228. Faunis canens (The Common Faun)

Number: 228

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Amathusiinae

Species: Faunis canens Hübner (1826)

Common name(s): The Common Faun

Photography location: Tam Dao (Vinh Phuc Prov.)

F. canens is my 3rd member of the genus seen in northern Vietnam - the 2 other being F. eumeus and F. excelsa.

Five species of Faunis have been recorded in Vietnam viz. F. eumeus (N. and C. Vietnam), F. canens (N. and C.), F. excelsa (N. and C.), F. bicoloratus (C.) and F. centrala (C.). Centrala and excelsa have Up of both wings grey. The 3 other species have brown Up.  

Faunis canens is recorded from North and central Vietnam (to Quang Tri Prov.).

Faunis canens, Tam Dao (900m asl, September 2016)
Un both wings with very small and nearly equal whitish or yellowish dot-like spots

References:

Butterflies of Vietnam, Vol. 3: Nymphalidae: Danainae; Amathusiinae (A.L. Monastyrskii, 2011)

164. Aemona tonkinensis (The Yellow Dryad s.l.)

Number: 164

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Amathusiinae

Species: Aemona tonkinensis Rothschild, 1916

Common name(s): The Yellow Dryad (sensu lato, no particular name - why not Tonkinese Dryad?)

Photography location: Tam Dao (Vinh Phuc Prov.)

Previously the taxon tonkinensis was mentionned as a ssp. of A. amathusia (The Yellow Dryad). It was recently  raised to specific rank after clarification of the taxonomical status of A. amathusia (Devyatkin & Monastyrskii, 2008).
Aemona tonkinensis is a restricted range species known from N. & C. Vietnam, S. China (Yunnan, Guangxi).

The genus Aemona is represented in Vietnam by 7 species viz. A. lena, A. tonkinensis, A. kontumei, A. falcata, A. simulatrix, A. berdyevi, A. implicata, the five last ones described from Vietnam between 2003 and 2007.

Aemona tonkinensis is a montane species, here photographed at Tam Dao (900m a.s.l.), on April 30, 2016
Aemona species are plain butterflies of a pale fulvous colour inconspicuously ocellated on the Un

Male specimen from Tam Dao, upperside

159. Discophora sondaica (The Common Duffer)

Number: 159

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Amathusiinae

Species: Discophora sondaica Boisduval, 1836

Common name(s): The Common Duffer

Photography locations: Tam Dao foothills (Vinh Phuc Prov.), Xuan Son N.P. (Phu Tho Prov.)

According to Monastyrskii & Devyatkin (2016), the subfamily Amathusiinae is represented in Vietnam by 10 genera: Faunis (5 species), Aemona (7 species), Stichophtalma (8 species), Amathusia (1 species), Amathuxidia (1 species), Zeuxidia (2 species), Thaumantis (1 species), Thauria (1 species), Discophora (4 species), Enispe (3 species).

Discophora species currently known in Vietnam: sondaica, deo, timora and aestheta - the last one described in 2003 from S.Vietnam, Dong Nai Prov., Cat Tien National Park.

Discophora sondaica puddling on a damp stream bed (Xuan Son N.P., August 2016)

Another specimen, puddling in a dry stream bed (Tam Dao foothills, November 2016)

A third one, from Tam Dao also (July 2016), feasting on rotten fruit

 Female Discophora sondaica, upperside (voucher specimen from Tam Dao)

Female has an upperside of purplish brown. Fore wing with three transverse series of white spots, the inner or discal series continued to the costa by two large elongate obliquely-placed white spots. Hind wing also with three transverse rows of somewhat obscure spots, but ochraceous in colour.

Similar colour pattern in male, but all series of spots are less prominent.

 Female Discophora sondaica, underside

143. Faunis eumeus (The Large Faun)

Number: 143

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Amathusiinae

Species: Faunis eumeus (Drury, 1770)

Common name(s): The Large Faun

Photography locations: Tam Dao foothills (Vinh Phuc Prov.), Huu Lien N.R. (Lang Son Prov.)

According to Monastyrskii  & Devyatkin (2016), 5 Faunis species have been recorded in Vietnam viz. F. eumeus (N. and C. Vietnam), F. canens (N. and C.), F. excelsa (N. and C.), F. bicoloratus (C.) and F. centrala (C.).

Centrala and excelsa have Up of both wings grey. The 3 other species have brown Up. 

F. eumeus show large submarginal dots on the Un of both wings. In N. Vietnam, individuals have a broad yellowish subapical band. In other parts of the country, this band is either weakly developed or absent.

This species fly very close to the ground and can be seen both in lowland and mountain forests 

Range: N. & C. Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, N. & N.E. Thailand, S.E. China

Faunis eumeus and F. excelsa side by side (Huu Lien, May 2016)
Both species show a series of large rounded submarginal whitish dots. But Un of eumeus is reddish-brown, whereas Un of excelsa is grey-brown. Moreover, excelsa is larger in average.

Voucher specimen from Tam Dao, upperside 

Same specimen, underside

References:

Butterflies of Vietnam, Vol. 3: Nymphalidae: Danainae; Amathusiinae (A.L. Monastyrskii, 2011)

125. Discophora deo fruhstorferi (The Banded Duffer)

Number: 125

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Amathusiinae

Species: Discophora deo fruhstorferi Stichel,1901

Common name(s): The Banded Duffer

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

According to Monastyrskii & Devyatkin (2016), the subfamily Amathusiinae is represented in Vietnam by 10 genera: Faunis (5 species), Aemona (7 species), Stichophtalma (8 species), Amathusia (1 species), Amathuxidia (1 species), Zeuxidia (2 species), Thaumantis (1 species), Thauria (1 species), Discophora (4 species), Enispe (3 species).

Discophora species currently known in Vietnam: sondaica, deo, timora and aestheta - the latter described in 2003 from S.Vietnam, Dong Nai Prov., Cat Tien National Park.

Male Discophora deo fruhstorferi - in genus Discophora, sexual dimorphism is well developped

Note the secondary sexual character which is the rounded patch with androconial scales located in the discal cell of the UpH

 Male, underside

121. Stichophthalma fruhstorferi (The Jungle Queen s.l.)

Number: 121

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Amathusiinae

Species: Stichophthalma fruhstorferi Röber, 1903

Common name(s): The Jungle Queen (sensu lato, no particular name?)

Photography locations: Huu Lien N.R. (Lang Son Prov.), Cuc Phuong N.P. (Ninh Binh Prov.)

According to Monastyrskii & Devyatkin (2016), the subfamily Amathusiinae is represented in Vietnam by 10 genera: Faunis (5 species), Aemona (7 species), Stichophtalma (8 species), Amathusia (1 species), Amathuxidia (1 species), Zeuxidia (2 species), Thaumantis (1 species), Thauria (1 species), Discophora (4 species), Enispe (3 species).

Previously Stichophthalma fruhstorferi has been treated as S. louisia fruhstorferi.

Range : N. and C. Vietnam, China (Guangxi Prov.), N. Laos.

Stichophthalma fruhstorferi, Cuc Phuong (June 2014)

Stichophthalma fruhstorferi, Huu Lien (May 2016)
Note on UnH the small streak inside the discal cell located under the base of vein 5 and 6 (in Vietnam, only S. fruhstorferi and S. uemurai show this feature) and the subapical withish area on UpF

A voucher specimen from Huu Lien

Upperwing pattern of S. fruhstorferi (left) versus S. suffusa tonkiniana (right)
At Huu Lien N.R. and Cuc Phuong N.P., these 2 species occur sympatrically

Sticholphthalma taxa recorded in Vietnam (after Monastyrskii  & Devyatkin, 2016) :

Howqua-group

- S. suffusa tonkiniana Fruhstorfer, 1901 – N.

- S. howqua iapetus Brooks, 1949 – N. (Lao Cai: Hoang Lien N.P.)

Cambodia-group

- S. fruhstorferi Röber, 1903 – N., C.

- S. uemurai uemurai Nishimura, 1998 – C. (Lam Dong, Khanh Hoa, Dak Lak)

- S. uemurai gialai Monastyrskii  & Devyatkin, 2000 – C. (Gia Lai)

- S. neumogeni regulus Brooks, 1949 – N. (Lao Cai: Hoang Lien N.P.)

Louisa-group

- S. mathilda Janet, 1905 – N., C. (to Ha Tinh)

- S. eamesi Monastyrskii, Devyatkin & Uémura, 2000 – C. (Quang Binh to Gia Lai)

- S. devyatkini Monastyrskii, 2013 – C. (TL: Khanh Hoa: Hon Ba N.R.)

For key to the Vietnamese species of the genus Sticholphthalma, see "Butterflies of Vietnam, Vol. 3: Nymphalidae: Danainae, Amathusiinae" (A.L. Monastyrskii, 2011)

25. Faunis excelsa excelsa

Number: 25

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Amathusiinae

Species: Faunis excelsa excelsa (Fruhstorfer, 1901)

Common name(s): none

Photography location: Huu Lien N.R. (Lang Son Prov.)

According to Monastyrskii  & Devyatkin (2016), 5 Faunis species have been recorded in Vietnam viz. F. eumeus (N. and C. Vietnam), F. canens (N. and C.), F. excelsa (N. and C.), F. bicoloratus (C.) and F. centrala (C.).  Centrala and excelsa have Up of both wings grey. The 3 other species have brown Up. 

Faunis aerope excelsa Fruhstorfer,1911 was described from N. Vietnam ("Tonkin, Than Moi"). This subspecies has been raised to species level by Monastyrskii based on structure of the male genitalia.

"Than Moi" probably corresponds to Than Muội “village” (xã in Vietnamese), in Chi Lang (Chi Lăng) district, Lang Son (Lạng Sơn) Province, approximately 130km north of Hanoi. At the time this species was collected, Chi Lang and Huu Lung (Hữu Lũng) district were probably still covered by primary forest. However, over the past century, this area has lost almost all of its original vegetation through the spread of farming, mining, timber plantation. Actually, along the busy Nationale Road 1, which passes through these two districts, most of the hills are covered by industrial tree plantations (of exotic fast-growing trees). The nearest remaining good forest fragments are preserved in the Huu Liên Nature Reserve (Huu Lung district), a few dozen kilometers west from the (supposed) type locality. All the photos below have been taken there. Interestingly, "Than Moi" appears as type locality of numerous insects species described during the French colonialism period – and some of this species have not been seen since.

Faunis excelsa is a restricted-range species (Indochinese endemic) only recorded from N. & C. Vietnam, E.Laos and S.China (Guangxi Prov.). In N.Vietnam, it’s present, at least, in Huu Lien N.R., Tam Dao and Hoang Lien Son N.P (Monastyrskii, 2011).

Faunis excelsa in limestone karst forest (Huu Lien, August 2014)

Another specimen from Huu Lien

Faunis excelsa, male (Huu Lien, May 2016)

     Male upperwings are uniformly cream

Female in flight

Female upperwings are more contrasted (cream and pale brownish, duller at FW tip)

Faunis excelsa and F. eumeus side by side (Huu Lien, May 2016)

Both species show a series of large rounded submarginal whitish dots. But Un of eumeus is reddish-brown, whereas Un of excelsa is grey-brown. Moreover, excelsa is larger in average.

Female, voucher specimen from Huu Lien, upperside

Same specimen, underside

References:
Butterflies of Vietnam, Vol. 3: Nymphalidae: Danainae; Amathusiinae (A.L. Monastyrskii, 2011)

8. Thauria lathyi lathyi (The Jungleking)

Number: 8

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-family: Amathusiinae

Species: Thauria lathyi lathyi Fruhstorfer, 1902

Common name(s): The Jungleking

Photography location: Tam Dao (Ving Phuc Prov.), Xuan Son (Phu Tho Prov.)

According to Monastyrskii & Devyatkin (2016), the subfamily Amathusiinae is represented in Vietnam by 10 genera: Faunis (5 species), Aemona (7 species), Stichophtalma (8 species), Amathusia (1 species), Amathuxidia (1 species), Zeuxidia (2 species), Thaumantis (1 species), Thauria (1 species), Discophora (4 species), Enispe (3 species).

T. lathyi is known from southern China, Laos and Vietnam. The type locality is North Vietnam ("Than Moi","Chiem Hoa"). This is a large and very beautiful forest floor-dwelling butterfly.

Thauria lathyi flies slowly and close to the ground, attracted by rooting fruits and tree sap

 Thauria lathyi feeding on rotten fruits (rocks along a stream, Tam Dao, 200m asl) with Stichophthalma suffusa tonkiniana; both were at a well-lighted place, a rare opportunity to take photos without flash of these shade-loving species

FW with a broad white band from mid-costa to tornus, HW dark brown except the apical and tornal portions orange

Old Vietnamese stamp bearing the image of Thauria lathyi

7. Thaumantis diores diores (The Jungle Glory)

Number: 7

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Amathusiinae

Species: Thaumantis diores diores Doubleday, 1845

Common name(s): The Jungle Glory

Photography location: Tam Dao (Vinh Phuc Prov.)

According to Monastyrskii & Devyatkin (2016), the subfamily Amathusiinae is represented in Vietnam by 10 genera: Faunis (5 species), Aemona (7 species), Stichophtalma (8 species), Amathusia (1 species), Amathuxidia (1 species), Zeuxidia (2 species), Thaumantis (1 species), Thauria (1 species), Discophora (4 species), Enispe (3 species).

The genus Thaumantis ("Jungle Glories") comprises 5 species (diores, klugius, noureddin, odana, hainana). Only T. diores is known from Vietnam, with two subspecies recognized : T. diores diores in the north and T. diores splendens further south.

Thaumantis diores is a common sight in my habitual butt hunting grounds around Hanoi, both in lowland and montane forests. This species inhabits shady undergrowth and is attracted by fruits and moist litter.

Thaumantis diores is a butterfly of the forest understory, with cryptic underwing patterns (photo with flash)

Remarkably difficult to see when at rest on the forest floor, among leaf litter (photo with flash)

Upperwings with iridescent blue patches
Sexes are similar

4. Stichophthalma suffusa tonkiniana (The Jungle Queen s.l.)

Number: 4

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Amathusiinae

Species: Stichophthalma suffusa tonkiniana Leech, 1892

Common name(s): The Jungle Queen (sensu lato)

Photography location: Tam Dao (Vinh Phuc Prov.)

According to Monastyrskii & Devyatkin (2016), the subfamily Amathusiinae is represented in Vietnam by 10 genera: Faunis (5 species), Aemona (7 species), Stichophtalma (8 species), Amathusia (1 species), Amathuxidia (1 species), Zeuxidia (2 species), Thaumantis (1 species), Thauria (1 species), Discophora (4 species), Enispe (3 species).

Stichophthalma howqua suffusa has been raised to species S. suffusa Leech, 1892 (Monastyrskii & Devyatkin, 2008). S. suffusa tonkiniana has an ocre-yellow ground color on the Up of both wings with completely fused submarginal black markings on the UpH.
At Tam Dao, in northern Vietnam, this species occupies both primary and secondary forest habitats, at all elevations.

Stichophthalma suffusa tonkiniana feeding on rotten fruits (rocks along a stream, Tam Dao, 200m asl) This specimen was at a well-lighted place, a rare opportunity to take photo without flash
This specimen is very likely a female (Un with whitish discal band, located behind the subbasal area which is margined by black zigzag lines)

Another specimen, resting on leaf in dense forest (Tam Dao, 900m asl), showing faint ocelli
Very likely a male (Un with brownish orange tinge, discal band pale brown)

This is a cryptic species, with underwings resembling dead leaves. When resting on vegetation, Stichophthalma species close their wings. When flying, they slowly glide in a zigzag course within the dark vegetation, resembling falling leaves. Never seen visiting flowers. The only observed source of food was tree sap, rotting fruits and birds droppings.

Some specimens feeding on tree sap (Tam Dao, mid-June 2016)

Side by side with a nice Scarab Beetle and a female Stibochiona nicea

 Three individuals feeding on a bone covered with mold (Tam Dao, 27th May 2016)

Note the completely fused submarginal black markings on the UpH

Sticholphthalma taxa recorded in Vietnam (after Monastyrskii  & Devyatkin, 2016) :

Howqua-group

1- S. suffusa tonkiniana Fruhstorfer, 1901 – N.

2- S. howqua iapetus Brooks, 1949 – N. (Lao Cai: Hoang Lien N.P.)

Cambodia-group

3- S. fruhstorferi Röber, 1903 – N., C.

4- S. uemurai uemurai Nishimura, 1998 – C. (Lam Dong, Khanh Hoa, Dak Lak)

5- S. uemurai gialai Monastyrskii  & Devyatkin, 2000 – C. (Gia Lai)

6- S. neumogeni regulus Brooks, 1949 – N. (Lao Cai: Hoang Lien N.P.)

Louisa-group

7- S. mathilda Janet, 1905 – N., C. (to Ha Tinh)

8- S. eamesi Monastyrskii, Devyatkin & Uémura, 2000 – C. (Quang Binh to Gia Lai)

9- S. devyatkini Monastyrskii, 2013 – C. (TL: Khanh Hoa: Hon Ba N.R.)

At Tam Dao, S. suffusa tonkiniana and S. fruhstorferi occur sympatrically from June to September.

For key to the Vietnamese species of the genus Sticholphthalma, see "Butterflies of Vietnam, Vol. 3: Nymphalidae: Danainae, Amathusiinae" (A.L. Monastyrskii, 2011)