Down Memory Lane
The Burmese Caerulean (Jamides philatus subditus)
This species, referred to as the Burmese Caerulean, was recorded in Singapore by the early authors. Both the reference books, Butterflies of the Malay Peninsula by Corbet & Pendlebury and Butterflies of West Malaysia and Singapore by WA Fleming listed this species as extant in Singapore in the checklists found in the books. It is described as uncommon.
The Burmese Caerulean has distinctive black wedge-shaped submarginal spots on the underside of the hindwing and sets it apart from the other lookalike species of the Jamides genus. The upperside is a pretty light sky blue. It has a filamentous white-tipped tail at vein 2 of the hindwing.
These shots, taken this year in Malaysia, show the Burmese Caerulean puddling at a sandy streambank. It would be awesome to see this species again in Singapore. Will it be back here again one day? Or will it remain only in our memories and is gone forever from Singapore?
