Limenitis arthemis astyanax: Red-spotted purple butterfly

Limenitis arthemis

The white admiral or red-spotted purple [Limenitis arthemis] is a polytypic species of North American brush-footed butterfly, common throughout much of the eastern United States. Limenitis arthemis astyanax has red spots on its underside and the top of the wings are notable for their iridescent blue markings. Limenitis arthemis arthemis on the other hand has a large white band traversing both the forewings and hindwings.

The red-spotted purple is a mimic of the poisonous Pipevine Swallowtail [Battus philenor] and is typically found in open woodlands and along forest edges.

Four subspecies of the butterfly are known:

Limenitis arthemis arthemis – [American] white admiral

Limenitis arthemis rubrofasciata – western [American] white admiral, characterised by the absence of blue spots on its inferior wings

Limenitis arthemis astyanax – red-spotted purple or red-spotted admiral, no white bands on wings

Limenitis arthemis arizonensis – Arizona red-spotted purple, it has no white bands on wings

Photos: Chamblee, GA, USA [20150911]

Source: Wikipedia

Speyeria cybele: Great spangled fritillary butterfly

The great spangled fritillary [Speyeria Cybele] is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family.

Its wingspan ranges from 62 to 88 mm [2.4 to 3.5 in]. It is characterized by its orange color above with five black dashes near fore wing base and several irregular black dashes at the base of the hind wing.

Photos: Brevard, NC, USA [20150828]

Source: Wikipedia

Anas rubripes: American black duck

The American black duck [Anas rubripes] is a large dabbling duck. American black ducks are similar to mallards in size, and resemble the female mallard in coloration, although the black duck’s plumage is darker. It is native to eastern North America and has shown reduction in numbers and increasing hybridization with the more common mallard as that species has spread with man-made habitat changes.

The American black duck somewhat resembles the female mallard in coloration, although the black duck’s plumage is darker. The male and female black duck are generally similar in appearance, but the male’s bill is yellow while the female’s is a dull green. The head is slightly lighter brown than the dark brown body, and the speculum are iridescent violet-blue with predominantly black margins. The black duck has orange legs and dark eyes. In flight, the white underwings can be seen in contrast to the dark brown body. The behavior and voice are the same as for the mallard drake.

Photo: Dunwoody, Georgia, USA [20150730]

Source: Wikipedia

Notocrypta paralysos varians: Banded Demon Butterfly

Notocrypta paralysos, commonly known as the Common Banded Demon, is a butterfly belonging to the family Hesperiidae.

Family: Hesperiidae

Subfamily: Hesperiinae

Genus: Notocrypta

Species: paralysos

Subspecies: varians

Common Name: Banded Demon

Extant in countries: Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand

Hostplants: Costus lucanusianus [African Spiral Flag]

The Banded Demon is a small swift-flying skipper and is relatively rare in Singapore. The wings are dark brown/black with a white discal band on the forewings.

Photo: Singapore Zoo, 20140630

Source: Wikipedia, www.butterflycircle.com 

Lyssa zampa: Tropical swallowtail moth

Lyssa zampa, which is also known as the tropical swallowtail moth is a species of moth of the family Uraniidae. It can be found from Himalaya to Borneo and the Malay Peninsula.

The moth has a wingspan of 100–160 mm. The moth is most abundant from June to November depending on the location.

The larvae feed on Endospermum and other members of the rubber tree family [Euphorbiaceae].

Photos: Singapore [20140524]

Source: Wikipedia

Helarctos malayanus : Sun bear

The sun bear [Helarctos malayanus] is a bear found in tropical forest habitats of Southeast Asia. It is classified as Vulnerable by IUCN as the large-scale deforestation that has occurred throughout Southeast Asia.  Malayan sun bear is also known as the “honey bear”, which refers to its voracious appetite for honeycombs and honey. The sun bear is the smallest of the bears.

The sun bear’s fur is jet-black, short and sleek with some under wool. There are two whirls on the shoulders, from where the hair radiates in all directions. There is a crest on the sides of the neck and a whorl in the centre of the breast patch. There is always a more or less crescent-shaped pale patch on the breast that varies individually in color ranging from buff, cream or dirty white to ochre. The ears are small and rounded, broad at the base and capable of very little movement. The front legs are somewhat bowed with the paws turned inwards, and the claws are cream.

Photo: Taman Safari, Bogor, West Java, Indonesia [20130423]

Source: Wikipedia

Papilio ambrax: Ambrax Butterfly

The Ambrax Butterfly [Papilio ambrax] is a butterfly of the Papilionidae family. It is found in Queensland, Australia, as well as the Aru Islands, Papua [Indonesia] and Papua New Guinea.

The wingspan is 90–100 mm.

Photos: Sentosa Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom, Singapore [20130404]

Source: Wikipedia

Osteoglossum ferreirai: Black arowana

The black arowana, Osteoglossum ferreirai, is a freshwater bony fish of the family Osteoglossidae, commonly kept in aquaria. Its natural habitat are the still waters of the Negro River basin [Brazil and Colombia] and the upper Essequibo River basin [Guyana] in South America.

It has a long body and a tapered tail and can grow to a maximum size of 90 centimetres [35 in]. The species is also called water monkey or the monkey fish, because it can literally jump out of the water and capture its prey. It usually swims near the water surface awaiting for potential prey. Although it has been known to eat larger prey like small bats and birds and even small monkeys, their main diets consist of shrimps, insects, smaller fishes and other animals that float on the water surface, on which its draw-bridge-like mouth is exclusively adapted for feeding.

  

Arowana daily token feeding is at 11.30 am by the Free-Ranging Orang Utan Island, Singapore Zoo. A keeper will put a fish on a stick about 1 meter above the water surface and several Arowana will jump to get the treat. Amazing to watch how they can jump out of water to “catch their prey”.

Photos: Singapore Zoo, Singapore, 20130320

Source:  Wikipedia

Papilio demoleus malayanus: Lime Butterfly

 

^ Plant: Sweet basil [Ocimum basilicum].

Papilio demoleus malayanus has many common names including Common Lime Butterfly, Lemon Butterfly, Lime Swallowtail, Small Citrus Butterfly, Chequered Swallowtail, Dingy Swallowtail, Citrus Swallowtail.

Papilio demoleus malayanus is a common and widespread butterfly in Singapore. It gets its common names from its host plants, which are citrus species:  Citrus aurantifolia [Key Lime], Citrus grandis [Pomelo]. Unlike most swallowtail butterflies, it does not have a prominent tail.

Photos: Oh Farms & Butterfly Garden, HortPark, Singapore, 20130126

Source: Wikipedia

Pinus thunbergii: Thunderhead Pine

Pinus thunbergii [Syn: Pinus thunbergiana, Thunderhead Pine, Japanese Black Pine, Japanese Pine, Black Pine] is a pine native to coastal areas of Japan (Kyūshū, Shikoku and Honshū, but not Hokkaidō) and South Korea.

Japanese Black Pine can reach the height of 40 m, but rarely achieves this size outside its natural range.

Photos: WNC Farmers Market, Asheville, North Carolina, 20121014
Source: Wikipedia