Butterfly of the Month - March 2024 The Indigo Flash (Rapala varuna orseis) A pristine female Indigo Flash perches on a dew covered grass blade in the early morning hours. Note the slight purplish wash on the wing bases. March 2024 has whizzed past in a flash, and on this final day of the month, we feature one of our "Flash" butterflies that exists in Singapore. A butterfly that belongs to the Lycaenidae family, called the "Blues and Hairstreaks", these species found in Singapore are mainly classified under the genus Rapala. The Flash butterflies are fast-flying skittish species and are dif ..read more

Butterfly of the Month - February 2024 The White Royal (Pratapa deva relata) On this special once-every-four-years day of 29 Feb, we feature one of our "royal" butterflies from the Lycaenidae family. The Lycaenidae, often referred to as the Blues and Hairstreaks, is represented by the largest number of species in Singapore. As many of the species are cryptic and superficially very similar-looking, more species are being added to the Singapore checklist as new information becomes available, or observations of species which were previously missed are included to the list. Our Butterfly o ..read more

Butterfly of the Month - January 2024 The Fulvous Pied Flat (Pseudocoladenia dan dhyana) A male Fulvous Pied Flat sunbathing on top of a leaf in the late afternoon We kick start the Butterfly of the Month series with a species from the family Hesperiidae, or commonly referred to as Skippers. Skippers tend to fly rapidly and are often mistaken for moths. They have exceptionally large eyes and fat robust bodies. The sub-family Pyrginae, or Flats and Spread-Winged Skippers, is represented by 12 species from 8 genera in Singapore. Some are very rare and are classified Data Deficient in the late ..read more

Life History of the Dwarf Crow (Euploea tulliolus ledereri) Butterfly Biodata: Genus: Euploea Fabricius, 1807 Species: tulliolus Fabricius, 1793 Sub-species: ledereri C. & R. Felder, 1860 Wingspan of Adult Butterfly: 60-70mm Caterpillar Local Host Plant: Trophis scandens (Moraceae, common name: Burny Vine). Upperside view of a female Dwarf Crow. Physical Description of Adult Butterfly: The Dwarf Crow is the smallest member of the Euploea genus. On the upperside, the wings are reddish brown and the apical portion of the forewing is deep-blue with a few bluish or whitish discal and ..read more

Butterfly of the Month - December 2023 The Dark Flat (Tapena thwaitesi bornea) A female Dark Flat feeds on Bidens alba flower at a forest edge December 2023 is almost over, and we count down to a new year ahead! Christmas has come and gone, as we reflect on what we have achieved over the past year and make resolutions and set targets for the new year. The month of December belongs to the astrological sign Sagittarius. For those born between 23 November to 21 December, you are a Sagittarian. We featured Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo and Virgo in the precedin ..read more

Life History of the Pale Fourline Blue (Nacaduba hermus) Butterfly Biodata: Genus: Nacaduba Moore, 1881 Species: hermus C. Felder, 1860 Subspecies: swatipa Corbet, 1938 Wingspan of Adult Butterfly: 27-30mm Caterpillar Local Host Plant: Barringtionia racemosa (Lecythidaceae, common name: Common Putat, Fish-Killer Tree, Fish-Poison Tree, 水茄笗, 玉蕊). A female Pale Fourline Blue resting on a flower of Bidens alba (Spanish Needle). A male Pale Fourline Blue resting on a flower of Tridax procumbens (Coat Buttons). A female Pale Fourline Blue visiting inflorescence of Leea indica (Bandicoot Be ..read more

Life History of the Jewelled Grass Blue (Freyeria putli) Butterfly Biodata: Genus: Fryeria Courvoisier, 1920 Species: putli Kollar, 1844 Wingspan of Adult Butterfly: 12-16mm Caterpillar Local Host Plant: Indigofera spicata (Fabaceae, common name: Creeping Indigo). A Jewelled Grass Blue resting on an inflorescene of the Creeping Indigo. A Jewelled Grass Blue resting on an inflorescene of the Creeping Indigo. A Jewelled Grass Blue resting on a leaflet of the Creeping Indigo. Physical Description of Adult Butterfly: With a wing span of only 12-16mm, the Jewelled Grass Blue is a small an ..read more

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, Arie ..read more

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, yo ..read more

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 mov ..read more