BIG - 2003 Feb/Mar

Updated on 3rd Mar 2003

New species found in Singapore !

Zizeeria maha serica - The Pale Grass Blue

Zizeeria maha serica is another new species discovered by BIG. This species does not exist in Malaysia. It was first sighted by BIG member, Steven Neo, in Oct 2001 at the eastern part of Singapore and was subsequently bred to adulthood. Specimens were sent to J. N. Eliot in 2002 for identification and the species was identified as Zizeeria maha, subspecies serica (C. Felder, 1862) with type locality Hong Kong. This butterfly must have arrived by unplanned human agency to Singapore; just like Pieris canidia (Cabbage White) did in the last century..

Zizeeria maha serica can be distinguished from Zizula hylax pygmea (Pygmy Blue) by the darker border and bigger spots along the underside of its wing edges.

Photo Highlight ^{New !}

Euthalia aconthea gurda (female)
Baron

The Baron can usually be found in orchards and gardens where its larva host plant, Mangifera indica (Mango) and Scurrula spp are found. It usually feeds on fallen or ripen fruits.
The male is dark brown in colour, with more angled forewings while the female is paler with broader forewings.

Expert Insight

Polyura hebe plautus
The Plain Nawab

The commoner of the two known species of the genus Polyura in Singapore. The butterfly is greenish white above and the forewing has a broad black apical border, which is very wide at the apex, but decreases in width towards the tornus and base of the costa. Find out more about this butterfly from this article. more ..

Butterfly Article

Flying Flowers
by Steven Neo, Betty L Khoo and Andrew Tay

The sight of butterflies flitting and feeding from flower to flower is something that urban Singaporeans can still appreciate in our parks, but probably few make the connection between the worm-like fat caterpillar that chews up the leaves of plants and the gorgeous butterfly with its exquisitely delicate wings. more ...

Butterfly Sightings^{New !}

01/03/03	Sighted Danaus melanippus hegesippus (Black Veined Tiger) at Alexandra Hospital Butterfly Trail
08/02/03	Sighted Zizeeria maha serica at Alexandra Hospital Butterfly Trail
04/01/03	Sighted Euploea tulliolus ledederi (Dwarf Crow) at Sime Forest.
01/01/03	Singted a pair of Idea leuconoe clara at Sime Forest again !
08/12/02	Sighted two Idea leuconoe clara at Sime Forest
03/10/02	Sighted many Miletus symethus petronius at Mandai Orchid Garden
24/09/02	Sighted Thaumantis noureddin noureddin (Dark Jungle Glory)
22/09/02	Sighted Flos diardi capeta ovipositing on at Upper Pierce.
08/09/02	Sighted Unkana ambasa batara (Hoary Palmer) and Spindasis lohita senama (Long Banded Silverline) at Kranji.
11/08/02	Sighted Polyura schreiber tisamenus (Blue Nawab) ovipositing on Rambutan leaves and Euploea tulliolus lederi (Dwarf Crow) at Pulau Ubin.
09/08/02	Sighted Cupha erymanthis lotis (Rustic) ovipositing on Flacourtia rukam at Upper Pierce.

Calender

2003 Butterfly Walks
	26/01	Alexandra Hospital - G
	23/02	Kallang Riverside -SC
	29/03	Upper Seletar - SN
	19/04	Bukit Timah - BJ
	May	Pulau Ubin
	Jun	Sungei Buloh
2002 Butterfly Walks
	13/01	Kallang Riverside -SC
	16/03	Bukit Timah - SN
	13/04	Bukit Timah - G
	26/05	Sungei Buloh - JL
	08/06	SICC - SC
	21/07	Alexandar Hospital - G
	11/08	Pulau Ubin - SC
	22/09	Upper Seletar - G
	13/10	Bukit Batok - JL
	Nov	No Butterfly walk
	Dec	No Butterfly walk

Photo Gallery

Butterfly Walks ^{New !}

Caterpillars ^{New !}

Common urban butterflies

Autumn Leaf

Chocolate Pansy

Common Grass Yellow

Common Palmfly

Lemon Emigrant

Lesser Grass Blue

Lime Butterfly

Orange Emigrant

Painted Jezebel

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