At Tampines Eco Green

Although the sky was overcast and there were intermittent drizzles, many butterflies were visible, as were other invertebrates and birds. Below are some shots of the critters I encountered.

First up, a Mottled Emigrant (Catopsilia pyranthe) caterpillar on its host plant, Senna alata, also known as Seven Golden Candlesticks. There were caterpillars of various instars on the plant, although I did not notice and adult Mottled Emigrants.

A hapless Lesser Grass Blue (Zizina otis lampa) impaled on the fangs of a crab spider

A garishly coloured and undoubtedly toxic White-Marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma) caterpillar lying in full view and enjoying a late lunch

A Ciliate Blue (Anthene emolus goberus) feeding on Leea rubra blooms. It appeared very contented and quite lethargic.

A Bush Hopper (Ampittia dioscorides camertes) basking on a leaf. These are small butterflies which 'skip' around amongst tall blades of grass.

More Bush Hoppers

Another Bush Hopper

The underside of the Bush Hopper

Most likely a Yellow Grass Dart (Taractrocera archias quinta). No hook at the end of the antennae unlike the Lesser Dart.

A Tawny Coster (Acraea violae) feeling on the blooms of Mikania micrantha. Lots of these butterflies fluttering around  the park.

The undoubted highlight of the trip, the Long-banded Silverline (Spindasis lohita senama). This particular individual was looked remarkably pristine. The underside of the Long-banded Silverline is strikingly and quite whimsically marked. There were a few of these butterflies around a particular Leea rubra bush, and they kept returning to their favourite perches.

Long-banded Silverline

Long-banded Silverline

A more fortunate Lesser Grass Blue (Zizina otis lampa) perched on a blade of grass.

Common Grass Yellow

The very common Common Grass Yellow (Eurema hecabe contubernalis). Its commonness takes nothing away from its charm; this cheerful little creature almost perfectly embodies the word 'butterfly'. There can be few pleasanter sights than one or a few of these butterflies fluttering amongst colourful blooms in bright sunlight.

Another Eupanacra elegantulus caterpillar

The green form of the caterpillar of the Eupanacra elegantulus hawkmoth on Monstera deliciosa. Spectacularly big (4 inches long), spectacularly beautiful and surprisingly hard to spot.

Eupanacra elegantulus caterpillar

A few shots of a beautiful, full-grown caterpillar of the hawkmoth Eupanacra elegantulus, found on Monstera deliciosa. The first four photos show the caterpillar assuming a threat posture mimicking a snake to ward off would-be predators. The final photo is a close up of the caterpillar's thorax with its startling eyespots.

Common Palmfly (Elymnias hypermnestra)

A Common Palmfly, Elymnias hypermnestra, feeding on a torch ginger flower. At the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Another Common Palmfly resting on foliage in shade. The Common Palmfly, perhaps unusually for a butterfly, prefers to fly in shaded areas.

Another individual resting on an aerial tree root.

Pale Grass Blue (Zizeeria maha serica)

Pale Grass Blue, Zizeeria maha serica. The Pale Grass Blue is a member of the Lycaenidae butterfly family and sports a typical lycaenid colouration and pattern. The upperside of the male, as seen in this individual, is a pale blue with broad black-blue borders. The underside is a silvery grey with a pattern of black spots concentrated on the outer margins of the wings. The Pale Grass Blue can be found in grassy areas where it flutters near to the ground and amongst low-growing flowering plants.

Life Cycle of the Blue Glassy Tiger (Ideopsis vulgaris macrina)

The Blue Glassy Tiger, Ideopsis vulgaris macrina, is a common butterfly in Singapore. Individuals can often be encountered fluttering languidly amongst flowering shrubs. Like other Danaids, the Blue Glassy Tiger is distasteful to potential predators because of toxins derived from plants the caterpillars and adults feed on.

The egg of the Blue Glassy Tiger is a pale yellow and slightly elongated and is usually attached to the underside of the leaves of its host plant.

The young caterpillar is similarly coloured as caterpillars of later instars. The caterpillars are smooth with two pairs of tubercles, one at either end of its body. The caterpillar is a dark reddish purple with a dense pattern of white spots. the head of the caterpillar is a shiny black and the tubercles are a pinkish red with black tips.

The caterpillars feed voraciously (like all other caterpillars haha) and grow rapidly.

The pupa is a beautiful bright green with a few black spots, as well as three highly reflective silver spots. These spots, with their possible resemblance to leaf holes or water droplets, probably help to camouflage the pupa. The pupa is usually suspended from the underside of a leaf of the host plant.

The adult Blue Glassy Tiger is a simply patterned but beautiful butterfly. On the upperside, the wings are a dark brown streaked and dotted with a lovely pale blue. The underside is similar but paler in colour. The butterflies are very fond of Heliotropium indicum.