The White Club Flitter (Hyarotis microsticta) - A Skipper New to Singapore!

Another butterfly new to Singapore!

Hyarotis microsticta (The White Club Flitter) - Photo by Yik Shih

Recently NSS member Yong Yik Shih, photographed a dark brown skipper at Ubin, and request NSS Butterfly Group to assist on the ID. The group can't decide on it and seeks advice from Dr. TL Seow - a Malaysian butterfly expert.

According to Dr. TL Seow, the skipper photographed by Yik Shih, is a female Hyarotis microsticta (The White Club Flitter), and the photographs is sufficient to ID the species with confidence!

Butterfly Description

The species are described as rare in P. Malaysia. The wings are dark brown, forewing of the species has small white hyaline spots at end-cell, space 2 and 3 and the usual sub-apical series, semi-hyaline spot may present at space 1b.

ID key for the species:
Wings span: 32 - 38 mm

Forewing with 3 sub-apical spots; Forewing cell spot narrow.

Hindwing with dark blotches & few white dots.

Antennal club bears a white patch before the apiculus

Hyarotis microsticta (The White Club Flitter) - Photo by Yik Shih

Hyarotis microsticta (The White Club Flitter) - Photo by Yik Shih

The White Club Flitter, photographed on 2007 at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

Hyarotis microsticta (The White Club Flitter) - Photo by Soon Chye

Hyarotis microsticta (The White Club Flitter) - Photo by Soon Chye

Further reading: Hyarotis microsticta by LIEW Nyok Lin

Special thanks:

Dr. TL Seow
Dr. Kalesh

Yong Yik Shih for allowing her photo to be share in the blog

Fellow NSS butterfly group member who participated in the discussion

References:

• The Butterflies of The Malay Peninsula, A.S. Corbet and H.M. Pendlebury, 4th Edition, Malayan Nature Society.
• Butterflies of Thailand, Pisuth Ek-Amnuay, 1st Edition, 2006