263. Neptis clinia susruta (The Clear Sailor)

Number: 263

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Limenitidiinae

Species: Neptis clinia susruta Moore, 1872

Common name(s): The Clear Sailor

Photography location: Ba Vi (Hanoi)

According to Monastyrskii & Devyatkin (2016), 31 species - and 40 taxa - of Neptis have been recorded in Vietnam. This genus features many lookalikes species which are difficult to identify with a high level of confidence from just field shots.

Neptis species recorded in Vietnam (classified according to upperwings color pattern): 

-Ground color black/dull brown & white markings: clinia*, sappho*, hylas*, yerburii*, soma*, nata*, leucoporos*, sankara*, cartica*, maghada*, nashona*, philyra*, philyroides*, dejeani*, genulfa 

-Ground color black/dull brown & yellow/orange markings: miah*, zaida*, ananta*, namba*, armandia*, antilope*, radha*, narayana subsp. dubernardi*, manasa (subsp. narcissina* + mientrunga),  nemorum*, transita, cydippe*, themis* 

-Ground color smoky chocolate brown: harita*, ilira, pseudovikasi* 

(* recorded in northern Vietnam)

Neptis clinia susruta, from Ba Vi (January 2016)
Note the little white spot at the base of HW space 3 (lower margin of the white discal band) & the elongated triangular end-spot

Another specimen from Ba Vi (February 2016)

 Voucher specimen, upperside (Ba Vi, February 2017)

Same specimen, underside 

250. Parasarpa dudu dudu (The White Commodore)

Number: 250

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Limenitidiinae

Species: Parasarpa dudu dudu (Westwood, 1850)

Common name(s): The White Commodore

Photography location: Tam Dao (Vinh Phuc Prov.)

The genus Parasarpa comprising at least 6 species. According to Monastyrskii & Devyatkin (2016), 3 are currently known in Vietnam viz. P. dudu dudu, P. zayla and P. houlberti. The two last ones, which are Sino-Himalayan species, are limited to the extreme north-west of the country (Hoang Lien Son mountain range).

Parasarpa dudu, which occurs from N.India to Indonesia, is the most widespread species of the genus. It is recorded from North and central Vietnam (to Lam Dong Prov.).

 A worn Parasarpa dudu dudu resting on a leaf (Tam Dao/900m asl, August 2016)
I am a bit frustrated as I could not get better images...

The smell, and possibly the color, of my Chinese-made sandals were irresistible to this individual. I will surely buy another pair! It's often very difficult to get close enough to a butterfly to get a photo, but from time to time they come to you! This guy landed on my sandals (not the best background, yes I know...), but I've had others perch on my bag, my arm or even my motorbyke.

232. Athyma perius perius (The Common Sergeant)

Number: 232

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Limenitidiinae

Species: Athyma perius perius (Linnaeus, 1758)

Common name(s): The Common Sergeant

Photography location: Hanoi City

The genus Athyma is represented in Vietnam by 15 species – perius, pravara, asura, larymna, kanwa, jina, opalina, orientalis, selenophora, zeroca, whitei, cama, nefte, ranga and punctata (Monastyrskii & Devyatkin, 2016).

The shrublands and wastelands of Hanoi City are certainly not great places for butt hunting, but they can sometimes reserve some surprises. In October 2015, the surprise comes in the shape of this (migrant, vagrant ?) Athyma perius, a species that I've never seen anywhere else (despite not being particularly rare, so very probably overlooked).

Athyma perius feeding on Chromolaena odorata shrubs - Hanoi (October 20, 2015)

224. Pantoporia hordonia hordonia (The Common Lascar)

Number: 224

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Limenitidiinae

Species: Pantoporia hordonia hordonia (Stoll, [1790])

Common name(s): The Common Lascar

Photography location: Ba Vi N.P. (Hanoi)

According to Monastyrskii & Devyatkin (2016), 5 Pantoporia species have been recorded in Vietnam: P. hordonia, P. sandaka, P. paraka, P. aurelia & P. bieti. The first three are widespread, the fourth is known from the Center and South, and the latter is only recorded from the North-West corner of the country (Lao Cai).

Pantoporia hordonia, Ba Vi, 17th December 2016

Note that the FW grey line between the orange submarginal line and the bands is thick and not interrupted (thinner, irregular, constricted or broken in P. sandaka). If upper margin of the FW cell-bar in a male have two strong notches it is likely to be P. hordonia; in sandaka  the 2 notches tends to be obliterated (not always). Another feature to separate the 2 species (in-hand examination required): sandaka show grey speculum on the upper hindwings where HW and FW overlaps

216. Cynitia whiteheadi (The Green Skirt Baron)

Number: 216

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Limenitidiinae

Species: Cynitia whiteheadi (Crowley, 1900)

Common name(s): The Green Skirt Baron

Photography location: Ba Vi N.P. foothills (Hanoi)

Formely known as Euthalia niepelti Strand,1916. Recorded from southern China, N. & C. Vietnam (to Quang Ngai Prov.).

Cynitia whiteheadi (male)

210. Euthalia lubentina lubentina (The Common Gaudy Baron)

Number: 210

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Limenitidiinae

Species: Euthalia lubentina lubentina (Cramer, [1777])

Common name(s): The Common Gaudy Baron

Photography location: Ba Vi N.P. foothills (Hanoi)

The genus Euthalia (“Barons” and “Counts”) is represented in Vietnam by 32 species – a hard genus with many new species described in the years 1990-2000. Identification is confounded by the fact that the males and females of each species are usually very different in colour and pattern, and because several of the species produce a number of different colour forms or morphs. 

Female Euthalia lubentina lubentina, lower slopes of Mount Ba Vi, 28th November 2016 
In male, white patches are reduced to small spots

What a splendid fellow - God is the greatest artist! I love particularly the red patches surrounded by black lines.
Photo taken with natural light

A glimpse of the underwings pattern of the same individual, feeding on over-ripe fig

202. Neptis harita harita (The Dingiest Sailor)

Number: 202

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Limenitidiinae

Species: Neptis harita harita Moore, 1875

Common name(s): The Dingiest Sailor

Photography location: Xuan Son N.P. (Phu Tho Prov.)

According to Monastyrskii & Devyatkin (2016), 31 species - and 40 taxa - of Neptis have been recorded in Vietnam. This is a difficult genus with many very similar-looking species. Among the chocolate brown Neptis, N. harita is the commonest - recorded throughout the country.

Upperside smoky chocolate brown  with paler brown markings. Note the crescent-shaped spot in space 2 of FW, the hindwing band divided & chain-like.

Some other similar-looking species include N. ilira cindia (recorded from C. Vietnam), N. pseudovikasi (N. Vietnam: Lao Cai), N. omeroda (not recorded in Vietnam).

Voucher specimen, upperside (Ba Vi, April 2017)

Same specimen, underside

201. Dophla evelina annamita (The Redspot Duke)

Number: 201

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Limenitidiinae

Species: Dophla evelina annamita (Moore,1879)

Common name(s): The Redspot Duke

Photography location: Dao foothills (Vinh Phuc Prov.)

Both sexes are drab coloured by with some bright red spots.

181. Cynitia lepidea cognata (The Grey Count)

Number: 181

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Limenitidiinae

Species: Cynitia lepidea cognata Moore, [1897]

Common name(s): The Grey Count

Photography location: Hàm Yên District (Tuyen Quang Prov.)

The genus Cynitia is represented in Vietnam by 5 species – lepidea, cocytus, whiteheadi, stellata and shigehoi. C. lepidea is the commonest member of the genus in Vietnam.

Cynitia lepidea cognata - male (July 5, 2016)
Photographed in the garden of my mother-in-law. I never thought I would find a new species for my personal list in such a place!

168. Euthalia alpheda (The Streaked Baron)

Number: 168

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Limenitidiinae

Species: Euthalia alpheda Godart, 1824

Common name(s): The Streaked Baron

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

The genus Euthalia (“Barons” and “Counts”) is represented in Vietnam by 32 species – a hard genus with many new species described in the years 1990-2000. Identification is confounded by the fact that the males and females of each species are usually very different in colour and pattern, and because several of the species produce a number of different colour forms or morphs. 

Female Euthalia alpheda from Tam Dao foothills, perched on rocks along a stream

Ditto

Female feeding on a rotten fruit (Hanoi City)

A male from Hanoi City, found in a small wooded patch surrounded by agricultural fields
Same pattern than the female, but smaller and darker

84. Lexias pardalis eleanor (The Common Archeduke)

Number: 84

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Limenitidiinae

Species: Lexias pardalis eleanor (Fruhstorfer, 1898) 

Common name(s): The Common Archeduke

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

The genus Lexias ("Archdukes") comprising 17 species, of which 4 are known to occur in Vietnam - pardalis, dirtea, cyanipardus and albopunctata (Monastyrskii & Devyatkin, 2016). 

Lexias pardalis ranges from N.-E.India to Borneo, S.China.

Lexias pardalis is relatively common in my habitual butt hunting grounds. Adults are typically sighted on shaded trails and among undergrowth, often seen puddling on damp ground, or feeding on rotting fruits and other organic matter amongst forest litter. 

Male Lexias pardalis

Above, the male is dark velvety black above with a broad greenish-blue distal border on the hindwing, which is continued narrowly along the termen of the forewing

Two males feasting on rotten fruits

The male, underwings

Female Lexias pardalis

The female is dark brown and profusely spotted with yellow

The apical portion of the antennal club is orange in both sexes and this distinguishes this species from the closely-related and very similar Black-Tipped Archduke (Lexias dirtea).

58. Athyma ranga obsolescens (The Blackvein Sergeant)

Number: 58

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Limenitidiinae

Species: Athyma ranga obsolescens (Fruhstorfer, 1906)

Common name(s): The Blackvein Sergeant

Photography location: Tam Dao foothills (Vinh Phuc Prov.), Ba Vi N.P. (Hanoi)

Athyma ranga, from Tam Dao (June 2014)

Athyma ranga, from Ba VI (December 2016)

56. Bhagadatta austenia montana (The Grey Commodore)

Number: 56

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Limenitidiinae

Species: Bhagadatta austenia montana (Mell, 1923)

Common name(s): The Grey Commodore

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

Bhagadatta austenia is a Sino-Himalayan Nymphalid known from India, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and southern China. Bhagadatta is a monotypic genus.
According to Monastyrskii & Devyatkin (2016). B. austenia is recorded from North and Central Vietnam (to Lam Dong Prov.).

Female Bhagadatta austenia, Tam Dao, April 2013

55. Tanaecia julii indochinensis (The Common Earl)

Number: 55

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Limenitidiinae

Species: Tanaecia julii indochinensis (Fruhstorfer, 1905)

Common name(s): The Common Earl

Photography locations: Ba Vi N.P. (Hanoi), Tam Dao (Vinh Phuc Prov.)

The genus Tanaecia is represented in Vietnam by 2 species – julii indochinensis and jahnu jahnides (Monastyrskii & Devyatkin, 2016), both recorded from the 3 main geographic regions of the country.

Female Tanaecia julii indochinensis, upperwings (from BaVi)


Same specimen, underwings

Male (from Tam Dao foothills)

53. Euthalia monina kesava (The Powdered Baron)

Number: 53

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Limenitidiinae

Species: Euthalia monina kesava (Moore,1859)

Common name(s): The Powdered Baron

Photography location: Cuc Phuong N.P. (Ninh Binh Prov.), Ba Vi N.P. (Hanoi)

The genus Euthalia (“Barons” and “Counts”) is represented in Vietnam by 32 species – a hard genus with many new species described in the years 1990-2000. Identification is confounded by the fact that the males and females of each species are usually very different in colour and pattern, and because several of the species produce a number of different colour forms or morphs. 

E. monina kesava is recorded in the north and the center of the country. It is replaced further south by E. monina remias. This species is one of  the commonest members of the genus in Vietnam. It is found in small clearings and glades, on river beaches, and along trails and roads in forest habitats.

E. monina kesava (male), Ba Vi, December 2016
The males have dark greenish upperwings, with a nice blue-green iridescence on the outer part

E. monina kesava (female), Cuc Phuong, July 2013
The female lacks the blue-green iridescence, being a dull earthy brown colour

E. monina kesava (female), Cuc Phuong, July 2013

48. Athyma cama camasa (The Orange Staff Sergeant)

Number: 48

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Limenitidiinae

Species: Athyma cama camasa (Fruhstorfer, 1906)

Common name(s): The Orange Staff Sergeant

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

Like Athyma nefte, the two sexes have very different color pattern: male black with white stripes but female dark brown with orange markings. 

Male Athyma cama camasa

46. Athyma nefte asita (The Color Sergeant)

Number: 46

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Limenitidiinae

Species: Athyma nefte asita Moore, [1858]

Common name(s): The Color Sergeant

Photography location: Tam Dao foothills (Vinh Phuc Prov.), Ba Vi (Hanoi)

Subsp. asita differs from subrata in having orange outer subapical spots of FW in male, not white.

Like Athyma cama, the two sexes have very different color pattern: male black with white stripes but female dark brown with orange markings.

Male Athyma nefte asita (Tam Dao foothills, June 2014)

A supposed female Athyma nefte asita (Ba Vi foothills, December 2016)

The female A. cama is very similar to the female of A. nefte asita but the bands are narrower & the underside bands well-defined

 Male Athyma nefte asita, upperside

  Male Athyma nefte asita, underside

45. Athyma selenophora batilda (The Staff Sergeant)

Number: 45

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Limenitidiinae

Species:  Athyma selenophora batilda (Fruhstorfer,1908)

Common name(s): The Staff Sergeant

Photography location: Cuu Thac-Tu Son (Hoa Binh Prov.), Xuan Son N.P. (Phu Tho Prov.)

Male Athyma selenophora (Cuu Thac-Tu Son, Hoa Binh, August 2013)
Female is browner above than male, with more patches and stripes

Another male, from Xuan Son (July 2016)