Pantoporia paraka paraka

This is the second of two species of the genus Pantoporia that have been observed in recent years.  Although all 5 species of this genus were listed for Singapore by the early reseachers, only two have been reliably confirmed to exist in recent years - The Common Lascar (Pantoporia hordonia hordonia) and Pantoporia paraka paraka.  Both are relatively uncommon, and are quite local in their distribution.  However, as they are almost indistinguishable from the lookalikes in the genus Lasippa of which the Burmese Lascar is more common, field observations  may not be a totally good gauge of the density of the various species.  Pantoporia paraka paraka is most often seen at Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve, and appears to be the only one of the "Lascar" species occuring there.  The same can be said of the Sensory Trail at Pulau Ubin.  The likely reason is that the host plant, a three-leafed climber, is present in abundance in both locations. We have observed a female of the species laying eggs on the host plant.  The lime-green eggs are laid singly on the top surface of a leaf.  The butterfly glides in the usual "Lascar" fashion and is rather alert.  Occasionally, several specimens are seen together at flowering trees.  The butterfly gives an appearance of more orange than the other lookalike species, as the orange bands are wider than the black-brown bands.

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