Life History of the Autumn Leaf

Life History of the Autumn Leaf (Doleschallia bisaltide ?bisaltide var.)

Butterfly Biodata:
Genus: Doleschallia C. & R. Felder, 1860
Species: bisaltide Cramer, 1777
Subspecies: ?bisaltide var. Eliot, 2006
Wingspan of Adult Butterfly: 85mm
Caterpillar Local Host Plants: Asystasia gangetica (Acanthaceae), Pseuderanthemum laxiflorum (Acanthaceae), Pseuderanthemum carruthersii var. reticulatum (Acanthaceae).


An Autumn Leaf puddling on a wet surface.


Another puddling Autumn Leaf giving us a view of its upperside.

Physical Description of Adult Butterfly:
Above, the wings are orange brown but with the forewings broadly darkened at the apex. There are four to five white spots in the black apex of the forewing. An irregular cell-end black streak reaches the black distal margin. Underneath, the wings are greyish brown and marked with various irregular shaped streaks/patches in different colors. The hindwing tornus is protruded into a short tail, and this aids in giving an resting adult butterfly (with wings closed) a leaf-like resemblance.


An Autumn Leaf puddling on damp ground in a wasteland.


A sun-bathing Autumn Leaf perching on a leaf.

Field Observations of Butterfly Behaviour:
This subspecies of D. bisaltide has a dominant presence in Singapore compared to D. bisaltide. pratipa (which is localized to just one small habitat in the north). It has a wide-spread occurrence across multiple habitats, both in and out of the nature reserves, such as urban areas, nature parks and wastelands, swampy forests. This is likely due to the fact the one of its three known local host plants, Asystasia gangetica, is a common weed, and that the other two (Pseuderanthemum spp.) are cultivated and used as ornamental plants. The fast flying adults can be seen taking nectar at flowering shrubs/trees and puddling on damp grounds. According to J.N. Eliot [C&P4 Rev], the origin of this new taxon is unknown but could have reached Singapore and Malaysia by "island-hopping" from Java. Before the researchers could agree on an appropriate subspecies name, it is tentatively referred to as "?bisaltide var.".


An Autumn Leaf perching on the underside of a leaf.


An Autumn Leaf paying a visit to Lantana flowers in a northern park connector.

Early Stages:
The caterpillars of the Autumn Leaf feed mainly on leaves of its host plants. Due to the ubiquitous occurrence of the weed, Asystasia gangetica, it is the host plant of choice commonly utilized by immature stages of Autumn Leaf in Singapore. Indeed, the same weed also serves as larval food source for another two Nymphalid butterflies, the Jacintha Eggfly and Blue Pansy.

Local host plant #1: Asystasia gangetica.

Local host plant #2: Pseuderanthemum laxiflorum.


Local host plant #3: Pseuderanthemum carruthersii var. reticulatum.

A tattered mother Autumn Leaf ovispositing on the leaf underside of Asystasia gangetica.

The eggs of the Autumn Leaf are typically laid in a small group of two to three on the underside of a leaf of the host plant. The creamy white egg is somewhat globular (with a polar axis longer than the equatorial diameter). It has a blunt top with the micropylar sitting in the middle. The surface is marked with very shallow and inconspicuous pits which are roughly hexagonal to rectangular in shape. Each egg has a diameter of about 1mm.

Two views of an egg of the Autumn Leaf, diameter: 1mm.


Two views of a mature egg of the Autumn Leaf. Note the large dark brown head capsule and body setae now clearly visible through the egg shell.

The egg takes about 3 days to hatch. The young caterpillar emerges by eating away part of the egg shell. The rest of the egg shell becomes the first meal for the newly hatched which is 2.5mm in length. It has a cylindrical and pale yellowish body covered with many small tubercles and moderately long black setae (hair). The head capsule is black in colour.

A newly hatched Autumn Leaf caterpillar soon after its emergence.


Two views of a newly hatched 1st instar caterpillar.

The 1st instar caterpillar feeds on the leaf lamina leaves The leaf diet causes the caterpillar to become yellowish green in body colour. The body turns orangy brown towards the end of this instar. After reaching about 6mm in 3-3.5 days, the caterpillar moults to the 2nd instar.

Two views of 1st instar caterpillar, length: 4.8mm.


Two views of 1st instar caterpillar, late in this stage, dormant prior to its moult, length: 6.2mm.

The body of the 2nd instar caterpillar is yellowish brown in base color with a strong green undertone. Moderately long dark brown processes, each of endowed is with several short setae, run along the length of the body. On each side of the body, there are three series of such processes: One series occurs dorso-laterally, another lateraly and the last sub-spiracularly. The base of the sub-spiracular processes on abdominal segments 1-8 are yellowish to orangy. The head capsule is black with two cephalic horns. Short white dashes mark the dorsum of almost all body segments. This instar lasts about 2.5-3 days with the body length reaching about 11.5mm.

Two views of a 2nd instar caterpillar, early in this stage, length: 8mm


Two views of a late 2nd instar caterpillar, dormant prior to its moult, length: 10.5mm

The 3rd instar caterpillar resembles the 2nd instar caterpillar closely. As growth proceeds in this instar, markings of short white dashes appear dorso-laterally. This instar takes about 2-3 days to complete with body length reaching about 23mm.


Two views of a 3rd instar caterpillar, late in this stage, length: 22.5mm.


Three caterpillars of Autumn Leaf found on Asystasia gangetica in a hill park.

The 4th instar caterpillar closely resembles the 3rd instar caterpillar, but with markings of short white dashes appearing between the base of sub-spiracular processes. The 4th instar lasts 2-3 days with the body length reaching about 35-37mm.

Two views of a 4th instar caterpillar, later in this stage, length: 30mm.


Two views of a late 4th instar caterpillar, dormant before its moult, length: 34mm.

The 5th (and final) instar caterpillar is similar to the 4th instar caterpillar but with all white dashes much bolder and more prominent. An additional band of white dashes appear laterally in this instar. The black head capsule also takes on a bluish to greenish sheen.

A 5th instar caterpillar, newly moulted. Note the exuvia behind the caterpillar.

Two views of a 5th instar caterpillar, length: 55mm.


Two views of a 5th instar caterpillar, length: 60mm.


5th instar caterpillars found on Pseuderanthemum laxiflorum in the Southern Ridges..

The 5th instar lasts for 5-6 days, and the body length reaches up to 70mm. On the last 0.5 day, the body becomes shortened and the caterpillar ceases feeding and wanders around. Eventually it stops at a spot on the underside of a leaf or a stem, not necessarily that of the host plant, and spins a silk pad from which it hangs vertically to take on the pre-pupatory pose.

A pre-pupa found on the leaf underside of Asystasia gangetica in a wasteland.

A close-up view of a pre-pupa of the Autumn Leaf.

The pupation event of a Autumn Leaf caterpillar.

Pupation takes place about 0.5 day later. The pupa suspends itself from the silk pad with no supporting silk girdle. It is entirely pale brown with dark brown shadings, more so in the wing pads. Dorsally and dorso-laterally there are a number of regularly-spaced black spots. Black fine lines, on on each side, occur dorso-laterally, The dorsum of the thoracic segments and the ventrum of the posterior abdominal segments are also marked with a dark line. There are two short but pointed cephalic horns. Length of pupae: 29-31mm.

Three views of a pupa of the Autumn Leaf.

A pupa found on the leaf underside of Asystasia gangetica in a neglected corner of a condominium.


Three views of a mature pupa of the Autumn Leaf.

After about 7 days of development, the pupal skin of the mature pupa turns translucent and the whole pupa becomes mostly black at this stage. Now it is possible to see the white spots and orange patches on the forewing upperside. The eclosion event takes place the next day.

The eclosion event of an Autumn Leaf.

Two newly eclosed Autumn Leaf butterflies clinging on to their empty pupal cases.

A newly eclosed Autumn Leaf on a leaf perch.

References:

• [C&P4] The Butterflies of The Malay Peninsula, A.S. Corbet and H.M. Pendlebury, 4th Edition, Malayan Nature Society.
• [C&P4 Rev] Updating The Butterflies of The Malay Peninsula, J.N. Eliot, Malayan Nature Journal, 59(1), p.1-49, 2006.
  
• Butterflies of Thailand, Pisuth Ek-Amnuay, 1st Edition, 2006

Text by Horace Tan, Photos by Mark Wong, Loke P F, Anthony Wong, Sunny Chir, Khew S K and Horace Tan

Butterfly Portraits - Long Banded Silverline

Butterfly Portraits
Long Banded Silverline (Spindasis lohita senama)

Canon 1D MkIII fill-flashed with Speedlight 580EXII ; Tamron 180mm f/3.5 ; ISO640 ; f/9, Manual Mode, partial control of ambient light with flash as main source ; Handheld

Some years back, when I first encountered the Long Banded Silverline, I mistook the tail end for the head of the butterfly! It was later when reviewing my shots on my computer, that I came to realise I was fooled. The number of the specimens with missing tails encountered in the field attested to the success of this strategy in confusing potential predators.

The next time I saw this species again, I was awestruck by the magnificent brown and lustrous blue upperside of a basking male I had chanced upon under the noon sun. The upper and lower surface of the species are dramatically different in their markings and colours, illustrating clearly that there are always two sides of the story to a butterfly's appearance, the upperside and the underside.

The Long Banded Silverline has a preference for certain locations and vegetation, and is rather local in distribution. The males of the species are very territorial and will challenge any intruder into its claimed territory. The ensuing dog fight is fast and furious, and at times, can last up to 2 minutes.

It was a rather hot and windy day when I arrived at the site that I have been visiting frequently for a couple of years. As I had intended to shoot the beautiful upper wing surfaces of the male of the species, I had timed my arrival slighty ahead of its known basking time. As if by clockwork, at the regular basking time, the pristine male that I was tracking dutifully opened its spectacular wings to sunbathe in the warm afternoon sun. Within minutes, I had accomplished what I wanted shoot of the upperside of this butterfly.

The more you learn and know about butterfly behaviour, the easier it is for you to head out on location and take the shots you are after, instead of merely leaving it to luck.

ButterflyCircle Photographer : Sunny Chir, a retired Air Force pilot in his early 60's.

Butterfly of the Month - June 2011

Butterfly of the Month - June 2011
The Common Tit (Hypolycaena erylus teatus)

The month of June is the sixth month of the year and one of four months with the length of thirty days. It was a time of political change in Singapore, with the exit of a number of senior Ministers from the Cabinet. Amongst these were two former Prime Ministers of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong. A time of change indeed, for our little island in the sun, as Singaporeans become more vocal with their views, are not afraid to externalise their opinions and satisfy their need for more avenues to air their grievances.

It must be tough being a politician in this age of social media, with unfettered (and anonymous) internet discourse and having to deal with the almost no-holds barred, opinionated electorate. Any decision, policy or action taken will always have opposing views, and where some segment of society will be adversely affected - perceived or otherwise.

A Common Tit puddles on a damp sandy track

June also heralds the school vacation period, where parents with school-going kids set off for the long-awaited family vacations and quality family time together. This month, we had members of the Hong Kong Lepidopterists' Society visiting Singapore for a butterfly watching outing. ButterflyCircle members hosted our Hong Kong counterparts, and despite a weekend of bad weather, our visitors still managed to enjoy themselves.

A grey variant of the Common Tit
Some ButterflyCircle members also took the opportunity to visit Gua Tempurung and Kuala Woh in the Malaysian state of Perak for a butterfly photography and watching outing. The pictures and story of our little adventure will be featured in an upcoming blog article.


A female Common Tit basks in the sun
The birthstone for the month of June is the agate, a microcrystalline variety of silica. They are classically associated with volcanic rocks and occur in a wide range of colours and textures.

Who comes with summer to this earth,
And owes to June her hour of birth,
With ring of agate on her hand
Can health, wealth, and long life command.- Gregorian Birthstone Poems
We feature the little Lycaenid, the Common Tit (Hypolycaena erylus teatus) as our Butterfly for the month of June. It is a common butterfly, usually observed in urban parks and gardens where its host plants are cultivated. They are also commonly observed on the landward edge of mangrove habitats where another of its host plant, Talipariti tiliaceum, is found.

The caterpillars of this species are closely associated with ants, in particular the aggressive Weaver Ant (Oecophylla smaragdina). Many butterfly photographers who have been shooting the Common Tit around its host plants will have experienced being bitten by these ants!

A male Common Tit showing its deep purple-blue uppersides. Note the prominent discal brands on the forewing

The Common Tit is a fast-flying butterfly and usually stops to perch on the top surfaces of leaves with its wings folded upright. However, at certain times of the day, both males and females are observed to open their wings flat to sunbathe.

A male Common Tit sunbathes with its wings opened to show its deep purple blue upperside

The male of the Common Tit is deep purple blue above with a prominent brand on the forewing discal area. The upperside of the female is a dull greyish brown with a black-spotted white tornal area on the hindwing.

A female Common Tit showing its greyish-brown upperside

The underside is mostly pale grey with dark grey markings that are sometimes accented with orange. The hindwing bears and orange-crowned sub-marginal black spot. There are two equally long tails at veins 1b and 2 on the hindwing.

A grey variant of the Common Tit

The species is curious in that there appears to be an orange variant as well as a greyish variant on the undersides of the hindwing. It is not known for certain if these can be considered two different "forms" of the Common Tit, and further research is needed to establish the status of these two different variations of this species. In Singapore, we have observed that the variant with a strong tinge of orange is the commoner of the two.

This puddling individual has subdued orange markings on the wings and appears to lean towards the grey variant of this species

The adult Common Tit is often seen feeding on various types of flowers. In urban parks and gardens, where is it common, up to half a dozen individuals can often be observed at the same location. Males of the species are known to puddle on decomposing organic material.

A Common Tit feeding on the flowers of the Mile-A-Minute

So if you're out for a nature walk in the park, do look out for this little urban beauty amongst the Ixora bushes and shrubbery. But keep a watchful eye out for those fiery Weaver Ants which are likely to be nearby!

Text by Khew SK : Photos by James Chia, Sunny Chir, Federick Ho, Khew SK, Loke PF, Nelson Ong, Jonathan Soong and Mark Wong

Butterfly Portraits - Club Silverline

Butterfly Portraits
Club Silverline (Spindasis syama terana)


Nikon D300, fill-flashed with SB600, Tamron 180mm f/3.5, ISO 640, 1/160s, f/8, Aperture Priority Mode and Rear Synch, Supported on monopod

Back in 2009, our favorite hunting ground for Silverlines at Punggol had been cleared to make way for more public housing apartments. It was around that time when ButterflyCircle member Sunny Chir chanced upon a colony of the Silverlines at a site just behind where I stay.

It was an overcast day, but still hot and humid with a gentle breeze to provide some comfort. Typical Singapore weather, with ideal diffused light, and no harsh shadows - ideal for butterfly photography. Not long after heading into the site, a few individuals were spotted, contesting each other for territory in their acrobatic “dog-fights”. After observing the “combatants” for a while, I narrowed my target to this pristine male that kept defending its territory and landing repeatedly at a few favourite Lallang perches.

It was a test of patience to nail this butterfly. Every time it landed, I only had a short while to maneuver around it to get into position to shoot before it took off to chase away an invader to its territory. It took quite a while before it landed on a perch with a good background and light too.

It eventually landed on a rather dimly lit perch and at an awkward angle. I cranked up the ISO to 640 and used my monopod as a support for my camera. I twisted my body to a low angle to get as parallel as possible to the butterfly. It was also necessary to close up the aperture to f/8 to make sure I get the tails fluttering in the breeze in focus.

I must say this is still one of my favorite shots of the Club Silverline. I like the minor tonal differences in the background and the simple composition that allows the silvery patterns on the wings to pop out of the screen and this beautiful butterfly to be viewed without distraction.

ButterflyCircle Photographer : Mark Wong, an Architectural Assistant in his mid-20's