Subic Butterfly Watch

Butterflies are indicators of a healthy environment and healthy ecosystems. Subic Bay FZ hosts a number of butterfly species among which is a butterfly species that was never before recorded in the Philippines. These abundance and variety of butterflies indicate that the Freeport has healthy ecosystem!

The Philippine Lepidoptera (PhiLep) group was invited by SBMA Director Atty. Tomas F. Lahom III, to take photographs and document the butterflies of Subic Bay. With the guidance of Kuya Chito, as he is fondly called, a team from PhiLep was able to visit and survey a waterfalls and a forest trail within the Binictican area on the afternoon of May 6, and morning of May 7, 2017, respectively.

[endif]--About 40 butterfly species were spotted. It was a very productive and fun activity with many of these spottings considered as personal lifers by the PhiLep members. A “lifer” is a term borrowed from the birding community, which applies to the first-ever sighting leading to positive identification of a species by a particular observer. ![endif]--

The highlight of the activity was the spotting of a Redtail Marquis, Bassarona recta (a nymphalid), the very first recording of its existence in the Philippines. Before, it was reported to exist only in Assam, Myanmar, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia and Langkawi.

Other brush-footed butterflies (family Nymphalidae) recorded were Zethera pimplea pimplea (Wallacean), Vindula dejone dejone (Lesser Cruiser), Hypolimnas bolina philippensis (Great Eggfly), Junonia hedonia ida (Brown Pansy), Cupha arias arias (Rustic), Mydosama ita ita (Bushbrown), Phaedyma columella eremita (Short-banded Sailor), and a Tirumala sp. (Blue Tiger).

[endif]--Notable also is the recorded observation of group mud-puddling of swallowtail butterflies (family Papilionidae) such as Arisbe stratocles senectus (Zebra), Arisbe euphrates euphrates (Swordtails), Arisbe doson nauta (Common Jays), Arisbe eurypylus gordion (Great Jay), Chilasa clytia palephates (Common Mimes), and Lamproptera meges decius (Green Dragontail). Seen along the waterfalls, but not photographed, was the common Graphium agamemnon agamemnon (Tailed Jay). ![endif]--![endif]--

[endif]--Not to be outdone, the white and yellow pierids (family Pieridae) also showed up in groups while mud-puddling. Recorded were Appias aegis illana (Forest Whites), Appias lyncida andrea (Chocolate Albatrosses), and Catopsilia pomona pomona (Lemon Emigrants). Gandaca harina (Tree Yellows) were seen feeding on the beautiful flowers of Leea guineensis (Red Tree Vine, Abang-abang in Tagalog) along the forest trail. Hebomoia glaucippe philippensis (the Great Orange Tip), not photographed, was seen many times just passing by and flying above near

the tree-tops. ![endif]--![endif]--

[endif]--The skippers (family Hesperiidae) were also present both in the forest trail and in the river banks mud-puddling. Seen were Hasora chromus chromus (Common Banded Awl), Hasora schoenherr saida (Yellow Banded Awl), Acerbas duris duris (Banded Palmer), Pyroneura liburnia liburnia (Lancer), Oriens gola pseudolus (Common Dartlet), Potanthus sp. (Darts), and a lot of Halpe luteisquama (Aces). ![endif]--![endif]--

Hypolycaena erylus tmolus © Linda Alisto

[endif]--Recorded gossamer-winged butterflies (family Lycaenidae) were Curetis tagalica tagalica (Sunbeam), Hypolycaena erylus tmolus (Common Tit), Nacaduba berenice leei (Rouded Six-line Blue), Jamides suidas suidas (Cerulean), Jamides alecto manilana (Metallic Cerulean), Prosotas nora semperi (Common Line-blue), Catopyrops ancyra almora (Ancyra Blue), Arhopala abseus abseus (Aberrant Bushblue), Arhopala alesia alesia (Pallid Oakblue), and Arhopala centaurus aglais (Centaur Oakblues, with individuals showing variation in their underside spots pattern). ![endif]--![endif]--