Tuesday 8 September 2015

138. Notocrypta curvifascia curvifascia (The Restricted Demon)

Number: 138
Family: Hesperiidae
Sub-Family : Hesperiinae
Species: Notocrypta curvifascia curvifascia (Felder & Felder, 1862)
Common name(s): The Restricted Demon
Photography location: Tam Dao foothills (Vinh Phuc Prov.), Tam Đường District (Lai Chau Prov.)

The genus Notocrypta (the "Demons") comprises 13 species, among them 4 have been recorded in Vietnam: N. paralysos asawa, N. clavata theba, N. curvifascia curvifascia & N. feisthamelii alysos (Monastyrskii & Devyatkin, 2016). All are blackish brown species with an oblique white band and white spot(s) on FW.

Notocrypta curvifascia curvifascia, Tam Dao foothills (July 2016)
FW with subapical spots in spaces 6 to 8, and dots in spaces 3-5

Another specimen from Tam Dao (October 2016)

Same specimen
Note that the FW discal band not continued above the cell to the costal border (unlike N. feisthamelii)

N. curvifascia feeding on Crassocephalum rubens (Lai Chau Prov., January 2017) - more colourful than the individuals I usually see at Tam Dao

Thursday 3 September 2015

137. Rapala cf. rectivitta (The Shot Flash)

Number: 137
Family: Lycaeniidae
Sub-family:  Thecliinae
Species: Rapala cf. rectivitta
Common name(s): The Shot Flash
Photography location: Tam Dao foothills (Vinh Phuc Prov.)


The genus Rapala comprises of about 30 species, and 16 are recorded from Vietnam. 






Wednesday 2 September 2015

136. Ancistroides nigrita diocles (The Chocolate Demon)

Number: 136
Family: Hesperiidae
Sub-Family: Hesperiinae
Species: Ancistroides nigrita diocles (Moore, [1866])
Common name(s): The Chocolate Demon
Photography location: Tam Dao foothills (Vinh Phuc Prov.)

Ancistroides nigrita diocles is known from the North and Center of the country, A. nigrita maura from the South (Monastyrskii  & Devyatkin, 2016).


It is a relatively large skipper. On the upperside, the wings are dark brown and unmarked. On the underside, the wings are brown with marginal areas of both wings paler than the ground colour. The proboscis is particularly long compared to other skipper species.
More often found within the shade of the forest but will come to clearings and trails dappled with sunshine.  


135. Cirrochroa tyche (The Common Yeoman)

Number: 135
Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Heliconiinae
Species: Cirrochroa tyche (C. Felder & R. Felder, 1861)
Common name(s): The Common Yeoman
Photography location: Tam Dao foothills (Vinh Phuc Prov.)

Cirrochroa tyche puddling on wet soil

Underwing pattern