133. Prioneris thestylis thestylis (The Spotted Sawtooth)

Number: 133

Family: Pieriidae
Sub-Family: Pieriinae

Species: Prioneris thestylis thestylis (Doubleday, 1842)

Common name(s): The Spotted Sawtooth

Photography location: Tam Dao foothills (Vinh Phuc Prov.)

Male bears serrate edge at the upper margins of FW where its common name comes from.  UnH of female is much yellow than in the male. All individuals photographed below are males.

The genus Prioneris comprises 6 species, all occuring in the Oriental region. Two are recorded in Vietnam - thestylis and philonome. Both are common species throughout the country. They are found in forested areas, often puddling with other Pierids and Papilionids.

Male Prioneris thestylis

Male Prioneris thestylis showing its white upperwings with black margins that contain white post-cellular spots - female is darker with a broad yellow patch at HW just bellow the cell
Male bears serrate edge at costa of FW where its common english name comes from

Males Prioneris thestylis and Prioneris philonome (Red-spotted Sawtooth - top left) side by side
Other species included Cyrestis thyodamas (Common Map), Graphium doson (Common Jay), Appias lyncida (Chocolate Albatross), Ixias pyrene (Yellow Orange Tip)

Puddle party with males P. thestylis, Catopsila pomona pomona f. catilla (Lemon Emigrant - on the left), Appias albina (Common Albatross - foreground)

Congregation of males drinking water on rocks along a stream

Male drinking moisture from wet sand at a stream bank