Life history of the Branded Orange Awlet (Burara eodipodea)

Life history of the Branded Orange Awlet (Burara eodipodea)

Butterfly description:
The Branded Orange Awlet is rare in Malaysia, as there have been no recorded sightings from Malaysia on iNaturalist, and no posting on the "Butterflies of Singapore and Malaysia" Facebook group.

One reason that might contribute to the rare sightings could be that the skippers are crepuscular, flying at dusk and dawn. 

Host plant: Arthrophyllum diversifolium

Background

While trekking at Tampin Hill, we stumbled upon a caterpillar in its final developmental stage, nestled in its leaf shelter on Arthrophyllum diversifolium. The initial presumption that the caterpillar belonged to the Great Orange Awlet (Bibasis etelka), as its pattern, closely resembled that of the Great Orange Awlet caterpillar, despite its choice of a different host plant, distinct from the commonly recorded Combretum sundaicum.

The caterpillar was nurtured to adulthood, and upon eclosion, the resulting skipper appeared smaller and notably distinct from both the Great Orange Awlet and the Orange Awlet (B. harisa). Upon closer examination, it became evident that it was, in fact, the Branded Orange Awlet.

Last instar larva

Pupae of the Branded Orange Awlet

3 different size of leaf shelters found on the host plant

Reference:
The Butterflies of The Malay Peninsula, A.S. Corbet and H.M. Pendlebury, G. and N. van der Poorten (Eds.), 5th Edition, Malayan Nature Society, 2020

Life History of the Intermediate Maplet (Chersonesia intermedia)

Life History of the Intermediate Maplet (Chersonesia intermedia)

Butterfly description: 

The upperside of the Intermediate Maplet butterfly is characterized by an orange-brown hue. It displays two reddish-brown bands in the wing's basal half, succeeded by a somewhat diffuse brown band, and a submarginal band which, on the forewing, has an inner edge. Additionally, the hindwing exhibits a small protrusion at vein 4.

Keys to ID:

Upperside subbasal and discal bands on forewing as wide as, or wider than, the hindwing postdiscal band; forewing with only a single subapical spot. (C&P5)

Comparing to C. rahria, the forewing usually not darkened. On upperside, the subbasal and discal bands are almost straight for C. intermedia. (LC Goh)

Host plant: The Fiddle-leaf Fig plant (Ficus lyrata)

Background

A caterpillar in its 5th stage of development, measuring approximately 10 mm in length, was discovered munching on the fresh leaf of a Fiddle-leaf Fig plant (Ficus lyrata) on my balcony. Initially, the caterpillar was collected and placed with a different plant, Ficus microcarpa 'Golden', as the observer assumed it to be a moth caterpillar. Subsequently, the caterpillar was provided with Ficus lyrata leaves, where it successfully developed into an adult butterfly.

Caterpillar collected on 14 Oct 23

Length 25mm, 17 oct 23

Caterpillar in pre-pupation position, 19 Oct 23

Two view of fresh pupae, 19 Oct 23

Left: 1 day before eclose; Right: few hours before eclose, 25 Oct 23

Reference:

• The Butterflies of The Malay Peninsula, A.S. Corbet and H.M. Pendlebury, G. and N.  van der Poorten (Eds.), 5th Edition, Malayan Nature Society, 2020.
• LC Goh & Teo TP

Early Stage of the Forget-Me-Not (Catochrysops strabo)

 Early Stage of the Forget-Me-Not (Catochrysops strabo)

Butterfly description:

The Forget-Me-Not butterfly is uncommon in both Malaysia and Singapore, but it can be frequently found in shrublands, open fields, and forest edges. In Singapore, the butterfly often flies alongside its close relative, the Silver Forget-me-Not (Catochrysops panormus), as well as the Gram Blue (Euchrysops cnejus), as these three species share some of their host plants.

Key to Identification:

Forget-me-not (C. strabo)
- Underside forewing with a spot on the costa midway between the spot at the end of the cell and post discal band
- male upperside purplish blue in color
- female UPHW spaces 7 & 8 are brown color

The Silver Forget-me-not (C. panormus)
- Underside forewing with the costal spot adjoining the upper end of the post-discal band.
- male upperside sky blue in color
- female UPHW spaces 7 & 8 are same color as the space below it

Host plant:
Desmodium heterocarpon

The host plant found in an open field or land being developed in Singapore.

Host plant: Desmodium heterocarpon, flower (left), seedpods (right).

Habitat of the Forget-me-not and the host plant

Early stage description:

The early stage of the Forget-me-not feeds on the flower buds, flowers, and young seedpods of the host plant, while mature caterpillars tend to feed on the seedpods when available. The Silver Forget-me-not also utilizes the same host plant (Desmodium heterocarpon).

Life cycle
Egg: 2 - 3 days
Larva: 17 - 18 days
Pupa: 6 - 7 days

A Forget-me-not female laying egg on Desmodium heterocarpon

Eggs are laid singly between the flower buds of the host plant. The egg is rounded in shape, with some having large depressions or dents on the surface (left photo). Some eggs are covered with a semi-transparent substance on one side (right photo), possibly acting as a glue to hold the egg onto the host plant.
 

Egg with dents on the surface (left), with semi-transparent substance (right)

It takes about two to three days for the egg to hatch. The larva is yellowish-brown in color and has long setae on its body. It takes about 17-18 days for the larva to form a pupa.

Day 1 (hatched from egg) - Two views of a 1st instar caterpillar

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Day 9

Day 11

Day 14

Day 15 - 

Day 16 - Two views of a pre-pupa of the Forget-me-not, green form

Two views of a pre-pupa of the Forget-me-not, red form

2nd days in the pre-pupatory stage

Roughly 6-7 days later, the pupa darkens in color, indicating that the adult butterfly is about to emerge. The following day, the adult Forget-me-not butterfly emerges from the mature pupa.

Two view of a pupa of the Forget-me-not

A mating pair of the Forget-me-not

Reference:

• Life Cycle of A Forget-me-not by Ben Jin Tan (9 Feb 23)
• The Butterflies of The Malay Peninsula, A.S. Corbet and H.M. Pendlebury, G. and N.  van der Poorten (Eds.), 5th Edition, Malayan Nature Society, 2020.
• Butterflies of Thailand, Pisuth Ek-Amnuay, 2nd Edition, 2012.

A Tiny Addition to Malaysia's Butterfly Fauna: The Newly Recorded Species - Oriental Grass Jewel

A Tiny Addition to Malaysia's Butterfly Fauna: The Newly Recorded Species - Oriental Grass Jewel (Freyeria putli)

Over the past few decades, numerous butterfly species have been newly recorded in Malaysia. Among the most notable ones are:

Tawny Coster (Acraea terpsicore) - sighting by Simon Chan on 2002 at Petaling Jaya

Leopard Lacewing (Cethosia cyane) - Arshad et al., 2000 at Langkawi

Julia Heliconian (Dryas iulia) - sighthing by ButterflyCircle on 2009 at Langkawi

The latest addition:
Oriental Grass Jewel (Freyeria putli) - sighting by Chris Chapman on 2020

Background
The Oriental Grass Jewel butterfly species was not included in the early lists of Malaysia's butterfly fauna compiled by researchers and authors. This tiny species has a wingspan of 12-16mm, and during flight, it can be challenging to distinguish from the similarly sized Pygmy Grass Blue (Zizula hylax). As a result, this species may have been overlooked by many butterfly observers in the past.

Distribution
According to the latest records on iNaturalist (Mar 2023), the Oriental Grass Jewel butterfly species has a distribution range that extends from India to southern China, Thailand, Vietnam, and from there eastwards to Papua New Guinea and northern and eastern Australia.

Observation

During the observation of the Oriental Grass Jewel butterfly species at the Sg. Ara location in Penang, the host plant Indigofera hirsuta was discovered. Several Oriental Grass Jewel butterflies were observed flying around and laying eggs on the flower buds of this host plant.

Wingspan 12-16 mm.

Oriental Grass Jewel resting on the leaf of host plant

Host plant: Indigofera hirsuta

Host plant: Indigofera hirsuta

Flowers of Indigofera hirsuta

Flowers of Indigofera hirsuta

Seedpods of Indigofera hirsuta

Seed pods of Indigofera hirsuta

Open field habitat of Oriental Grass Jewel

Open field habitat of Oriental Grass Jewel

More photos:

Acknowledgement:
I would like to express my gratitude to Chris Chapman for his significant contribution to the discovery and dissemination of his findings on the Oriental Grass Jewel butterfly species located at Sg. Ara in Penang.

Reference:

A Photographic Monograph on Hong Kong Butterflies, Hong Kong Lepidopterists' Society

Butterflies of Thailand, 2nd Edition. Pisuth EK-AMNUAY

The Butterflies of the Malay Peninsula by A. Steven Corbet and H.M. Pendlebury (5th Edition).