Common But Pretty Butterflies

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Hong Kong, one butterfly you are more likely to encounter is the Colour Sergeant (Athyma nefte).

Female

Colour Sergeant can be seen almost everywhere in Hong Kong throughout the year. They like to visit flowers so it is very easy to spot them in urban and country parks.  

Female

In contrast to the bird world, some female butterflies are more colourful than the males, such as this female Colour Sergeant. 

The colours of the male are not as bright. 

Unlike the females, sometimes the males can be found on the ground sucking minerals from mud and even faeces. 

Common butterflies are very often ignored by photographers but I can’t get enough of the Indian Fritillary (Argyreus hyperbius). 

Female

 
The female Indian Fritillary mimics the appearance of the poisonous Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus) to repel predators. 

Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus) 

The male, on the other hand, is less colourful.

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Pretty Dragonflies

Dragonflies are also in abundance in Hong Kong. To date, a total of 115 species have been recorded including two endemic species, Fukienogomphus choifongae and Leptogomphus hongkongensis. 

The colours of some common dragonflies, especially the males, are very pretty. One of my favourites is the Crimson Dropwing (Trithemis aurora). Male

The female is less colourful. Crimson Dropwing (Trithemis aurora) Female

 
Left, Common Red Skimmer (Orthetrum pruinosum neglectum), Male 

 
Crimson Darter (Crocothemis servilia), Male 

Russet Percher(Neurothemis fluctuans), Male,  

The ones that can not compete with the colours make up for it with their acrobatic skills.
Indigo Dropwing (Trithemis festiva) Male

Blue Dasher (Brachydiplax chalybea flavovittata), Male 

I found this female Blue Dasher flying around a small pond trying to lay eggs which gave me the opportunity to get rare shots of a dragonfly in-flight.