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Butterflies of the Forbidden Kingdom - China (1 Viewer)

thirudevaram

Trapped in mist ***s
It's been over two years since i have started to show some interest in butterflies and it was not an easy start. Without any field guide in English and very less reference material over the wide web, it was a bumpy start from the beginning.
With over 1400+ species, butterflies of China can be really an intimidating task to ID each and every species encountered with almost 60% of species doesn't have a common name yet.
I don't think there will be a field guide available in the future (or at all) in English. The bottom line of this thread, is to create a digital footprint for the butterflies of China.

So, if anyone visits China and clicked some flutters, feel free to post it here. My posts will be mainly from Shanghai and surrounding provinces..
 
Pale Grass blue (Pseudozizeeria maha)

Starting with the most abundant butterfly in East China. As the palearctic winter is cold which doesn't suit the butterflies. So November- March is a no butterfly season in East China except for few individuals fluttering around during warm days in February.

Pale Grass Blue is found literally everywhere, once in my office in 16th floor and the other time in the barber shop.
 

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Small White (Pieris rapae)

Another Common species, mostly abundant during spring-summer. The numbers drop down after summer with only few around in autumn.
 

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Asian Comma (Polygonia c-aureum)

Widely known as the Urban butterfly, found in huge no's along the coast during spring and autumn.
 

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Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

Mostly seen during migration along the coast in good no's. Also found inland at various elevation and habitats.
 

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Indian Red Admiral (Vanessa indica)

Another migrant along the coast also some resident population. A very good food resource for flycatchers.
 

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Peablue or Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus)

Another common species, mostly abundant during autumn (September-November). Easily distinguished from other blues by the size difference.
 

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Asian Swallowtail (Papilio xuthus)

I have seen it only during migration (March-April & September-October). Another coastal migrant as i have hardly seen them in the city parks.
 

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Eastern Pale clouded Yellow (Colias erate)

Abundant in spring-summer, no's eventually decrease to few individuals during autumn.
 

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Common Grass Yellow (Eurema hecabe)

This one's pretty scarce or often overlooked. I have seen it only in one occasion in Shanghai. Other than pretty much common country side butterfly (Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Anhui etc).
 

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Tongeia filicaudis

Very less along the coast during spring/summer but abundant during autumn. Often seen with the Pale grass blue.
 

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Common Straight Swift (Parnara guttata)

Mostly abundant in Autumn (my another barbershop tick).
 

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Excellent stuff,but with 1400 sp still a way to go.

I will be in Sichuan in May and Butterflies will be up there with birds and mammals for me.

The first thing I would do is compile a checklist, have you done this?

There is a book on the butterflies of china, but not in English and £500, not got it but may have to if I cant borrow one.

Have you any contacts with Lepidoptera specialists in China? In Vietnam I managed to identify 97 species with help from a resident expert.

Would be good to post photos in such a manner that they can be used as an identification resource.

keep posting
Dave
 
Excellent stuff,but with 1400 sp still a way to go.


There is a book on the butterflies of china, but not in English and £500, not got it but may have to if I cant borrow one.


Dave


Which begs the question of Thirudevarum, what are you using as an ID resource?


A
 
Hi Dave,


I recently got the 4 volume "Butterflies of China" handbook. I guess, this is what you mentioned? This book costs bit less in China (300 pounds). It has been extremely helpful even though it's in Chinese, it also comes with the checklist.

My friend is also going on tour to Sichuan in May(Birdtour Asia) and also keen on getting some nice butterflies.

Hongkong has a very active lepidopterist society but i personally don't know any one.

Good luck with the trip. Looking forward to see some of your butterflies from Sichuan.
 
Andy, Dave Here is my handbook "Butterflies of China". Except the latin names, the book is in complete chinese.
 

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I recently got the 4 volume "Butterflies of China" handbook. I guess, this is what you mentioned? This book costs bit less in China (300 pounds). It has been extremely helpful even though it's in Chinese, it also comes with the checklist.

Very interesting, do you think it might be available at that price in Hong Kong? How otherwise might I get a copy from China?

Does this book have maps, ie is it possible for a non Chinese reader to work out which species known from Sichuan?

cheers
dave
 
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