Ancistroides gemmifer gemmifer (Butler)

Ressembles very much like a K. sindhu but the orange discal band is less intense and indented on the outer margin. The undersides have glistening post-discal spots (including on the FW underside - first picture) which may not be apparent in the dark shades of the undergrowth. The flash of the camera will immediately sets it apart from K. sindhu. Has the same habits of A. armatus and is found in dense undisturbed undergrowths. 

Habitat indicator

RSP	WV	PG	VF	FTR	SC	LWDF	LWPF	LMEF	UMN	MN
						X	x

Frequency observation chart: (S marks the usual occurences, H marks an unusually high occurence, F for first record)

2014

2015

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mac

Apr

May

June

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

S1(F)

S1

 11:25

 11:28

11:29

Above photos 01 March 2015

Consult the voucher specimen from S1:   http://nlliew66butterflies2.blogspot.com/2015/07/ancistroides-gemmifer-butler-1879.html

The Red Demon, Ancistroides armatus armatus (H. Druce)

Forest butterfly of the deep shades where ginger and palms abound in the moist undergrowth. Commoner in the hills. It is larger than K. sindhu and the much broader orange discal band extends towards the tornus of the forewings.

Habitat indicator

RSP	WV	PG	VF	FTR	SC	LWDF	LWPF	LMEF	UMN	MN
						x	x	x

Frequency observation chart: (S marks the usual occurences, H marks an unusually high occurence, F for first record)

2013
Mac	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct
						S3

2013		2014
Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mac	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct
							S2

2014

2015

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mac

Apr

May

June

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

S2

S1

2016
Jan	Feb	Mac	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
					S2

This is a forest butterfly, photographed from a sunlit understorey of a forest @ 450M elevation. Above 2 photos 21 September 2013 @ 11:03

Above 2 photos 22 Nov 2014 @ 11:26

Above photos of an exceptionally large specimen from a dark ginger thicket of an undergrowth at around 450M: 12 Apr 2015 @ 12:24

The Chocolate Demon, Ancistroides nigrita maura (Snellen)

This is an unmistakable butterfly and can be seen frequently in the earlier part of the morning in the vicinity of ginger thickets in wooded countries and sometimes, rarely, in semi-open areas. It is unmarked above and below and is the larger of the dark brown skippers that inhabit the undergrowth. Found equally in rather abandoned or wilder parts of parks and hedges of verdures in urbanised areas.

Habitat indicator

RSP	WV	PG	VF	FTR	SC	LWDF	LWPF	LMEF	UMN	MN
x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x

Frequency observation chart: (S marks the usual occurences, H marks an unusually high occurence, F for first record)

2013
Mac	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct
						S	S

2013		2014
Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mac	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct
S	S	H	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

2014

2015

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mac

Apr

May

June

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

2016
Jan	Feb	Mac	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

2017
Jan	Feb	Mac	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

2018
Jan	Feb	Mac	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

2019
Jan	Feb	Mac	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

2020
Jan	Feb	Mac	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

2021
Jan	Feb	Mac	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

2022
Jan	Feb	Mac	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Above 2 photos from 14 September 2013 @ 10:29.

A lighter coloured specimen: 06 October 2013 @ 11:19

Another one nearby @ 11:29

11:31

Above 2 photos 11 October 2013 @ 9:22

13 December 2013 @ 13:19

28 December 2013 @ 14:00

18 Jan 2014 @ 12:14

28 Dec 2014 @ 11:53

22 Sept 2017 @ 10:54

Feeding on ginger flowers: 15 Feb 2018 @ 12:35

08 Feb 2020 @ 11:18


*     *     *     *     *

The caterpillar was found feeding on various species of ginger including Zingiber gracilis Jack. The caterpillar spins 2 strand of silk to fold the edges of the leaves together for protection and it continues to feed.

4th instar caterpillar

5th instar

 preparing to pupate. the caterpillar turns pale coloured.

early pupa

mature pupa

pre-eclosion. The imago emerges on the same day.