Butterfly of the Month - September 2014

Butterfly of the Month - September 2014
The Dwarf Crow (Euploea tulliolus ledereri)


A Dwarf Crow feeds on a Bidens pilosa flower at Butterfly Hill, Pulau Ubin, Singapore

September 2014 is almost over as we look back at a month that was relatively quiet and uneventful. In Singapore, we had the Formula 1 Night race for the seventh time after its debut in 2008 as the first F1 night race ever. Other than the buzz created by the avid followers of the F1 circuit around the world, it would appear that the majority of Singaporeans went about their lives as usual. Besides some inconveniences for those working in the city, the event seemed to have even lost its appeal with the ordinary residents of Singapore.

That Lewis Hamilton won the 2014 Singapore F1 probably didn't matter much to the man in the street in Singapore. Hogging the news, and creating quite a bit of a buzz in the local kopi-tiams (coffee shops) in Singapore, on the other hand, was a foreign national who was accused of misappropriating a wealthy Singaporean widow's $40M fortune. With a plot that is worthy of a TV soap opera, the accused apparently sneaked into the life of the widow and somehow managed to secure a Lasting Power of Attorney over her fortune.

Social media was ablaze with anti-foreigner sentiment once again, as netizens began to question the legitimacy of how this individual, who possessed nary a requisite paper qualification nor the credentials, managed to become a PR in Singapore. It will be interesting to see how the case plays out, as the plot thickens and even governmental organisations have lodged police reports and conducted investigations against the individual. On the optimistic side of things, the unfortunate widow may have been spared the total loss of her fortune, although it would appear that part of her missing inheritance would be irrecoverable.

Over in Incheon, South Korea, the 17th Asiad is still being enthusiastically followed by sports enthusiasts. Singapore's local boy, Joseph Schooling ended a 32-year gold drought in swimming by finally winning a gold medal in his pet 100m butterfly event. Considering that Joseph is a born and bred Singaporean, the majority of the highly-critical netizens gave him a thumbs up for his wins in the swimming arena.

Dwarf Crows feeding on the flowers of the Indian Heliotrope (Heliotropium indicum)

Our feature butterfly this month is the Dwarf Crow (Euploea tulliolus ledereri). When it was sighted on the offshore island of Pulau Ubin back in 2002, the Dwarf Crow was recorded as a re-discovery for Singapore. Though listed in the early authors' checklists, it had not been seen in previous surveys of the Singapore butterfly fauna since the early 1990s, and presumed to be no longer found in Singapore. Then it re-appeared. Even so, this species continued to be reliably recorded only from Pulau Ubin.

For a period of time, it was regularly spotted on Pulau Ubin, often feeding on flowers of the Indian Heliotrope (Heliotropium indicum) and other wild flowers. It was a frequent visitor to the Butterfly Hill on Pulau Ubin, although in recent years, sightings have become much rarer.

The Dwarf Crow is so named, probably due to the fact that it is the smallest sized species in the genus. Sporting a wingspan of only 50-60 mm, it is certainly smaller than the other "Crows" that are found in Singapore and Malaysia.

The wings are reddish brown with the apical portion of the upperside of the forewings coloured deep blue with a few bluish discal and submarginal spots. The male's hindwings are unmarked on the upperside, but the female's hindwing features small diffused submarginal spots. The underside is a medium brown with the usual Euploea white spotting along the wing margins.

The Dwarf Crow is a slow flyer, usually seen flying calmly from flower to flower to feed. On Pulau Ubin, individuals of this species have also been observed puddling at damp spots as well as dried roots of some plants. During a time when the Indian Heliotrope was found at certain locations, the Dwarf Crow was also recorded in the company of several other species of Danainae butterflies feeding on the dried parts of the plant.

Dwarf Crows shot in Malaysia and southern Thailand are of the same subspecies as Singapore

The subspecies found in Singapore is ledereri and this subspecies also flies in Malaysia and southern Thailand. It is not uncommon in certain locations like the nature reserves in Endau Rompin and even on Fraser's Hill, where it is occasionally seen. However, in Singapore, it is considered rare and very local in distribution. Perhaps the caterpillar host plant should be cultivated in greater numbers to aid in the conservation of this species on Pulau Ubin.


A puddling Dwarf Crow photographed in Endau Rompin forest reserve in Malaysia

Over in Malaysia, this species has been observe to puddle on sandy footpaths that have been contaminated with animal excretions and decomposing organic matter. Individuals have been seen to fly around favoured spots and repeatedly return to puddle and feed at the same areas despite being disturbed.

This species has not been successfully bred in Singapore thus far, although its caterpillar host plant is suspected to be a Cynanchum sp. The early authors recorded the caterpillar host plants to be Malaisia scandens (Fleming) and Mikania cordata (C&P4), although the last-named plant in C&P4 may have been a mistake.

Text by Khew SK : Photos by Bob Cheong, Sunny Chir, James Chia, David Fischer (Australia), Goh Lai Chong (Malaysia), Antonio Guidici (Thailand), Federick Ho, Khew SK, Loke PF, Simon Sng and Mark Wong.

References :

[C&P4] The Butterflies of the Malay Peninsula, A.S. Corbet and H.M. Pendlebury, 4th Edition, Revised by Col John Eliot, Malaysian Nature Society, 1992
[BOT2] Butterflies of Thailand, Pisuth Ek-Amnuay, 2nd Edition, Amarin Printing & Publishing, 2012
[BOS] Field Guide to the Butterflies of Singapore, Khew SK, Ink On Paper Publishing, Singapore, 2010
[BWMS] Butterflies of West Malaysia and Singapore, WA Fleming, 2nd Edition, Longmans, 1983

Life History of the Peacock Royal v2.0

Life History of the Peacock Royal (Tajuria cippus maxentius)
An earlier version of the life history of the Peacock Royal can be found by clicking this link.

Butterfly Biodata:
Genus: Tajuria Moore, 1881
Species: cippus Fabricius, 1798
Subspecies: maxentius Fruhstorfer, 1912
Wingspan of Adult Butterfly: 30-34mm
Caterpillar Local Host Plants: Dendropthoe pentandra (Loranthaceae),Macrosolen cochinchinensis (Loranthaceae).

Physical Description of Adult Butterfly:
On the upperside, the male is royal blue with a broad, black border on both wings, whilst the female is in light pale blue and has a post-discal and a marginal series of black spots on its hindwing. On the underside, both sexes are greyish white. Both wings have a post-discal series of black, disjoint striae, and diffuse/obscure marginal and submarginal fasciae. The hindwing has two large, black tornal spots in spaces 1a and 2 which are orange-crowned; white-tipped tails at end of veins 1b and 2, and a short tooth at end of vein 3.

Field Observations:
The Peacock Royal is moderately common in Singapore. The adults can be found in urban parks and gardens, forested areas, as well as the nature reserves. They have a rapid flight and are typically skittish when approached. They are more readily photographed when they are engrossed in taking nectar from flowers.

Early Stages:
Two mistletoes, Dendropthoe pentandra and Macrosolen cochinchinensis, have been recorded as the local host plants for the Peacock Royal. The caterpillars of the Peacock Royal feed on the young leaves of these host plants.

Local host plant #1: Dendropthoe pentandra.

Local host plant #2: Macrosolen cochinchinensis.

The eggs are laid singly on the leaf, the stem or the petiole of the host plant. Each shallow bun-shaped egg is about 0.9-1mm in basal diameter, and whitish with a subtle green undertone. A tiny and depressed micropylar sits atop. The egg surface is finely sculpted with very tiny ripples/undulations.

An egg of the Peacock Royal observed in the field on the young shoot of Dendropthoe pentandra.

Two views of an egg of the Peacock Royal.

It takes about 3-4 days for the egg to hatch. The young caterpillar consumes just enough of the egg shell to emerge, and it does not consume the remnant egg shell. It is yellowisk in coloration, and has a length of about 1.8mm. Long setae (hairs) run along the length of the body dorsally as well as sub-spiracularly. Raised dorsal tubercles are transparent. A large and brownish prothoracic shield can be observed. The newly hatched feeds on the young leaves nearby by skimming the surface. Later instars will feed on the leaf lamina, working their ways along the edges. As it grows in this instar, the caterpillar assumes a greenish or a yellowish brown coloration. The 1st instar lasts about 2-3 days and sees the body length increased to about 3.5mm.

Two views of a 1st instar caterpillar, newly hatched, length: 1.7mm.

Two views of a 1st instar caterpillar, late in this stage, length: 3.5mm.

Two views of a late 1st instar caterpillar, dormant prior to its moult.

In the 2nd instar caterpillar, the long dorsal and sub-spiracular setae seen in the 1st instar are now absent. Its diamond-shaped prothoracic shield is pale brown in color. Behind the prothoricic shield, a large triangular, pale brown, dorsal marking is present on the meso- and metathoracic segments. The posterior segments from the 7th abdominal segment onwards are fused together and taper downward to the last segment. Pale brown patches adorn the sides of the body except for the last 4 segments (which are whitish instead). These patches become darker brown to reddish brown in coloration as the caterpillar grows in this instar. The dorsal nectary organ is present. Note that in another colour form of the caterpillar, the pale brown patches are replaced by green patches. The 2nd instar lasts for about 4 days with the body length reaches about 5.5mm.

Two views of a 2nd instar caterpillar, early in this stage, length: 3.3mm.

Two views of a 2nd instar caterpillar, late in this stage, length: 4.8mm.

Two views of a late 2nd instar caterpillar, dormant prior to its moult, length: 5mm.

In the 3rd instar caterpillar, the lateral body markings, pale reddish brown to dark reddish brown, now dominate the general appearance. The lateral body markings are broken between the 2nd and 4th abdominal segments by a large, whitish triangular patch. The dorsal tubercles on 1st-5th abdominal segments are golden to reddish in coloration. The dorsal nectary organ and the tentacular organs are now easily observed on the fused posterior segments. As the body grows in size to a length of around 10-11mm, the color of shading on the body darkens. After about 5 days in the 3rd instar, the moult to the 4th and final instar takes place.

Two views of a 3rd instar caterpillar, newly moulted, length: 6mm.

Two views of a 3rd instar caterpillar, length: 10.5mm.

Two views of a late 3rd instar caterpillar, dormant prior to its moult, length: 10mm.

A late 3rd instar caterpillar observed int the field, with ants in attendance.

The 4th instar caterpillar is mostly dark reddish to purplish brown in color, except for the whitish posterior segments and the lateral, triangular patch, both of which are now more prominent. Overall, the caterpillar has a very striking appearance, and resembles bird droppings.

Two views of a 4th instar caterpillar, newly moulted, length: 11.3mm.

Two views of a 4th instar caterpillar, late in this stage, length: 20mm.

The 4th instar lasts for about 7 days and the body reaches a length of about 20mm. Nearing the end of this instar, the caterpillar ceases feeding, its body shrinks in length and de-colorises. Soon it comes to rest on the surface of a stem, and prepares for pupation by spinning a silk pad on the substrate to which it attaches itself via claspers at the posterior end.

Two views of a pre-pupa of the Peacock Royal.

After about 1 day of the pre-pupal stage, pupation takes place. The pupa is predominantly pale brownish to dark brownish, with pale greenish and black patches carpeting the surface. It has a dorsal ridge and a saddle in anterior abdomen, and is secured via a cremastral attachment to the silk pad on the stem. There is no silk girdle. Pupal length: 12-14mm.

Two views of a pupa of the Peacock Royal.

Eight to nine days later, the pupa turns black, first in the wing pad and thorax, then progressively in the abdomen. The next day, the pupal stage comes to an end with the emergence of the adult butterfly.

Two views of a mature pupa of a Peacock Royal.

A newly eclosed Peacock Royal.

References:

• [C&P4] The Butterflies of The Malay Peninsula, A.S. Corbet and H.M. Pendlebury, 4th Edition, Malayan Nature Society.
• Butterflies of Thailand, Pisuth Ek-Amnuay, 2nd Edition, 2012
• A Field Guide to the Butterflies of Singapore, Khew S.K., Ink On Paper Communications, 2010.

Text by Horace Tan, Photos by Bobby Mun, Koh Cher Hern, C K Chng, Anthony Wong, Federick Ho and Horace Tan

Butterflies Galore! : Darky Plushblue

Butterflies Galore!
The Darky Plushblue (Flos anniella anniella)

Amongst the four Flos species extant in Singapore, the Darky Plushblue (Flos anniella anniella) is the least encountered species. It is usually found in the heavily shaded forest understorey within the nature reserves in Singapore. Normally, they are encountered singly but sometimes in the company of other Flos and Arhopala species.

The Darky Plushblue is skittish and alert, and can fly rapidly if disturbed. This newly-eclosed individual was recently shot within the forested nature reserves. The upperside of the butterfly is a lustrous violet-blue. The apical area of the underside of the forewing is prominently whitened. The species has been successfully bred on Lithocarpus elegans (Spike Oak), Lithocarpus conocarpus and Lithocarpus ewyckii.

Lacy Encounters

Lacy Encounters
Return of the Plain Lacewing!

The Plain Lacewing (Cethosia methypsea methypsea) is a species that is listed as extant in Singapore in ButterflyCircle's checklist. When it was first discovered in the 1990's by veteran ButterflyCircle member Steven Neo, it was recorded as a new taxon in the Singapore checklist. The first voucher specimen was documented by Steven on 29 May 1991 at the forest edge adjacent to mature nature reserves. Early references did not include this species to be extant in Singapore.

After it was discovered, the species continued to be regularly seen throughout the 1990's but very localised. It did not appear to be extremely rare at that time, and on one occasion, I encountered at least 4 individuals of the Plain Lacewing, feeding together at a large Lantana bush. It continued to be seen but its closely related cousin, the Malay Lacewing (Cethosia hypsea hypsina) was much more common and widespread in Singapore.

The last known recent observation record of the Plain Lacewing from May 2000 - shot on Fujifilm Velvia 50 slide film and digitally scanned

The last record of the Plain Lacewing was an individual shot whilst feeding on a flower of the Common Asystasia. From my records, this individual was shot on 7 May 2000. After this last encounter, the Plain Lacewing mysteriously disappeared from Singapore, and not seen again...

Until recently, when ButterflyCircle member Koh CH, encountered a Lacewing at around the same location that it was last seen 14 years ago! As suddenly as it had mysteriously disappeared 14 years ago, the Plain Lacewing is back. Over the past two weeks, more ButterflyCircle members continued to encounter the Plain Lacewing, and from the shots posted, it appears that there are at least 3 different individuals.

The Plain Lacewing is very similar in appearance to the Malay Lacewing, and quite similar to the recently (in 2005) discovered Leopard Lacewing (Cethosia cyane). The Plain Lacewing can be distinguished from its lookalike cousins by the thin white submarginal band on the hindwing. The male Leopard Lacewing may also be confused with the Plain Lacewing, but the former has larger black submarginal spots and a wider white band on the hindwing, and also a very thin submarginal orange band on the underside of the forewing compared to the other two species.

The upperside of the Plain Lacewing also appears much redder than its two cousins. The male and female of the Plain Lacewing look alike, compared to the sexes of the Malay and Leopard Lacewings, which are distinctly different enough to be separated easily.

The Plain Lacewing's caterpillar host plant is very likely to belong to the Passifloraceae family. It is curious why, or how it appeared again, after 14 years, and where this current batch originated. Were they still here in Singapore all these years, but only not seen? Or are these immigrants from nearby Malaysia that has started to colonise the same localities where they were previously seen?

The Plain Lacewing is the more common species found in Penang where it outnumbers the Malay Lacewing by at least a 3:1 ratio when I was collecting butterflies on the island many years ago. C&P4 also mentions that the Malay Lacewing is "not uncommon..." and the Plain Lacewing is "...nearly as common in the same situations". (pp 157, C&P4). Whilst the Malay Lacewing is common in Singapore, why is the Plain Lacewing so rare, as to be classified under the status of "Critically Endangered" in the Red Data Book 2008?

Indeed, if it had been absent in Singapore for the past 14 years, it would be considered a very rare butterfly here. What can be done to conserve this species and help it to thrive? More observations and studies, particularly of its early stages, will certainly have to be done. In the meantime, we hope that the Plain Lacewing will continue to stay in Singapore for a few more years to come, so that we can take it off the "critically endangered" list.

Text by Khew SK : Photos by Sunny Chir, Chng CK, Koh CH, Loke PF and Nelson Ong

References :

[C&P4] The Butterflies of the Malay Peninsula, A.S. Corbet and H.M. Pendlebury, 4th Edition, Revised by Col John Eliot, Malaysian Nature Society, 1992