40. Symbrenthia lilaea (The Common Jester)

Number: 40

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Nymphaliinae

Species: Symbrenthia lilaea (Hewitson, 1864)

Common name(s): The Common Jester

Photography location: Cuc Phuong N.P. (Ninh Binh Prov.)

There are about 14 species in the genus Symbrenthia, of which 4 are found in Vietnam (S. lilaea, S. hypselis, S. niphanda, S. leoparda). The colour and pattern of the dorsal surface is similar to that of Pantoporia species ("Lascars") but the wing shape is much more angular, and the undersides are completely different, being marbled and spotted rather than banded. 

Symbrenthia lilaea, Cuc Phuong N.P.

Note the strong tooth at vein 4 on HW

Symbrenthia lilaea with Cyrestis cocles (The Marbled Map)

Underside ochraceous orange with numerous ferruginous spots and lines, with a dark reddish band from mid-termen of FW to mid-dorsum of HW 

Symbrenthia lilaea is the commonest member of the genus in Vietnam

36. Symbrenthia hypselis cotanda (The Himalayan Jester)

Number: 36

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Nymphaliinae

Species: Symbrenthia hypselis cotanda Moore, 1874

Common name(s): The Himalayan Jester

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

There are about 14 species in the genus Symbrenthia, of which 4 are found in Vietnam - lilaea, hypselis, niphanda, leoparda. The former two are recorded in the north and center of the country, the latter two only from the north.

S. lilaea and S. hypselis are the commonest members of the genus in Vietnam - but the latter have narrower habitat requirements and is much less often encountered.

Symbrenthia hypselis cotanda with 2 Heliophorus sp. (Cuu Thac-Tu Son)
Upperwings of S. hypselis very similar to that of S. lilaea but the 2 species are easily separated by the underwings color pattern

Symbrenthia hypselis cotanda underside - from Tam Dao
This species is usually found singly, unlike Symbrenthia lilaea 

Symbrenthia hypselis cotanda - from Xuan Son NP, August 2016