Those Jewels

These three common species of lycaenids were found at the same patch of yellow creeping daisy in an urban area. Small, common and humble as these butterflies are, they nevertheless possess a delicate beauty seen in their intricate patterns and shimmering colours.


Cycad Blue, Chilades pandava pandava.


A male Lesser Grass Blue, Zizina otis lampa basking in the sunlight. This beautiful male was particularly boisterous, looking for potential mates almost constantly and stopping to rest only for brief periods of time.


Another Lesser Grass Blue.



The Pygmy Grass Blue, Zizula hylax pygmea. This is the smallest butterfly found in the region; it is really tiny, with a forewing length of approximately 5mm or slightly more.

Their scientific names are so colourful

Some Lycaenids of the Central Catchment Area

The Common Hedge Blue, Acytolepis puspa lambi, ovipositing. This butterfly is highly noticeable in flight with its pale shining blue upperside.


The beautiful Common Posy, Drupadia ravindra moorei, in the shady undergrowth. The butterfly had a peculiar habit of returning to the same few leaves to perch for a short while each time.


The Common Caerulean, Jamides celeno aelianus feeding on the flowers of a small tree. The only time this species seems to land for a photographable period of time is when it is feeding. It has beautiful shining pale blue uppersides.


The Common Line Blue, Prosotas nora superdates feeding at a damp spot on the forest floor.

There were quite a few other lycaenid species but I was unfortunately unable to photograph them.

Chocolate Grass Yellow (Eurema sari sodalis)

Chocolate Grass Yellow puddling at the Botanics. This is really actually quite a common butterfly there I think, though it's hard to differentiate it from the Common Grass Yellow, especially in flight. This species tends to fly in more wooded areas though. This particular specimen was as small and dainty as a lycaenid.

At the Alexandra Hospital Butterfly Trail-Part 1

The butterfly trail at the Alexandra Hospital is, in my honest opinion, one of the best places to look for butterflies. The commoner species like the emigrants and bush browns flutter in abundance there, together with rarer species like the Common Birdwing and Common Rose. Ironically. The names, I mean. So many different host plants are planted all together in one area so it is no wonder that this place is a melting pot of butterflies. And of course, moths. An added bonus is that it is one of the easiest butterfly-spotting sites, in that you don't have to trudge around in humid undergrowth just to see fleeting flashes of coloured wings. Here, the butterflies practically fly into your face.

Here is the life cycle of the magnificent Common Birdwing Troides helena cerberus.

These are my first close-up shots of this butterfly in the wild! Thrilling, yes.

The egg. It is rather large, actually, about 2+mm in diameter.

First or second instar caterpillar. Note the red-tipped fleshy spines.

Mid-stage caterpillars. The caterpillars are, as can be seen, wonderfully velvety and fleshy, and they photograph well!

Caterpillar with the orange-red osmeterium everted to deter would-be predators. The osmeterium is a fleshy, forked organ that the caterpillar extrudes when it feels threatened, emitting a putrid odour.

Final instar caterpillar. At this point, the caterpillar is incredibly large.

Larva in pre-pupal stage, hanging via a silk girder to the stem of its host plant.

The beautiful bright green pupa hangs from a stem, camouflaging itself as a leaf surprisingly well despite its bulk.

The resplendent adult butterfly, in this case a female, resting on grass after being relentlessly pursued by a male.

At the Zoo

Yes i know. People go to the Zoo to ogle cutesy, furry stuff. Ugh.


The Chocolate Demon, Ancistroides nigrita maura


Archduke, Lexias pardalis, male


Malay Viscount, Tanaecia pelea pelea
The butterflies were, strangely enough, willing to be coaxed onto my hand for these shots.

More butterfly sightings from an earlier trip to the Botanics

A Palm Bob( I think, again) on Lantana

The Autumn Leaf, doleschallia bisaltide

These photos hold a rather special place in my heart, since they represent some of my very few sightings of this elusive and magnificent butterfly, the Common Birdwing, troides helena cerberus. This butterfly is a rare sight in Singapore as its foodplant isn't easily found anymore, much of it being cleared away together with swathes of tropical forests in the name of development. The butterfly is very localised in its occurrences, found only in areas where its foodplant grows, like the Botanics and the Zoo. Everytime I am fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of this butterfly my heart does a little leap. Well. Don't suppose many people out there can ever empathise with me.

At the Botanics

The results of a trip to the Botanic gardens

A male Archduke(lexias pardalis) drinking

Pointed Ciliate, Anthene lycaenina miya basking on a leaf.

Moth caterpillar. Gah. Its difficult to identify caterpillars, especially those of moths.