Our Winged Delights

After a long dry season  of 4-5 months (Jan-May), rain seems to be the rarest commodity in this part of the world, and is longed for, prayed for, excited for! Everything, especially living things wait for it. But some of us have other things in mind aside from the rain, and that includes butterflies. After a few downpour, in time for the flowers and greens, they are seen swarming around, joyously and seemingly in rituals.

blues and blacks linger on dried branches, which they seem to like so much, whether dead branches (left) or still green (right). Maybe the dill aroma make them a bit tipsy or hallucinate as they don't seem to fly far from the plant after minutes of sucking. They just converge there day and night! I actually planted this plant after observing that they like it so much. 

(Ideopsis juventa-4, Euploea mulciber, Parantica vitrina, Euploea mulciber (6)

Tirumala limniace (2) still clinging on the dead dill branches

Most of them though still prefer the nectars: Duranta erecta (left) and white morning glory (right), Junonia hedonia

Lemon emigrant, Catopsilia pomona are so plenty because of the big Casia alata tree or golden shower (right), the leaves of which they mostly devoured with relish. Those above right are their catterpillars.

 The swallowtails, Papilio alphenor -male (left) and female (right) prefer the nectar from Clerodendrum intermedium

The yellows, Appias olferna (left) and Catopsilia pomona (right) seem like to prefer the Duranta erecta nectar. I like them there also for the color contrast.

                            

Left: Common grass yellow, Eurema hecabe; Right: lime butterfly, Papilio demolius

The one on the left is Euploea mulciber, while at the right is a moth, Ophthalmis lincea.

Note: I am sorry for not being able to control myself uploading, they are so much in one post. Besides, i didn't have much time to look for their names, somehow i already know them but i forgot at the moment. I can't wait for the right time to share them with you.

Euchrysops cnejus (blue one), Pareronia boebera

Identification mostly due to the kind help from Dr. Peter B. Hardy

A beauty amidst a chaotic environment!

Clerodendrum intermedium

This post is again inspired by Autumn Belle's post on the same genus, which reminded me i have this photos a few years back in my files. I found this growing in the thicket under secondary growth vegetation. I remember i have been seeing this flowers also when we were children and exploring the wilderness at the disguise that we were playing in neighbor's yard.

Mothers don't permit us if we will tell the truth that we are exploring dense vegetation in the nearby "forest", otherwise known as untended coconot groves left for themselves. The undergrowths have been colonized by thick vegetation of shrubs, grasses, vines and a lot more. Mothers of course are afraid that their kids will be bitten by snakes, scorpions or insects which are dangerous, and of course limbs with lots of scratches or wounds. 

But we kids then have strategies!!!

At close scrutiny, the florets somewhat resemble that of Clerodendrum of Autumn Belle. However, the plants habit is definitely different, this being erect and simple compared to its bushy sister.

This also produces berries or fruits which turn violet or blue when ripe. I just haven't seen birds eating them, that's something i should know later if i am still brave enough to go inside the thicket.

In Tagalog this is called 'kasupanggil' and it has some medicinal values.

For Reference please click HERE: or: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Clerodendrum_intermedium_Blanco1.173.png

I would like to post this again to Today's Flowers  or: http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/