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Blue Pansy Butterfly (Junonia orithya) This time I would like to show you some recent pics of a pansy butterfly (Junonia orithya), the day I found, it was busy flying here and there over the wild plants. Luckily, I used DSLR, so I could be able to take these photos from a distance range. This species is relatively common in Indonesia, even sometimes we can find this typical butterfly in the bush, pretty much around the flower garden. Any butterfly, including this kind, tend to visit tiny flowers growing in grassy areas, and sunbathe with wings fully open. The flight … Read more

　　Life History of the Striped Blue Crow (Euploea mulciber mulciber) 　　Butterfly Biodata: 　　Genus: Euploea Fabricius, 1807 　　Species: mulciber Cramer, 1777 　　Subspecies: mulciber Cramer, 1777 　　Wingspan of Adult Butterfly: 80-90mm 　　Caterpillar Local Host Plants: Calotropis gigantea (Asclepiadaceae, common name: Giant Milkweed), Gymnanthera oblonga (Apocynaceae, common name: Sea Rubber Vine), Nerium oleander (Apocynaceae, common name: Oleander), and various members of the Ficus genus including Ficus microcarpa (Moraceae, common name: Chinese Banyan), F. grossularioides (common name: White-leafed Fig) and F. lamponga. 　　Physical Description of Adult Butterfly: 　　Above, the male is bright blue in the forewing with diffuse white spots in the distal half; … Read more

The 2nd instar caterpillar is yellowish green in body color with similar droplet-bearing setae as in the 1st instar. In addition, there are numerous small, black, conical tubercles dotting the body surface. Each of tubercles has a short setae emerging from it. The head is pale yellowish green in color. This instar lasts about 1.5 days with the body length reaching about 6.2mm. The 3rd instar caterpillar resembles the 2nd instar caterpillar closely except for the appearance of a whitish sub-spiracular band. The body surface has numerous tiny setae, and in some specimens, the base of these setae are darker … Read more

Male. Wings large, broad. Forewing triangular; costa very slightly curved, apex rounded, exterior margin oblique and slightly scalloped, posterior margin short, angle convex; costal vein extending to two-thirds of the costal margin, free from the subcostal in both sexes; first and second subcostal branches somewhat undulated, the first subcostal emitted before one-half length of the cell, second at one-sixth before the end, third at half length beyond the cell and curved upward, running close along second for some distance and ending at the apex, fourth and fifth on a short footstalk starting from near base of the third; cell long, … Read more

The Scarlet Mormon Butterfly, also called the Scarlet Swallowtail, is native to the Philippines. Its wingspan can reach 140mm. The male (above left) has a basically black topside with streaked hind wings like other male Mormons; the female (above right) has a bright scarlet central panel, but black body. The top of the white markings on the male’s hind wings is at a diagonal rather than straight, unlike the Great Mormon’s, leaving a black lozenge shape visible above. A red eye-spot is also sometimes visible. The male is tail-less (a similar-looking male, but with tails, is the Ascalaphus Swallowtail). The … Read more

　　The Incredible Glasswing Butterfly 　　A butterfly with transparent wings? Surely not. Yet there is a species that exhibits this trait. Take a close look at the incredible Glasswing, an enchanting species that confounds science. 　　Greta oto may sound like the name of a silent movie star from Eastern Europe but is in fact the scientific name for one of the most exquisite – and little known – species of butterfly on the planet. This butterfly’s claim to fame is that its wings, spanning up to six centimeters, are almost completely transparent. That’s right, you can see just about right through … Read more

Common Grass Yellow Butterfly (Eurema Hecabe) Well then! I am finally coming up with some photos of common grass yellow butterfly that I found in my backyard yesterday afternoon. It was darting over the ground when I saw it making slowly move to the wild plant, I decided to come a bit closer to take a few pictures that I used to do when I sighted the beautiful stuff around. According to my observation, it is one of beautiful butterflies that I ever found, especially the color that attracted so badly to capture this winged insect. It is called common … Read more

　　Heliconius melpomene 　　Heliconius melpomene is a widespread neotropical species well known for its geographic diversity in colour pattern. Throughout its range, H. melpomene is co-mimetic with Heliconius erato, and both species have around 30 named geographic sub-species. H. melpomene is generally less abundant than H. erato, but both are found in open areas. H. melpomene can however be locally common in river edges and along streams. 　　H. melpomene is an ecological host plant specialist in Central America, where it only feeds on either Passiflora oerstedii or Passiflora menispermifolia. In other parts of the range however it is more of a … Read more

　 　Great Southern Whites tend to be wanderers. Individuals often disperse, but the species is known for massive emigrations where thousands leave to colonize new territory. Coastal movement is common, and some years they travel inland, using a variety of weedy mustard plants for reproduction. Jim Egbert, who documented Great Southern Whites in Alabama, observed such a mass movement in June 2016. He reported seeing hundreds flying in south Baldwin County, and at times, was able to see three “whites” together: Cabbage, Checkered, and Great Southern. In the fall, Great Southern Whites often make a backward trek. These butterflies cannot … Read more