top of page
BUTTERFLIES
Appias libythea ssp. olferna (female). Eastern Striped Albatross. Digos. This is a subspecies (ssp.) that lives in SE Asia including the Philippines while Appias libythea lives in India and Sri Lanka. The caterpillars feed on Cleome rutidosperma. Fringed Spider Flower. It is a common garden plant.
Catopsilia pomona –Common or lemon emigrant. Digos City. It gets its name from its migratory habit. Host plants are Cassia fistula, Butea monosperma, Bauhinia sps, Pterocarpus indicus, Senna alata and Sesbania sps. See Wikipedia for caterpillar images.
Cethosia hypsea – Malay Lacewing. Sitio Teril, Kapatagan. Caterpillars feed on Adenia species and are equipped with long spines,. The Adenia has defensive cyanogenic chemicals that the caterpillars store and so become poisonous to birds and other predators.
Eurema hecabe –Common Grass Yellow. Sulop rice fields. Inhabits open grass and scrub, the larvae feeding on legumes, Aeschynomene, and Acacia species, also Euphorbias and Cucurbitaceae species. It has been parasitized by the Wolbachia bacteria that can alter the sex ratios of the species.
Graphium sarpedon –Swallowtail Butterfly. Sitio Teril, Kapatagan. It inhabits moist, low level rain forest below 1600m and is often above the tree canopy. The larvae feed on trees of the Lauraceae, Myrtaceae, Sapotaceae and Rutaceae family including the cinnamon tree. They have a habit of feeding by puddles and have been recorded on animal droppings, carcasses and rotting insects.
Hypolimnas bolina – Great Egg-Fly, Female
Jamides celeno – Common Cerulean. The larvae fed a variety of plants.
Junonia orithya. Blue Pansy. Sitio Teril, Kapatagan. This is a male, the female lacks the blue color and the ocelli (eyespots) are more defined. The larvae feed on a variety of plants.
Lampides boeticus –Pea Blue. Ruparan near Digos. Inhabits forest edges, mountain meadows and hot flowery places up to 2700m. The larvae feed on plants in the pea family, Fabaceae.
Melanitis leda – Common Evening Brown. Digos City. They can be seen flying at dusk when they are known to fight off visitors to their territory/ The larvae feed on a wide variety of plants including rice and bamboos that are both very common here.
Mycalesis mineus – Dark Brand Bush Brown, Host pants, Poaceae, Grass family.
Nacaduba sp. Lineblues. Ruparan near Digos. A difficult to identify group, hence no species name yet.
Orsotriaena medus – Sitio Teril, Kapatagan. Inhabits grassy habitats to 1600m. Stays low to the ground and when disturbed flies only short distances before settling again often with its body parallel to the suns rays. The larvae feed on grasses including Oryza sativa (rice), Saccharum officinarum (sugarcanes) and Brachiaria mutica.
Papilio demoleus – Lime Butterfly (Dasureco, Digos, June 2024). These are the shortest lived butterflies with males dying after four days and the female a week. They have a preference for blue/purple flowers and during the hotter parts of the day will settle on damp patches. The larvae feed on Rutaceae (Citrus) and Fabaceae.
Prosotas dubiosa – Tailless Lineblue. Sitio Teril, Kapatagan. Larvae feed on Acacia caesia, intsia and mangium in the Fabaceae family, Macadamia integrifolia in the Proteaceae family and Litchi chinensis in the Sapindaceae family.
Taractrocera luzonensis – Luzon Grass Dart. Digos Jan 2025. Inhabits grassy, weedy areas including along forest edges, it also exhibits high abundance in human related gardens, urban grassy areas and cleared agricultural land. Larvae feed on Poaceae grasses including Digitaria species. Adults nectar on Tridax procumbens, Premna odorata and other low growing flowers.
Ypthima stellera – Sitio Teril, Kapatagan. Dec 2024. Philippine endemic found in most grassy places. Larvae feed on Poaceae grasses, Digitaria radicosa and Oplismenus compositus (Running Mountain Grass).
Appias libythea olferna (male) – Eastern Striped Albatross
Catopsilia scylla – Orange Emigrant. Sitio Teril, Kapatagan. Host plants predominantly Cassia and Senna sps.
Elymnius beza. Palmfly, Woh Woh Woh Rainbow Hills, Digos City. The larvae feed on palms. Maybe only two records in Mindanao.
Faunis phaon – Teril (2)
Hypolimnas bolina – Great Eggfly (male) Sitio Teril, Kapatagan. Common butterfly of wet or dry woodland, rainforest and shrubland. Its also seen in suburban gardens.. A male will defend its territory for up to 54 days.
Hypolimnas misippus – Danaid Egg-Fly (Digos July 2024). Females are known for polymorphism (color change), while males are a singular form the female show multiple forms that include male like forms while others mimic the toxic Danaus chrysippus and D. plexippus butterflies. The Larvae feed primarily on Portulaca oleracea (common purslane) and Aystasia lawiana. See Wikipedia for more information.
Junonia hedonia – Brown Soldier or Brown Pansy. Sitio Teril, Kapatagan. Nov 2024.
Junonia orithya. Blue Pansy. Sitio Teril, Kapatagan.
Leptosia nina – Digos City. A butterfly that rarely leaves the ground and has a weak and erratic flight. In my garden the larvae probably feeds on Cleome rutidosperma and maybe other plant species.
Melanitis leda – Common Evening Brown. Monteverde, Digos City
Mycalesis perseus – Common Bush Brown or Dingy Bush Brown (Sitio Teril, Kapatagan, Nov 2024). Larvae feed on Poaceae, grass family.
Neptis mindorana. Typical Sailor is a species of Brush-footed Butterfly. This one was found in January at Sitio Teril, Kapatagan. A Philippine endemic of semi-shaded forest, woods or gardens. The sailor name comes from its unique gentle gliding flight, resembling a boat sailing through the air. Larvae feed on the families of Fabaceae, Rhamnaceae, Euphorbaceae, Polygonaceae, Sapindaceae, Urticaceae and Connaraceae.
Papilio deiphobus – Scarlet Mormon Swallowtail. Sitio Teril, Kapatagan. The larvae feed on Rutaceae (Citrus)
Potanthus mingo – Zigzag Banded Dart. Balutakay Dec 2024. Inhabits montane forests from 30 to1600m.
Ptychandra lorquini – Lorquin's Satyr. January, Sitio Teril, Kapatagan. Endemic to the Philippines and Borneo. Recorded host plants are Poaceae, Bamboo species including Dinochlia scandens.
Ypthima baldus – Common Five-ring. Sitio Teril, Kapatagan. Dec 2024. Adults fly low among vegetation in grassy areas, they nectar on flowers and sunbathe open winged. Larvae feed on Poaceae with Axonopus compressus (Wide-leaved Carpet Grass) being a primary host but also Paspalum conjugatum (Carabao Grass), Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda Grass) and Echinochloa crusgalli (Barnyard Grass).
Zizina otis – Lesser Grass Blue (Sitio Teril, Kapatagan) Nov 2024). Inhabits short grass almost anywhere. Larvae feed on Leguminosae plants including Alysicarpus vaginalis, Desmodium species, Glycine max (Soybean), Indigofera species and Mimosa species.
Catopsilia pyranthe – Mottled Emigrant. Jan, Digos. Host plants are Cassia sps, Senna sps, Crotalaria sps, Sesbania sps. and Colocasia. See Wikipedia for caterpillar image.
Cephrenes acalle – Plain Palm Dart. Sitio Teril, Kapatagan. Dec 2024. Breeds on palms including coconut, Calamus, Elaeis, Roystonea and Prychosperma.
Eurema alitha – Scalloped Grass Yellow. Jan Digos. This species inhabits open or disturbed grassy areas including forest clearings at elevations from sea level to 1000m. The larvae in the Philippines feed on Albizia.
Faunis phaon – Sitio Teril, Kapatagan. A Philippine endemic that is known to lay eggs on a variety of plants.
Hypolimnas bolina – Caterpillars on hatching eat their eggshell before feeding on the leaf on which they were laid.
Idea leuconoe –Paper Kite Butterfly. Malagos Garden Resort, Davao.
Junonia orithya. Blue Pansy. Sitio Teril, Kapatagan.
Junonia orithya-Blue Pansy. SitioTeril, Kapatagan. May 2024. These feed on a variety of plants, particularly Acanthaceae and Scrophulariaceae.
Lethe chandica –Angled Red Forester. Sitio Teril, Kapatagan. Inhabits forests ranging from 20 to 1300m. Males have been observed visiting stream banks and puddles for moisture and they prefer a semi shaded habitat, ideal for Teril's damp and shady valley bottom. Their underwing pattern is good camouflage among the dead leaves on the forest floor.
Mycalesis ita – Sitio Teril, Kapatagan. Hosts plant Oplismenus compositus. Running Mountain Grass
Nacaduba sp. Ruparan (2)
Notocrypta paralysos – Common Banded Demon. Sitio Teril, Kapatagan. Larvae feed on Musa (banana) and Zingiberaceae (Turmeric, ginger).
Papilio alphenor – Digos garden
Potanthus sp. Can anyone identify this one?
Ptychandra negrosensis – Ruparan. Apparently an endemic and uncommon butterfly with only 7 Philippine records and only this one in Davao del Sur, the next nearest is Dumaguete in Negros. See iNaturalist.
Ypthima sempera – Common Three-ring (Sitio Teril, Kapatagan) Nov 2024). Philippine endemic and inhabitant of grassy places. Larvae probably feed on Poaceae grasses.
bottom of page