Arhopala centaurus nakula (Centaur Oakblue)

The Centaur Oakblue is a relatively large member of the Lycaenidae. The beautiful turquoise compound eyes of this species are particularly striking, as are the purple-blue uppersides of the males. The Centaur Oakblue is fond of resting in the shadier parts of the undergrowth when not in flight.

Life Cycle of The Common Mormon

The beautiful Common Mormon, Papilio polytes, is a common swallowtail butterfly in Singapore. It can be found in both wooded areas and urban gardens. A relatively large butterfly, the Common Mormon is often seen flying rapidly and erratically. However, the female form which mimics the Common Rose (Pachliopta aristolochiae) has a much slower, gliding flight in imitation of that of its model. Males and females of the non-mimetic forms are black with a creamy white band across the middle of the hindwing extending and tapering along the margin of the forewing. Females which mimic the Common Rose have a similar patterning of red and white except that their bodies are black instead of red. The caterpillars of the Common Mormon feed on Citrus as well as the Indian Curry Leaf Plant and adults are fond of Ixora blooms.

The egg of the Common Mormon is round, smooth and coloured a creamy yellow.

1st instar caterpillar, top right of picture. A later instar Lime Butterfly caterpillar is at the bottom left.

Second or third instar caterpillar on the left, older Lime caterpillar on the right. Young caterpillars of both species mimic bird droppings to escape predation.

Second last instar caterpillar of the Common Mormon.

Freshly molted final instar caterpillar. The caterpillar has lost its bird dropping camouflage in favour of a more snake-like guise.

Fully grown caterpillar. The caterpillars of both the Common Mormon and Lime butterfly look remarkably similar but there are subtle differences in their markings and colour upon closer inspection.

Chrysalis of the Common Mormon. This colour form of the pupa helps it blend in with drier surroundings.

Chrysalis just before the emergence of the butterfly. The butterfly's wings and body are visible through the pupal shell.

Freshly emerged adult. Female form which mimics the Common Rose.

The butterfly hangs upside-down to let its wings dry.

Upperside.

The butterfly spreading its wings and preparing for its maiden flight. Freshly eclosed females have a dusting of shimmering pale blue scales on the hindwing over the red areas near the abdomen.

Life Cycle of the Leopard

The Leopard, Phalanta phalantha phalantha, is quite a common butterfly in Singapore. It is often found in parks and gardens on sunny days where its host plant, the Weeping Willow(Salix), is planted. The Leopard is usually spotted flying around weeping willows and nectaring on lantana and ixora.

Young caterpillar. Note the numerous black branching spines.

Last instar caterpillar.

Pre-pupa. The caterpillar has taken the colour of the chrysalis.

The chrysalis. Coloured a beautiful pale green and edged with silver and shining red, it looks like an exquisite piece of jewellery. It can be surprisingly difficult to spot on the undersides of willow leaves where it is usually attached. The chrysalis becomes transparent to show the butterfly within just before its emergence.

Freshly hatched Leopard. The butterfly is coloured a rich orange brown above with many black spots and lines. The undersides of fresh specimens are particularly beautiful, shaded delicately with rosy purple.

Pieridae

Tree Yellow, Gandaca harina distanti. This butterfly can sometimes be confused with the grass yellows. However, the shade of its yellow is slightly different from the Eurema yellow. Its style of flight is also different. The Tree Yellow is found in forests and is often seen drinking from the ground.


Lemon Emigrant, Catopsilia pomona pomona. This common butterfly can be found in urban areas feeding on bouganvillea and ixora blooms. It has a very rapid and robust flight and is prominent in flight with its beautifully bright greenish-lemon yellow wings.

Eupanacra elegantulus Life History

The life history of the hawkmoth Eupanacra elegantulus. This hawkmoth is quite commonly found in urban gardens. The caterpillar host plants appear to be species from the aroid family like varieties of Dieffenbachia, Syngonium and Monstera deliciosa which are all commonly cultivated in Singapore gardens.

Very young Eupanacra elegantulus caterpillars on the underside of a leaf from their host plant. The caterpillars probably stay on the underside of the leaves to boost their chances of escaping predation.



A second-instar caterpillar.


The young caterpillars are slender, pale green with a straight pale pink spine at the end of their bodies.They have poorly developed false eyespots at this stage. They feed while on the underside of leaves to conceal themselves from predators. When they are not feeding the caterpillars rest near the base of the stems of the hostplant, blending in well as can be seen above.


A freshly molted last instar caterpillar. the straight spine has been replaced with a shorter hook. The false eyespots are now prominent and there are scale-like markings on the head, possibly to imitate a snake to fool potential predators.


There are both green and brown forms of the final instar caterpillars.


The caterpillars feed voraciously and grow rapidly. And they become really fat.


Pre-pupae. The caterpillar usually spins a loose cocoon of silk, including some debris for added protection.


Final molt to become a pupa.


Fresh pupa. It looks rather like a giant maggot. It soon darkens to brown.


Pupae. The pupae are quite mobile and are invariably curved at the end.


Freshly emerged moth. Eupanacra elegantulus is not brightly coloured but nonetheless is intricately marked in lovely shades of brown.


Upperside


Underside. The underside is quite beautiful, particularly the shimmering coppery scales adorning the sides of the body.

Leopard Lacewing

Life stages of the Leopard Lacewing, Cethosia cyane. The Leopard Lacewing has only been recently established in Singapore and has become one of the commoner lacewing butterflies here. The foodplant is Passiflora foetida.



The caterpillar is marked with alternate bands of a beautiful wine red and creamy yellow. Many long, black spines run down the entire length of its body. The caterpillars have been observed feeding in small groups.


Pre-pupa



The cryptically coloured and shaped chrysalis. There are two pairs of shining gold spots on the pupa's dorsal surface, probably to convey the impression of holes in a decaying leaf.


Freshly emerged butterfly. The Leopard Lacewing is strikingly marked with orange, black, white and red both on the uppersides and undersides. It flutters around relatively slowly, possibly to exhibit its bright colours to warn would-be predators of its unpalatable nature.

Lime Butterfly, revisited

A female Lime Butterfly, Papilio demoleus, perched on a plant in my garden. The Lime Butterfly, after all these years, still occupies a very warm spot in my lepidoptera universe. It still manages to induce a sort of warm glow in me whenever I see it fluttering among lime plants or feeding on Ixora.