31. Parthenos sylvia gambrisius (The Clipper)

Number: 31

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Limenitidiinae

Species: Parthenos sylvia gambrisius (Fabricius, 1787)

Common name(s): The Clipper

Photography location: Ba Vi foothills (Hanoi),  Hanoi City

Three species of Parthenos (“Clippers”) are currently known viz. sylvia, tigrina and aspila. The first one is a wide-ranging species (from India to New Guinea, southern China) whereas the two last ones are only recorded from Papua New Guinea.

Parthenos sylvia is a fast flying butterfly. The flight is characteristic: it consists of short periods of gliding, alternating every few seconds with shallow but rapid flickering wing beats. Both sexes commonly nectar at Lantana and other flowers. Males will also settle on the ground to imbibe moisture.

Parthenos sylvia, dowtown Hanoi, January 2014 - certainly a vagrant/migrant

 Parthenos sylvia, Ba Vi foothills (December 2016)