Butterfly of the Month - November 2023

Butterfly of the Month - November 2023

Cowan's Red Flash (Rapala cowani)

A Cowan's Red Flash perched on a Heliconia flower

On this final day of November 2023, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Malls and commercial buildings have put up their Christmas decorations and playing Chrismas background music, adding to the holiday mood, as people from all over the world plan their year-end vacations and travels. The month of November belongs to the astrological sign Scorpio. For those born between 23 October to 21 November, you are a Libran. We featured Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo and Virgo in the preceding Butterfly of the Month blogposts and will now move into the next in the series. The 12 zodiac signs are Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.

Scorpio (♏︎) (Ancient Greek: Σκορπιός, romanized: Skorpiós, Latin for "scorpion") is the eighth astrological sign in the zodiac, originating from the constellation of Scorpius. According to Greek mythology, its representation as a scorpion is related to the Greek legend of Orion and how a scorpion stung him to death. Those born under this sign are dead serious in their mission to learn about others. There's no fluff or chatter for Scorpios, either; these folks will zero-in on the essential questions, gleaning the secrets that lie within.

A female Cowan's Red Flash (top) and male (bottom)

The primary Scorpio strengths can be found in their devoted, determined, and keen observant nature. They are hard workers, often artistic, and deeply committed to study and research. You can count on the Scorpion to see whatever they have committed to, through to the logical conclusion. Because of all of these traits, a Scorpio can seem intimidating and somewhat aloof to those who don't know them well.

Scorpio is always able to say exactly what's on their mind, even if it's not what people want to hear. Scorpio is forthright and honest, and those two characteristics commandeer a ton of respect, both at home and at work. All behind the scenes or after-hours work are well suited to Scorpio, making them naturals at investigative work. These natives will be drawn to being private investigators, detectives, and even secret service or espionage agents.

Those born under the sign of the Scorpion are receptive and patient, but they can be suspicious and slow to trust. Others may be forthcoming about their vulnerabilities, but if Scorpios are feeling insecure, they can use what others have revealed to be emotionally manipulative and controlling. Like the other fixed signs, they can be slow to forgive, and those that cross the Scorpion may feel their vengeful sting.

Our Butterfly of the Month for November 2023 does not possess any stings or barbs that can maim or hurt. But it is elusive and rare. The Cowan's Red Flash was first described by AR Corbet in 1939. After its discovery in 1938 at the mouth of Sungei Jurong, no sightings have been reported for several decades on the mainland. Its recent sightings are confined to mangrove areas in Pulau Ubin and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, in the vicinity of its larval host plant. The adults are fast flyers and take rapid flights among foliage at the water edge.

Although it was reinstated to the Singapore checklist only in 2022 after being positively validated with recent photos taken at Sg Buloh Wetland Reserve. This elusive species was earlier recorded from Pulau Ubin as far back as 2006, but misidentified as Hypolyceana erylus which it superficially resembles. However, recent sightings at Sg Buloh Wetland Reserve and again on Pulau Ubin confirmed its existence in Singapore.

Upperside of a female Cowan's Red Flash

On the upperside, the male is bright orange-red with very broad dark brown borders on both wings and resembles a large Scarlet Flash (Rapala dieneces dienices). The female is yellowish brown with a cupreous discal patch on the forewing and sometimes with a cupreous subtornal patch on the hindwing. As with other Rapala spp., the male has on its hindwing a prominent oval-shaped brand at the base of space 7, and a secondary brand at the base of vein 6.

On the underside, the markings on both forewing and hindwing are typical in most Rapala spp., featuring a cell-end bar, a black post-discal band and indistinct submarginal fascia. The male is pale greyish brown while the female is pale greyish. On the hindwing, an orange-crowned black marginal spot is present in space 2 and on the tornal lobe. Between the two spots, the marginal area in space 1b is covered with pale bluish silvery scales. There is a white-tipped black tail at the end of vein 2.

The Cowan's Red Flash has a strong and erratic flight and alert and rather skittish. Males generally fly at tree top levels, sometimes basking in the sunshine with opened wings. Females tend to lurk more in the shade of the shrubbery in back-mangrove vegetation or looking for ideal sites to oviposit. The species has been successfully bred in Singapore on Xylocarpus granatum (Meliaceae) - Mangrove Cannonball Tree which is a mangrove-dependent species.

Text by Khew SK : Photos by Chan WC, Khew SK, Loh MY, Sebastian Ow, Horace Tan and Angela Yeo 

Butterfly of the Month - October 2023

Butterfly of the Month - October 2023

The Pygmy Posy (Drupadia rufotaenia rufotaenia)

A Pygmy Posy forages at a young shoot of the Bandicoot Berry (Leea indica)

As we bid October 2023 farewell, watchers of the Doomsday Clock will be wondering if there will be another update soon. The Israeli-Palestinian war adds another brutal skirmish to the world's woes even as the Russia-Ukraine battles continue unabated. The world is now even more unstable than we began the year 2023 with. The month of October belongs to the astrological sign Libra. For those born between 23 September and 22 October, you are a Libran. We featured Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo and Virgo in the preceding Butterfly of the Month blogposts and will now move into the next in the series. The 12 zodiac signs are Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.

Libra (♎︎) (Ancient Greek: Ζυγός, romanized: Zygós, Latin for "scales") is the seventh astrological sign in the zodiac. The symbol of the scales is based on the Scales of Justice held by the goddes Themis, the Greek personification of divine law and custom. She became the inspiration for modern depictions of Lady Justice. Libra is the only zodiac sign that is represented by an inanimate object; with the other eleven signs represented by either an animal or mythological character.

A Pygmy Posy perches on the tip of a leaf in the shady understory in the nature reserves.

People born under the sign of Libra are known for their peaceful and fair nature, and they see the world through their pacifist eyes. Partnership is crucial for them, and they seek someone who can reflect their inner selves. Librans are fascinated by balance and symmetry, and they are constantly striving for justice and equality. They are willing to go to great lengths to avoid conflict and maintain peace whenever possible.

Librans typically do not hold grudges, as it can take a lot to rouse and sustain their anger. Being very Venusian, they typically assume the best intentions in others and give most people many chances to redeem themselves. A Libran's life philosophy is "Let's just all get along." For this sign, compromise is key. Librans don't do well when anyone isn't happy, and they're especially adept at inviting other signs to see things from a different perspective

The classic Libra indecisiveness, while rooted in an ability to weigh all sides, can thwart this sign's ability to make choices. In wanting to be inclusive, they find it difficult to discriminate, yet there will be times when they need to commit to a path and accept this will sacrifice other options. Libra's love of beauty and refinement may have to be measured with soulfulness, and earthiness, allowing them to play in the muck of life so that they do not come across as aloof or snobby.

As the world searches for peace, we turn to our Butterfly of the Month for October 2023 - The Pygmy Posy (Drupadia rufotaenia rufotaenia). Considered a rarity, this small Lycaenidae has a wingspan of about 20mm.  It is one of three species of the genus Drupadia that exists in Singapore. It makes a regular appearance within the forested areas of the nature reserves, but appears to have become more rare in recent years.

At a glance, this species closely resembles the Common Posy, but is much smaller. It has a weak and erratic flight but is skittish and alert to movements. It is often encountered on the young shoots of the Bandicoot Berry (Leea indica) on which it feeds on the sugary excretions of these young shoots. Whenever it appears, it is mostly observed singly.

A Pygmy Posy looks for secretions on a young shoot of the Bandicoot Berry (Leea indica)

The male and female Pygmy Posy are both dark brown on the upperside. The underside is marked and coloured similarly to the Common Posy, but the solid black lines on the hindwing below are packed tighter and closer together. The orange submarginal band on the hindwing extends to vein 3 of this hindwing and this is an important diagnostic characteristic to separate the Pygmy Posy from its lookalikes.

The dark bands on the underside of the forewing are usually broader and heavily marked compared to its other cousins in the genus. The eyes are jet black and the antennae are orange-tipped. The tornal blue scaling is quite extensive and the hindwing possesses three white tails of which the one at vein 2 is the longest. The early stages of the Pygmy Posy still eludes us, and it is hoped that we will one day discover its caterpillar host plant, which is probably found within the nature reserves.

Text by Khew SK : Photos by Chng CK, Khew SK, Koh CH, Loh MY, Low JK, Richard Ong and Mark Wong

Butterfly of the Month - September 2023

Butterfly of the Month - September 2023

The Silver Royal (Ancema blanka blanka)

On this last day of September 2023, the Chinese community all around the world herald this year's Mid Autumn Festival (or the month of the moon cakes!). The Hungry Ghost month is over and the "gates of hell close for another year. The month of September belongs to the astrological sign Virgo. For those born between 23 August and 22 September, your zodiac sign is Virgo. We featured Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer and Leo in the preceding Butterfly of the Month blogposts and will now move into the next in the series. The 12 zodiac signs are Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.

Virgo (♍︎) (Ancient Greek: Παρθένος, romanized: Parthénos) (Latin for "virgin" or "maiden") is the sixth astrological sign in the zodiac. The constellation Virgo has many different origins, depending on mythology. Most myths view Virgo as a virgin maiden that carries her associations with wheat. This shows Virgo's deep-rooted presence in the material world. Virgos are said to be logical, practical, and systematic in how they see life. Virgos are often the most successful people in the world.

Silver Royal Female (top) and Male (bottom) feeding at flowering plants

Smart, sophisticated, and kind, Virgo gets the job done without complaining. Virgos are amazing friends, always there to lend a hand and also lend advice. Practical Virgos are incredibly adept at big picture thinking, and planning out their life, their vacations, and what they're going to do today. The Virgoan is the ultimate combination of brains and beauty. They have got great organizational skills, not to mention highly developed characteristics and a dedicated work ethic.

Virgoans are deep thinkers, and can sometimes seem shy at first meeting. A Virgo won't spill secrets right away, and it's important to earn a Virgo's trust. But once you do, that Virgin will be a friend for life. Virgos expect perfection from themselves, and they may project those high standards on the other people in their life. Virgoans love and are inspired by beauty. Intelligent and a lifelong learner, Virgo loves trying new things, reading books, and learning about the world. They'll happily sign up for an adult-education course, and they consider an afternoon in bed with a book pretty much ideal.

Virgo's desire to have everything be perfect can manifest in frustration when things don't live up to those (sometimes unrealistic) expectations. Besides occasionally leading to fights with friends and partners, their obsession with perfection can sometimes stall important decisions in their lives. Learning to go with the flow and accept "good enough" is a constant struggle for them.

A male Silver Royal feeding at the flowers of the Mile-A-Minute weed

Our Butterfly of the Month for September 2023 is the Silver Royal. Up to the 2020's it has been seen only a few times in Singapore - at least twice at the Southern Ridges hill tops. It was a re-discovery in 2005 when it was spotted feeding at the flowers of a Syzygium tree. A fast-flying species, it is usually skittish and probably prefers treetop habitats unless individuals descend to the lower shrubbery to feed or oviposit. However, in recent years, it has been making more regular appearances and appears to be less rare than before.

Silver Royal - Male upperside (top) and Female upperside (bottom)

The male of the Silver Royal is a bright shining blue with broad black forewing borders and darkened veins on both wings. The female is a lighter shade of blue and has rounder wings. The underside is distinctive of males of this species and sports a silvery sheen when light shines at a certain angle on the wings. There are two prominent black tornal spots that are orange-crowned and there are two tails at veins 1b and 2 on the hindwing.

The Silver Royal is skittish and flies rapidly like most members of the Theclinae. It is the only representative of its genus Ancema in Singapore. It has been observed feeding on flowering plants like the Mile-A-Minute, Syzygium and the inflorescence of the Common Ivy Palm (Arthrophyllum diversifolium), often in the company of other Lycaenidae.

Male Silver Royals puddling at muddy footpaths 

Males of the species are also observed puddling at muddy streambanks and footpaths, whilst the rarer females are more often seen in forested areas foraging amongst flowering plants.The life history of the Silver Royal has been successfully documented on the local host plant, the Oval Leafed Mistletoe (Viscum ovalifolium). Coincidentally, this parasitic plant is more abundant amongst the tall trees of the Southern Ridges, especially at Telok Blangah Hill Park.

Text by Khew SK : Photos by Khew SK, Loh MY, Loke PF and Horace Tan

Butterfly of the Month - August 2023

Butterfly of the Month - August 2023

The Large Fourline Blue (Nacaduba pactolus odon)

A Large Fourline Blue feeding on the flowers of the Mile-A-Minute climber

Two thirds of the year 2023 have come and almost gone, as we wind down to the last 48 hours of the month of August. Singapore has celebrated its 58th birthday, as the nation reminisces where it came from, and look ahead to where it will be in the coming decade and beyond. The month of August belongs to the astrological sign Leo. For those born between 23 July and 22 August, your zodiac sign is Leo. We featured Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini and Cancer in the preceding Butterfly of the Month blogposts and will now move into the next in the series. The 12 zodiac signs are Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.

Leo (♌︎) (Ancient Greek: Λέων, romanized: Léōn, Latin for "lion") is the fifth sign of the zodiac. Leo is associated with the mythological Nemean lion. The lion is a very important and prominent symbol in Greek mythology. In Greek mythology, Leo was identified as the Nemean Lion which was killed by Hercules during the first of his twelve labours. Hercules killed the Nemean Lion with his bare hands, as the lion was impervious to all weapons. This zodiac sign is often represented by fire.

Leos tend to be full of primal, creative energy. This is a sign that embodies the fire that lives within us all. Those born under the sign of Leo wants to see and be seen, just like the sun that rules it, which is why Leo is associated with visibility, attention, courage, generosity, and creative impulses. Leo's symbol, the lion, is equally telling: Lions are the kings of the jungle, known for their fierce courage and natural regality.

Leos often see themselves as born leaders and are never ready to sacrifice this power. They will try to take leadership positions in every situation no matter whether it is teamwork or family. Moreover, they can be very opinionated and find it hard to accept another person’s viewpoint. They are determined by nature, and focused on completing whatever task they start. Leo is a good friend who will protect people he loves and supports them in any life situation. Their attitude to friends is exceptional and they do not pull punches and can be very honest and direct.

One of the negative traits of Leos is arrogance. They often cross the line of simple confidence that gradually transforms into conceit and arrogance. Their belligerence and self-centredness in their pursuit of dominance and a centre of attraction does not earn them respect or win them popularity votes in certain situations. However, they will not bow down to threats and will spoil for a fight to defend their throne. 

A mating pair of the Large Fourline Blue spotted at Lornie Park Connector

Our Butterfly of the Month for August 2023 is the Large Fourline Blue (Nacaduba pactolus odon). This species was re-discovered in late 2009 and reinstated to the Singapore Checklist. One of the many lookalikes in the genus Nacaduba, the Large Fourline Blue is one of several species in the pavana group which lacks the pair of sub-basal lines on the underside of the forewing, hence having only "four" lines on the forewing.

The Large Fourline Blue is moderately rare in Singapore, but is widely distributed across the island from forest habitats to urban parks and gardens. It is the largest species of the genus and displays the typical behaviour of basking in the late afternoon sun with opened wings. At other times of the day, The Large Fourline Blue may be seen settled in the shade.

The male of the Large Fourline Blue is purplish-blue above, with marginal borders of about 1mm thick. The female is pale blue with the distal portions of the wings almost whitish, and with broad black marginal borders of about 3-4mm thick on both wings. On the underside, the striations are usually thick and more diffuse than most species in the Nacaduba genus. The hindwing features a filamentous white-tipped tail at vein 2.

A Large Fourline Blue puddling at a sandy streambank

The species can also be encountered feeding on flowering plants and bushes like the Snakeweed, Stringbush, Mile-a-Minute and others. They are quite often seen puddling at damp muddy footpaths that are tainted with organic matter. When disturbed, the Large Fourline Blue flies erratically and can be skittish. The species has been successfully bred on Entada spiralis in Singapore.

Text by Khew SK : Photos by David Chan, Federick Ho, Khew SK, Loh MY, Low JK, Aaron Soh and Horace Tan