Philippines Blog

[Tony Moore]

Now fairly confident that the Allotinus species shown with ants is Allotinus fallax.

Tony M.

[NickMorgan]

Your Zizula hylax looks good to me! I saw them in Mauritius a few years ago, but although they seemed quite common I didn't manage a decent picture because they were so small that my camera had trouble focussing on them!

[Tony Moore]

The Ateneo territory is only 83 hectares, surrounded by concrete on all sides. Amazingly, after six weeks I'm still finding new species at almost one a day! I finally caught up with a hungry Lemon Emigrant Catopsilia pomona, formcrocale, I think. A photograph cannot do this species justice; in flight it swoops around at great speed, often diving vertically from treetop to ground level. This is the first one that I have been able to approach:

Tony M.

[Padfield]

You did well to get the pomona, Tony! This highly mobile butterfly is particularly restless, nectaring briefly then moving on.

As Nick says, there is no doubt about the Z. hylax. I too have fond recollections of this species because it flies in the cemetery in Kolkata where my grandfather is buried. It is incredibly tiny and delicate but like many small things, very successful, flying from Africa right through to Australia and quite remote Pacific islands.

Memories ...

Guy

[Tony Moore]

Saw my first Graphium species today, probably a Common Bluebottle, but it didn't hang around... I also saw a couple of new Skippers, of which this was one:

Common Palm Dart (I think).

Finally managed to catch a Club Silverline with its wings open:

The final pic is one from yesterday, which seems to be severely exercising the minds of the Singapore Butterfly Circle. The best they have come up with so far is Telecota ufo . It was big (45mm wingspan) - I think it may be a Philippines endemic, but any suggestions would be welcome.

Just previewed all this and am amazed that the pix uploaded in the right order. Old dogs.......

Tony M.

[Padfield]

On the grounds of the dark basal area to the hindwing and the clearly demarcated pd band, I wonder if the UFO is Telicota ohara.

Nice upperside shot of the silverline - but then again, this species does have a spectacular underside!

Guy

[Tony Moore]

Thanks, Guy, but according to my Philippines check-list, ohara is not found on Luzon. I thought it may be Telicota besta, but that appears not to be found in the Philippines at all . I post another Skip below and wonder how you think it looks for Potanthus mingo? I could easily spend three months here just on Hespiridae !

Tony M.

[NickMorgan]

Potanthus serina ?

[Tony Moore]

That looks like a really good shot, Nick.

The photo in my 'Butterflies of Singapore' is not convincing, but various pix on the net look like a dead ringer. I'm sure you are right - I'll put it to the Singapore guys and see what they say.

Thanks again,

Tony.

[Tony Moore]

Potanthus serina ?

I've just had confirmation from a Philippines specialist that it is Taractrocera luzonensis., a Luzon endemic. I see it quite frequently here, but the only pix I had showed uppers only. Been away for a couple of days (to give my dear wife a rest from me butterflying ). Hope to find something interesting tomorrow.

Tony M.

[Tony Moore]

Four new species today, three 'skips' and a Peirid. I've also located a Facebook page, run by a very knowledgable lady,which is devoted to Philippine lepidoptera. ID'ing should be a little easier from now on. I also found another Cornelian this morning. It almost immediately opened its wings(apparently a very rare occurrence). Sadly, it was a female, which has a dull brown upperside, not the brilliant flash of crimson I was hoping for .

The first skipper was tiny (20mm ws). This was the only shot I managed. No idea what it is, but I'll run it past the Philippine guys and see what they say.

This one is, I think, Halpe luteisquama

Finally, an open wing shot of a male Lesser Grass Blue, which hung around just long enough

Tony M.

[Tony Moore]

Three more from today. The Pierid was tiny - Brown Hairstreak size. The Hesperid was seriously tiny - no more than 18mm ws. And the Cornelian was a dratted female

Tony M.

[Tony Moore]

I now have a confident ID for the T. ufo of 12th Dec. It is Telicota hilda, a species that I had not come across. And the tiny spotted Skipper - first pic yesterday, is Aeromachus musca. . The Singapore Butterfly Circle would seem to have some pretty clued-up members....

Tony M.

[Tony Moore]

Good outing today, despite missing a couple of chances at a Chocolate Albatross. The H. luteisquama was on the same flower spray and I managed a better shot:

I then saw a Straight Pierrot Caleta roxus ssp. angustior (not a lot of people know that!) in some deep grass. I missed it the first time, but went back after 30 mins to find it fluttering about (it's better to be born lucky....). It sat most obligingly:

Followed a Grass Yellow, hoping it was something other than hecabe, but I fear that is all it is .

Tony M.

[Chris Jackson]

These are great photos Tony, what an amazing variety there is.
Chris

[Tony Moore]

Thanks, Chris,

It is an amazing place - so many endemics. I haven't the remotest interest in returning to the UK, although, sadly, shall have to at the end of Jan. We're off to Cebu for Christmas and New Year, so I hope there will be some good stuff there .

Tony.

[William]

Superb Photos Tony - it must be exciting to have such an incredible variety on your doorstep .

[Padfield]

What a wonderful creature that Pierrot is! It must be thrilling to be discovering all these new things, especially at this time when most of us are having to make do with memories (or going off to butterfly farms!).

Guy

[Tony Moore]

Very cloudy, this morning and not a lot about. Still found a couple of 'newbies'. The first was a very tiny Skipper - ws no more than 16/18mm! Almost Pygmy blue size: Correction: I've just been informed that this is A. plumbeola. I didn't think it could be so small. Also should have waited for its wings to open, when there would have been no doubt about the ID .

I was then delighted to find this in the open:

Fairly sure it is a Common Snow Flat Tagiades japetus. I've not seen any other 'Flats' so far - shame it was a bit beaten up .

I then found these:

Never seen them in the wild before - an astonishing animal. There turned out to be a veritable convention of the creatures - six within a few cm of each other! A couple got fed up with the interference and flew off - quite a sight.

Another interesting day...

Tony M.

[Tony Moore]

Correction to blog entry of Dec 18th. I have again heard from Dr Seow of the Butterfly Circle. Apparently T. hilda is confined to Palawan! My T. ufois, in fact, Telicota augias pythias, - so there!!

T.