Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

OTHER NAMES: Cosmopolitan, Thistle Butterfly

Latin Etymology: Vanessa (from an Ancient Greek deity) cardui ("wild thistle" or "artichoke")

Adult Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) at Trevose Head, Cornwall - May 2012

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 50mm
UK Status: Least Concern / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

The Painted Lady is an unusual butterfly for the UK in that it is a long distance migrant, amazingly travelling to the Mediterranean and North Africa and back again.  It is a fairly attractive species, and tends to be widely if sparsely distributed, with some years being big influx years.  They are a very widely distributed species found on most continents.

 Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Vanessa
SUBSPECIES: N/A

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly common Summer migrant species

 - Seen in Geddington and Trevose Head

Further Notes: BirdGuides, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Chimney Sweeper (Odezia atrata)

OTHER NAMES: Chimney Sweeper Moth, Chimney Sweep

Latin Etymology: Odezia (?) atrata (?)

Adult Chimney Sweeper (subspecies O. a. atrata) at Geddington, Northants - June 2015

Featured Subspecies: O. a. atrata
Weight: ?  /  Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 23-27mm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A small distinctive species of moth that is day flying - particularly in bright sunshine - yet almost entirely black except for the fringes of it's forewings.  It inhabits grassy meadows, especially in chalky or limestone based areas. It has only a single generation per year flying in June and July.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera 
Family: Geometridae 
Genus: Odezia 
SUBSPECIES: O. a. atrata, O. a. meridionalis, O. a. pyrenaica

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly common resident

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus)

OTHER NAMES: Large Skipper Butterfly

Latin Etymology: Ochlodes (?) sylvanus ("woods")

Adult female Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus) at Geddington, Northants - July 2010

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Wingspan: 29-36mm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

As the name suggests, the largest of the species of skipper found in the UK.  It is differentiated from the Small and Essex Skippers by the slight patterning on the wings.  This species is currently extending it's range Northwards.  They often perch on prominant leaves in a sunny position at the edge of taller and shorter vegetation.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera 
Family: Hesperiidae 
Genus: Thymelicus 
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A widespread resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdGuides,  IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Wavy Maplet (Chersonesia rahria)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Chersonesia (?) rahria (?)

Adult Wavy Maplet (subspecies C. r. rahria) at Batu Caves, Malaysia - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Chersonesia rahria rahria
Wingspan: 30-40mm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The Wavy Maplet is a fairly small species of butterfly endemic to South East Asia.  It is a native of rainforest and specifically of the climbing fig species Ficus aurantiacea on which it lays it's eggs. These butterflies pick several favoured spots to rest in and will move between them, but doesn't move far from them.  As adults they do not take sustenance from flowers, and apparently feed on minerals taken from surfaces.

Related Species: 
Order: Lepidoptera 
Family: Nymphalidae 
Genus: Chersonesia
SUBSPECIES: C. r. rahria, C. r. tiomana, C. r. apicusta, C. r. sanna, C. r. celebensis, C. r. mangolina, C. r. banggaina

- Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - A common resident

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: One seen in Kuala Lumpur

Further Notes: BirdGuides, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Cycad Blue (Chilades pandava)

OTHER NAMES: Plains Cupid

Latin Etymology: Chilades (?) pandava (?)

Adult Cycad Blue (subspecies C. p. pandava) at Kuala Lumpur - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Chilades pandava pandava
Wingspan: 25-30mm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A small blue butterfly found in India and South-East Asia, it is one one of the few species of butterfly to breed on cycads.  It has subtle distinctive appearances for the broods from wet or dry seasons.  Seemingly a very robust species in terms of human disturbance, I found them in a heavily managed parkland in the centre of Kuala Lumpur.

Related Species: 
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Chilades
SUBSPECIES: C. p. pandava, C. p. vapanda, C. p. lanka

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - A fairly common resident

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: A several seen in Kuala Lumpur

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Common Mormon (Papilio polytes)

OTHER NAMES: Common Mormon Butterfly

Latin Etymology: Papilio ("butterfly") polytes (?)

Adult male and female Common Mornon (subspecies P. p. polytes) at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Papilio polytes polytes
Wingspan: 90-100mm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A large black coloured member of the Swallowtail family found throughout Southern Asia, the Common Mormon is a notable mimic of other species - specifically of the inedible species the Common Rose and Crimson Rose to prevent it's own predation.  It is a common species found in urban habitats.

Related Species: 
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Papilionidae
Genus: Papilio
SUBSPECIES: P. p. alcindor, P. p. alphenor, P. p. javanus, P. p. ledebouria, P. p. liujidongi, P. p. mandane, P. p. messius, P. p. nicanor, P. p. nikobarus, P. p. pasikrates, P. p. perversus, P. p. polycritos, P. p. polytes, P. p. romulus, P. p. sotira, P. p. steffi, P. p. stichioides, P. p. theseus, P. p. timorensis, P. p. tucanus, P. p. vigellius

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - Malay - ?

Common resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Seen regularly in Kuala Lumpur, though intermittently. 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Chocolate Pansy (Junonia hedonia)

OTHER NAMES: Brown Pansy, Chocolate Soldier

Latin Etymology: Junonia (?) hedonia (?)

Adult Chocolate Pansy (subspecies J. h. ida) at Genting Highlands, Malaysia - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Junonia hedonia ida
Wingspan: 60mm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The Chocolate Pansy is a widespread species found throughout much of Southern Asia and Australia, found in many habitats - their two main foodplants as larvae are members of the acanthus family that are common plants across the region.  They often bask on low to the ground plants.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera 
Family: Nymphalidae 
Genus: Junonia
SUBSPECIES: J. p. admiralitatis, J. h. apollonia, J. h. hedonia, J. h. hondai, J. h. ida, J. h. intermedia, J. h. iwasakii, J. h. kangeana, J. h. numana, J. h. parvipuncta, J. h. pseudiphita, J. h. seitzi, J. h. teurnia, J. h. thero, J. h. zelima

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - Malay - ?

A common resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Several seen at Genting Highlands

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto
.

Blue Pansy (Junonia orithya)

OTHER NAMES: Eyed Pansy, Blue Argus

Latin Etymology: Junonia ("peacock") orithya (name of a Princess from Greek Myth)

Adult Blue Pansy (subspecies J. o. wallacei) at Lower Pierce Reservoir, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Junonia orithya wallacei
Wingspan: 45-55mm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The Blue Pansy is a widespread species found across three continents - Australia, Africa and Asia. It has a very distinctive set of colours which should make identifying it easy, although it varies quite dramatically across the subspecies in terms of what the exact balance of the colours are.  It has a wide variety of food plants throughout it's range.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera 
Family: Nymphalidae 
Genus: Junonia
SUBSPECIES: J. o. albicincta, J. o. baweana, J. o. celebensis, J. o. eutychia, J. o. hainanensis, J. o. here, J. o. kontinentalis, J. o. kuehni, J. o. leucasia, J. o. madagascariensis, J. o. marcella, J. o. metion, J. o. mevaria, J. o. mingagara, J. o. minusculus, J. o. neopommerana, J. o. novaguineae, J. o. ocyale, J. o. orithya, J. o. orthosia, J. o. palea, J. o. patenas, J. o. saleyra, J. o. samatrana, J. o. swinhoei, J. o. wallacei

  - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - A widespread but local resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Several seen at Genting Highlands

SINGAPORE - A reasonably common resident.

 - SINGAPORE/CAMBODIA 2019 TRIP: Single individual at Lower Pierce Reservoir.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Cardinal (Argynnis pandora)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Argynnis (epithet of Aphrodite) pandora (after the mythological figure)

Adult Cardinal (subspecies A. p. pandora) at Patones, Spain - April 2015

Featured Subspecies: Argynnis pandora pandora
Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 64-80mm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

The Cardinal is a large fritillary found around the Mediterranean and Central Asia, and in Europe at least one of the larger butterfly species within its range.  It's larvae feeds on viola species, and it seemed to be reasonably numerous in the hilly region near Madrid we saw it in, though it rarely stopped long enough to take photos of it.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Argynnis
Subspecies: A. p. chrysobarylla, A. p. cyrenea, A. p. pasargades, A. p. wedekindi, A. p. pandora

- Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Pandora

Locally common resident.

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Several seen at Patones

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Garden Bumblebee (Bombus hortorum)

OTHER NAMES: Small Garden Bumblebee
Latin Etymology: Bombus ("buzzing") hortorum ("garden")

Adult Garden Bumblebee (subspecies B. h. hortorum) at Geddington, Northants - April 2018

Featured Subspecies: Bombus hortorum hortorum
Weight: ?  /  Length: 19-22mm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A common and widespread species of bumblebee found across the UK, it is identified by it's white tail, long face and yellow section that crosses from abdomen to thorax.  This is very similar to Bombus ruderatus, the Large Garden Bumblebee, and are apparently very difficult to separate in the field, but as this is the commoner species of the two, I have gone with this for now.  It is globally widely spread, covering Europe into Asia, with introduced populations in Florida and New Zealand. 

Related Species:
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Bombus
SUBSPECIES: B. h. hortorum, B. h. ivernicus, others?

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident.

 - Seen at Geddington.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Horsfield's Baron (Tanaecia iapis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Tanaecia ("praise worthy"?) iapis ("healer"?)

Adult female Horsfield's Baron (subspecies T. a. puseda) at Lower Pierce Reservoir, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Tanaecia iapis puseda
Weight: ?  /  Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 6.5cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A very highly sexually dimorphic species - the male is broadly two single blocks of colour - black and pale blue, while the female as seen in the picutre above is a subdued mottled arrangement of browns, oranged and creams somewhat resembling the colours of dead leaves.  The species is named for Thomas Horsfield, an American Naturalist who was friends with Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, noted founder of colonial Singapore.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae 
Genus: Tanaecia
SUBSPECIES: T. i. puseda, presumably more? 

 - Sighting Locations -

SINGAPORE - A fairly common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One seen around Lower Pierce Reservoir 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Lesser Grass Blue (Zizina otis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Zizina (?) otis (?)

Adult Lesser Grass Blue (Zizina otis - subspecies unknown) at Ang Mo Kio, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: unclear
Weight: ?  /  Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 1.8-2cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A tiny butterfly species that is the most common of the grass blue species in Singapore - it lacks the distinctive underwing markings of the other species, which are fairly faint in this species.  An intriguing case in some ways - although like all butterflies it flies, it rarely goes higher than a few centimetres off the ground, making it a far more subtle presence than most butterflies.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Zizina
SUBSPECIES: Z. o. annetta, Z. o. aruensis, Z. o. caduca, Z. o. indica, Z. o. kuli, Z. o. lampa, Z. o. lampra, Z. o. luculenta, Z. o. mangoensis, Z. o. oblongata, Z. o. oriens, Z. o. otis, Z. o. oxleyi, Z. o. parasangra, Z. o. riukuensis, Z. o. sangra, Z. o. soeriomataram, Z. o. tanagra

 - Sighting Locations -

SINGAPORE - Common resident

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Several seen at Ang Mo Kio

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Pale grass Blue (Pseudozizeeria maha)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Pseudozizeeria (?) maha (?)

Adult Pale Grass Blue (subspecies P. m. maha) at Bishan Park, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Pseudozizeeria maha maha
Weight: ?  /  Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 2-2.5cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The Pale Grass Blue is a recent arrival to Singapore; it was only first recorded there in 2001 and likely arrived with some human assistance, whether intentional or accidentally on some imported plants.  It seems to have found itself a good environment as it is now considered a fairly common species - given that I mostly saw is fluttering around close cut grass in parkland, a niche in ample supply in Singapore, it's probably there to stay for the forseeable future.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Psuedozizeeria
SUBSPECIES: P. m. maha, P. m. ossa, P. m. okinawana, P. m. diluta, P. m. saishutonis, P. m. argia

 - Sighting Locations -

SINGAPORE - Common resident

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Several seen at Bishan Park

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Common Cicada (Purana usnani)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Purana (?) usnani (?)

Adult male Common Cicada (Purana usnani) at Sungei Buloh, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: ?  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

Cicadas have been a species that I've heard many times before in at least 7 countries, but despite being fairly large insects they are very good at not being seen, even on relatively close inspection. They are mostly distinctive for their sound, which is in many places is THE defining audio experience of the countryside.  However, the online resources for identifying cicadas are no way near as robust as for groups like butterflies and dragonflies, so this ID is a bit more tentative than usual.  I believe this to be the species Purana usnani, but Purana nebullilinae and Purana Tigrina are similar looking and potentially found in the same place.

Related Species:
Order: Hemiptera
Family: Cicadidae
Genus: Purana
SUBSPECIES: unknown

 - Sighting Locations -

SINGAPORE - A common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One seen at Sungei Buloh, many cicadas heard throughout at other locations may have been this.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Green Marsh Hawk (Orthetrum sabina)

OTHER NAMES: Slender Skimmer, Variegated Green Skimmer
Latin Etymology: Orthetrum ("straight tool") sabina (after a group of women from Roman myth)

Mating pair of Green Marsh Hawk (Orthetrum sabina) at Sungei Buloh, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /    Length: 3.5cm  /  Wingspan: 6-8.5cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

I must admit, by dragonfly standards the green marsh hawk is certainly on the subtler end - it has an almost damselfly like patternation, but with green replacing the blue, and a good deal larger than those species.  My single encounter of this species was at a shallow pool near the entrance of Sungei Buloh, where this pair had their attention on other things.

Related Species:
Order: Odonata
Family: Libellulidae
Genus: Orthetrum
SUBSPECIES: unclear?

 - Sighting Locations -

SINGAPORE - A fairly common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP:Two at Sungei Buloh

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Ditch Jewel (Brachythemis contaminata)

OTHER NAMES: Asian Groundling, Asian Amberwing
Latin Etymology: Brachythemis ("short divine law") contaminata ("contaminated")

Adult male Ditch Jewel (Brachythemis contaminata) at Prek Toal, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: 2.1cm  /  Wingspan: 4.6cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A common species of dragonfly found throughout South-East Asia, it was by far the most abundant species we saw at Prek Toal, with large numbers of individuals particularly around the viewing platform, though unfortunately none were willing to stop still long enough to take a good clear photo of.

Related Species:
Order: Odonata
Family: Libellulidae
Genus: Brachythemis
SUBSPECIES: unclear?

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ?
A common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Common at Prek Toal

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Blue Riverdamsel (Pseudagrion microcephalum)

OTHER NAMES: Blue Sprite, Blue Grass Dart
Latin Etymology: Pseudagrion (?) microcephalum ("small head")

Adult male Blue Riverdamsel (Pseudagrion microcephalum) at Lower Pierce Reservoir, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Unknown
Weight: ?  /  Length: 3.8cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

By European standards, a fairly typical damselfly, but in this instance it's a widely distributed species found in a huge roughly triangular range between Australia, China and India.  It is a member of Pseudagrion, one of the largest genuses of damselfly in the world, although one I had not specifically encountered before.

Related Species:
Order: Odonata
Family: Coenagrionidae
Genus: Pseudagrion
SUBSPECIES: P. m. stainbergerorum, P. m. microcephalum, others?

 - Sighting Locations -

SINGAPORE - A fairly common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One seen around Lower Pierce Reservoir

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .