Koh Chang Invertebrate Species

Cabbage White (Pieris brassicae)

Image Copyright Michael Erik Maria Finder

Last Observed: July 2016 – Koh Chang
Last Observed By: Michael Erik Maria Finder

Pieris brassicae, the large white, also called cabbage butterfly, cabbage white, cabbage moth (erroneously), or in India the large cabbage white, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is a close relative to the small white, Pieris rapae.

The large white is common throughout Europe, North Africa, Asia even through the Himalayas.

The Pieridae have the radial vein on the forewing with three or four branches and rarely with five branches. The forelegs are well developed in both sexes, unlike in the Nymphalidae, and the tarsal claws are bifid, unlike in the Papilionidae.[3]

Like the Papilionidae, the Pieridae also have their pupae held at an angle by a silk girdle, but running at the first abdominal segment, unlike the thoracic girdle seen in the Papilionidae.

Cabbage White Wikipedia

Parotis Marginata

Image Copyright Napha Kotkangplu

Last Observed: March 2016 – Koh Chang
Last Observed By: Napha Kotkangplu

Parotis marginata is a species of moth of the Crambidae family. It is known from south-east Asia, including India, Bangladesh and China, as well as Fiji, Japan and Australia, where it is known from the Northern Territory and Queensland.

The wingspan is about 30 mm. They are a deep green, with a crenulated brown line around the edges of each wing.

The larvae feed on Alstonia scholaris, Gardenia jasminoides. Young larvae feed on the flesh of the leaves leaving a skeleton of veins. Later instars have been found feeding on the bark. They are pale green with several raised black lumps on each segment, and a pale brown head. They live in a shelter created from curled or joined leaves held with silk. Pupation takes place in this shelter.

Parotis Marginata Wikipedia

Common Wanderer (Pareronia valeria)

Image Copyright Michael Erik Maria Finder

Last Observed: July 2016 – Koh Chang
Last Observed By: Michael Erik Maria Finder

The Common Wanderer or Malayan Wanderer (Pareronia valeria) is a medium-sized butterfly of the family Pieridae, that is, the Yellows and Whites, and is found in India and Southeast Asia. The butterfly found in India is sometimes considered as a separate species, Pareronia hippia.

Male upperside: ground colour a clear pale blue of a much deeper tint than in P. avatar, Moore; all the veins defined with black. Forewing: costa broadly, apex and terminal margin very broadly black, this black on the termen narrowed towards the tornus, and traversed by a transverse subterminal series of bluish-white spots that are variable in number; the spot in interspace 3 shifted inwards; sometimes the posterior two spots of the series are all but joined onto the streaks of the ground colour between the veins. Hindwing: dorsal and costal margins broadly whitish: terminal margin broadly black, especially at apex, the black area covered, except at the tornus, with specialised opaque-looking scales. Underside: paler blue, the terminal margins of the wings obscurely fuscous, traversed by a subterminal, very indistinct, transverse series of whitish lunulated spots. Forewing: the veins more or less broadly bordered with black, this edging broadened towards the termen; apex broadly, terminal margin decreasingly to the tornus, suffused with a somewhat obscure pearly-while lustre. Hindwing: the subcostal vein and veins 6, 7, and 8 broadly, the rest of the veins very narrowly edged with black; a very fine black line in interspace 1. Cilia of both forewings and hindwings very narrow and white. Antennae black, head, thorax and abdomen fuscous, the thorax clothed with long bluish hairs; beneath: the palpi, thorax and abdomen pale silvery bluish-white.

Female:

First Form. Upper-side: black; the markings bluish white. Forewing: cell with two streaks, the anterior one from the extreme base, the posterior one from the end of the basal third, but extending beyond tho anterior streak; below and beyond the cell is a series of streaks in the interspaces; tho streaks very irregular in length, that in interspace 1 the longest, angulated anteriorly and divided longitudinally from near its base, the streak in interspace 3 short and broad forming an elongate spot, those in the anterior interspaces more or less obliquely placed; beyond these streaks follows a subterminal transverse series of spots, of which the spot in interspace 3 is shifted inwards and those opposite the apex curved backwards. Hindwing: costa and dorsum broadly white; cell and the interspaces beyond with a series of streaks and sub-terminal spots, more or less as in the forewing but more regular; the streak in cell and interspace 1 divided longitudinally, the subterminal series of spots evenly curved. Underside: similar to the upperside, but the ground colour dull, dusky and diffuse, the markings broader but less clearly defined; the apical area on the forewing obscured by a powdering of whitish scales. Antenna, head, thorax and abdomen much as in the male but darker. Second Form. Very like the first, the markings both on the upper and under sides similar, but the ground colour on the upperside of the hindwing at base of interspace 1 a, over the whole of interspace 1, area of cell and at base of interspace 2 suffused with bright yellow. On the underside the same areas are dull ochraceous. The extent of the bright yellow colour on the upper-side and of the dull ochraceous tint on the underside is variable, in some specimens more restricted, in others it spreads further towards the costa. The common form of female mimics glassy tiger to avoid predation. The philomela form is rare and identified by yellow coloration at the base of the wings. this form is reported more in North-East India.[3] According to Wynter-Blyth this form mimics Danais aspasia, which is not found west of Myanmar. He rejects the assumption that the wagtail carries the eggs of D. aspasia to India. It seems that in bygone era the D. aspasia might have been found in India in the past along with the Common Wanderer and later eliminated.

Common Wanderer Wikipedia

Glassy Tiger (Parantica aglea)

Image Copyright Michael Erik Maria Finder

Last Observed: July 2016 – Koh Chang
Last Observed By: Michael Erik Maria Finder

Two subspecies are recognized but neither form is constant either in markings or in habitat. In the British Museum collection there are specimens of true Parantica aglea aglea from Burma, and others, inseparable from typical Parantica aglea melanoides, from Mysore.
Subspecies Parantica aglea aglea

Ground-colour fuliginous black with subhyaline bluish-white streaks and spots. Fore wing: vein 11 anastomosed with vein 12.
Subspecies Parantica aglea aglea in Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary

Upperside: fore wing—interspace 1 with two comparatively long, broad streaks united at base, truncate exteriorly; cell with a very broad, somewhat clavate streak traversed by two fine black lines; basal spots in interspaces 2 and 3; an irregular discal series of three spots and two elongate streaks and a subterminal series of spots, the two series curved inwards opposite apex of wing, the latter continued along the apical half of the costa; finally a terminal row in pairs in the interspaces, of much smaller spots; Hind wing: interspaces la, lb with broad long streaks from base; interspace 1 and cell with two streaks united at base in each, the pair in the cell with a short streak obliquely between their apices, an outwardly radiating series of broad, elongate, inwardly pointed spots in interspaces 2-8, followed by somewhat irregular rows of subterminal and terminal spots. Underside similar, the markings and spots sometimes a little ill-defined and blurred.

Antennae black; head and thorax black spotted with white; abdomen blackish brown, ochraceous beneath. Male secondary sex-mark in form ]
Subspecies Parantica aglea melanoides
Subspecies Parantica aglea melanoides on Indian Turnsole Heliotropium indicum at Jayanti in Buxa Tiger Reserve in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal, India.

Northern and Eastern form. Differs as follows:— Wings on the whole longer and narrower; hyaline markings, especially in interspace 1 of fore wing and in cells of both fore and hind wing, very much broader. In many specimens the black ground-colour in these spaces is reduced to a mere slender black line enclosed in the subhyaline marking. On the underside the streaks are often much blurred and diffuse.

Expanse: 70–100 mm.

Glassy Tiger Wikipedia

Common Rose (Mocis undata)

Image Copyright Paul Dunn

Last Observed: May 2016 – Koh Chang
Last Observed By: Paul Dunn

Pachliopta aristolochiae, the common rose, is a swallowtail butterfly belonging to the Pachliopta genus, the roses, or red-bodied swallowtails. It is a common butterfly which is extensively distributed across South and Southeast Asia.

It is widely distributed in Asia including Afghanistan, Pakistan, India (including the Andaman Islands), Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Japan (south-western Okinawa only), Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Nicobar Islands, peninsular and eastern Malaysia, Brunei, Philippines (Palawan and Leyte), Indonesia, Bangladesh and Taiwan.

In China, it is distributed in southern and eastern China (including Hainan, Guangdong province) and Hong Kong. In Indonesia, it is distributed in Sumatra, Nias, Enggano, Bangka, Java, Bali, Kangean, Lombok, Sumbawa, Sumba, Flores, Tanahjampea, and Kalimantan. It is also recorded from Pune.

Common Rose Wikipedia

Brown-Striped Semilooper (Mocis undata)

Image Copyright Hans Henrik Hansen

Last Observed: July 2016 – Koh Chang
Last Observed By: Hans Henrik Hansen

The Brown-striped semilooper, (Mocis undata), is a species of moth of the Erebidae family. It is found in the Afrotropical and Oriental Regions, including India and Sri Lanka.

Male with mid and hind tibia clothed with long hair. Body pale red-brown. Abdomen pale fuscous, the anal tuft ochreous. Fore wing with a short sub-basal red-brown line. An oblique antemedial pale of ochreous line present, with diffused red-brown band on its outer edge. A sinuous medial line angled on median nervure. Reniform large and indistinct. A red-brown diffused postmedial band, on which is a dark line slightly curved outwards beyond the cell, and at vein 2, it is very irregularly curved inwards to lower angle of cell, then descending to inner margin. An indistinct pale waved sub-marginal line present with a black specks series on it. There is a dark waved marginal line. Hind wings ochreous fuscous, with narrow fuscous medial band and diffused sub-marginal band. Legs rufous.[2]

Larva purplish brown speckled with black. The lateral area yellowish with red lines. A sub-lateral row of small black dots present. Head brownish with red lateral streak. Pupa efflorescent. The larvae feed on Cytisus, Desmodium, Wisteria, Arachis, Butea, Cajanus, Calopogonium, Crotalaria, Derris, Glycine, Indigofera, Mucuna, Phaseolus, Pueraria, Rhynchosia, Tephrosia, Vigna, Shorea, Hevea, Gossypium, Nephelium and Solanum species

Brown-Striped Semilooper Wikipedia

Malaysian Blue Clipper (potanthus pava)

Image: David Vinot

Last Observed: February 2016 – Koh Chang
Last Observed By: David Vinot

The Clipper (Parthenos sylvia) is a species of nymphalid butterfly found in South and South-East Asia, mostly in forested areas. The Clipper is a fast flying butterfly and has a habit of flying with its wings flapping stiffly between the horizontal position and a few degrees below the horizontal. It may glide between spurts of flapping.
Male and female. Upperside : ground-colour a bright purple, the subhyaline white spots near the apex of cell in the fore wing more opaque, the broad discal band of large white spots proportionately more basal further from the termen and very irregular, the spots, especially towards the hinder part of the wing, more widely separated, the spot in interspace 5 more acutely triangular and smaller, the two spots above shifted obliquely inwards towards the costa, making the outer margin of the discal band angulate at interspaces 5 and 6. Hind wing: the postdiscal and sub-terminal markings broader and more diffuse than in P. gambrisius, giving a dark shade to the whole of the apical half of the wing.

Underside pale greenish grey. Fore wing: the spots and markings except the basal black streaks as on the upperside, the groundcolour fading to an ashy grey towards the terminal margin. Hind wing similar to the underside of hind wing of P. gambrisius, but the discal transverse sinuous black line very broken and incomplete, the postdiscal, subterminal and terminal black markings somewhat better denned. Antennae black; head, thorax and abdomen bronze green, barred with black above ; beneath whitish

Malaysian Blue Clipper Wikipedia

Pava Dart (potanthus pava)

Image Copyright Michael Erik Maria Finder

Last Observed: April 2016 – Koh Chang
Last Observed By: Michael Erik Maria Finder

Potanthus pava, commonly known as the Pava dart, is a butterfly belonging to the family Hesperiidae. It is found from southern India to central China, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Pava Dart Wikipedia

Lemon Pansy (Junonia lemonias)

Image Copyright Michael Erik Maria Finder

Last Observed: April 2016 – Koh Chang
Last Observed By: Michael Erik Maria Finder

Junonia lemonias, the lemon pansy, is a common nymphalid butterfly found in South Asia. It is found in gardens, fallow land, and open wooded areas.

It is brown with numerous eye-spots as well as black and lemon-yellow spots and lines on the upperside of the wings. The underside is a dull brown, with a number of wavy lines and spots in varying shades of brown and black. There is also an eyespot on the lower side of the forewing. The wet and dry season forms differ considerably in coloration and even shape. In the wet season form the markings are distinct and vivid and the wing shape is a little more rounded. In the dry season form the markings are obscure and pale especially on the underside and the wing margin is more angular and jagged. This helps it camouflage in the dried leaf-litter. The lemon pansy is a very active butterfly and can be seen basking with its wings open facing the sun. It sits very low to the ground and can be approached easily. It feeds with its wings half open. It is a fairly strong flier and flies close to the ground with rapid wingbeats and often returns to settle back in the same spots.

Lemon Pansy Wikipedia

Yellow Orange Tip (Ixius pyrene)

Image Copyright Michael Eric Maria Finder

Last Observed: April 2016 – Koh Chang
Last Observed By: Michael Erik Maria Finder

The species wingspan is between 50 and 55 mm.

Dry-season brood: Male upperside: deep sulphur-yellow. Forewing: base and basal half of costa thickly irrorated with black scales; apical half of the wing black, with an enclosed, large, irregularly triangular, orange-coloured patch, the apex of which is more or less broadly rounded and blunt; the orange colour extends into the apex of the cell but is interrupted there by a black discocellular spot that spreads diffusely inwards and joins the black oblique bar which forms the base of the orange patch; veins that traverse this latter, black. Hindwing: uniform with a little black scaling at extreme base; termen with a dusky-black somewhat narrow border (sometimes entirely absent) which decreases in width posteriorly.

Underside: a darker yellow, sparsely irrorated (sprinkled) with fusco-ferruginous short strigae and minute spots. Forewing: base and posterior area broadly, with a whitish pale virescent (greenish) tint; the strigae and minute spots most numerous towards the apex and along the termen; interspaces 4, 5, 6 and 8 with a curved sub-apical series of small, rounded, dull ferruginous spots and a similar spot on the discocellulars. Hindwing also with a ferruginous spot on the discocellulars, followed by a postdiscal series of similar spots in interspaces 3 to 8, all or most of them centred with white; the spots in interspaces 5, 6 and 8 the largest, those in 5 and 6 often coalescent. Antennae and thorax anteriorly dull ferruginous, thorax posteriorly and abdomen above fuscous black; head, thorax and abdomen beneath yellow.
IxiasPyreneSeitz.jpg
Dry-season brood, female at Hodal in Faridabad district of Haryana, India

Female upperside: white faintly tinged with yellow. Forewing: apical half black, with an enclosed, irregular, broad, oblique patch of the ground colour that extends into the upper apex of the cell, on the inner side of this the black is reduced to a short oblique bar broadened at the lower apex of the cell, from whence it is continued as a somewhat slender diffuse oblique streak to the tornus, where it broadens again abruptly and meets the black on the termen; the outer margin of the oblique white patch is irregularly crenulate, sometimes trisinuate; the black colour on the apex often forms a right angle on vein 4; on the white patch posteriorly there is a black spot in interspace 2 and another in interspace 3. Hindwing: uniform, a few subobsolete slender, fuscous, transverse strigae posteriorly; the terminal margin sometimes with (more often without) a narrow dusky black edging, broadened anteriorly at the apices of the veins.

Underside: similar to that in the male, with similar markings, the ground colour a dark dull ochraceous, the fusco-ferruginous strigae more numerous. Antennae, head, thorax and abdomen as in the male.[1]
Wet-season form in Hyderabad, India

Wet-season brood: Upperside in both male and female differs in the broader, more pronounced, black terminal edging to the hindwing, which is often remarkably broad, and in the female by the ground colour which is pale yellow. Underside: the fusco-ferruginous strigae and spots often subobsolete, occasionally entirely absent in the male.

Yellow Orange Tip Wikipedia