Hey ya'll
Not many people would have noticed this, and not many may actually care...
but I have over the years witnessed a disturbingly drastic decrease in the number of blue pansy butterflies (Junonia orithya).
but I have over the years witnessed a disturbingly drastic decrease in the number of blue pansy butterflies (Junonia orithya).
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| Male from my personal collection |
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| Female from my personal collection. |
Once abundant all around the Klang Valley, they have become almost non-existent in places like Bangsar, Subang/Sunway area (where most of my field observations are). I know the butterfly in itself is not exactly threatened of endangered but I think it is very important that we take note whenever species loose their footholds in local environments. This, is after all how some species disappear seemingly "without any signs" from their once abundant habitats/environments. We have seen instances of this multiple times with various other animal species, and just because a butterfly species may be widespread does not make it invulnerable to such threats.
However, because of a clear lack of resources and manpower on my part, it is increasingly difficult for me to make any empiric claim to this based on my observations alone. As such, before I make a mountain out of a molehill, I would like to call out now, to my fellow lepidopterists, entomologists, environmentalists, and everyday photographers to keep an eye out for this beautiful butterfly, its larvae, or pupae and report any sightings (location, time, date and number of individuals with pictures, if possible) of them in urban areas to cyrenwong89@gmail.com.
However, because of a clear lack of resources and manpower on my part, it is increasingly difficult for me to make any empiric claim to this based on my observations alone. As such, before I make a mountain out of a molehill, I would like to call out now, to my fellow lepidopterists, entomologists, environmentalists, and everyday photographers to keep an eye out for this beautiful butterfly, its larvae, or pupae and report any sightings (location, time, date and number of individuals with pictures, if possible) of them in urban areas to cyrenwong89@gmail.com.
Cheers,
Cyren
Cyren
3 comments:
I'm just curious, how do u differentiate the males and the females? by colour? they look otherwise than the colour, very similar to me.
Hi
Well there are other ways to differentiate the males and the females (the sex organs are different, of course, and some species have different kinds of antenna depending on its gender) but yes, for most species its the wing patterns, size, and color.
I know this is late, but I wanted to wish you luck with this. =) Keep us posted on your findings.
Anything new on these gorgeous beauties now?
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