the flowering spots in the town centre and again encountered several cooperative male Purple Sapphires, a few of which were sunbathing with their wings opened flat. After that, it was down to the Jeriau Waterfalls again for another round of the puddlers. This time, the Mapwings and even a Spotted Sawtooth (Prioneris thestylis malaccana) greeted us. I had some exercise chasing a rather uncooperative Vagrant (Vagrans egista macromalayana) without a single good shot of it!

In the later part of the afternoon, we also encountered the more common species like the Fluffy Tit, Striped and Blue Jays, more Mapwings, a Banded Swallowtail, and a few other unidentifiable flying objects flying at turbo charged speeds. The most common Pierid must be the Chocolate Albatross, which were out in numbers during this time of the year. I spotted a Four-Bar Swordtail and a rather large Pallid Faun, neither of which stopped for a shot.

Dinner over the 3 nights were the mandatory steamboat (recommended for a cold night), spaghetti and porridge. Of course, no visit to Malaysia would be without tasting the King of Fruits - the durian. My apologies to my western readers who would probably barf at the sight of this pungent fruit - but there you go... we Malaysians and Singaporeans adore this fruit.

King of Fruits feast

All too soon, it was Monday morning and after a quick cup of coffee, we set out to get past the downward schedule of 8am. The trip down was uneventful, and we tried a different route to get to the highway and home to Singapore. We made the 400km trip back, with a short pit stop for refueling and lunch in about 6.5 hours, occasionally pushing the speed limits but lucky enough not to encounter any of the local traffic cops. But then again, we were still passed by some vehicles probably with the same Devil on their tails.

Fraser's Hill is also famous for its moth diversity. Here are two common ones

We used the new Checkpoint from Johor Bahru to Woodlands, figuring out that since it was around 3:30pm on a Monday, there would not be the attendant traffic pile up at the Causeway. We were quite right and breezed through without much delays, though on the Singapore side, the H1N1 screenings continued.

Adios! Till We Meet Again! - A typical scene at Fraser's Hill - with the lush Tree Ferns along the mountain side

We reached home before 4pm, happy and satisfied that our old friend, Fraser's Hill, still has much to offer in terms of butterfly biodiversity as before.

Text and Photos by Khew SK