Butterfly Photography: There are More Reasons than Aesthetic Pursuit

I am not a Lepidopterist, but a photographer. I love photographing birds and butterflies for the reason that they are free beings like me-of-my-dreams. They inspire me. They move, they fly, hide; and if we want to capture them, we have to adjust ourselves to their rhythm, mood and behavioural patterns. It is an exercise in patience and waiting. It is a challenge worth taking. 

The more we know and get involved with the lives of our co-inhabitants on this planet, we would also begin to care. Its easy to care for the giants of our planet, and of course, also for those are profitable. We parade our social status with the cost and rarity of our dogs and cats, and other pets; owning them gives us a lot of gratification. Here is a species we cannot own. Butterflies are for everyone, for the poor and rich, the inferior and superior, the proletariats and bourgeoisie. 

Butterflies are faint and feeble. Many of them only have a life span of less than two weeks, though a few of them live for months. Now I know why these always are in super hurry. They  contribute to the pollination and sustainability of plants and trees; and they do it in uncomplaining generosity. They, at least partially, run the planet, along with bees and others. Butterflies are adorable. 

This season I went mad with butterflies. I began to watch them in St. Anthony's Friary garden, Koramangala, Bangalore. I kept watching. It is a strange phenomenon, once I began seeing them hopping, dancing and flying around, I just could not see anything else. I spend hours together in the  scorching sun. Perhaps others around and those passing by could make nothing out of it. I could occasionally see the ladies and man, who worked in the kitchen and around, looking and giggling at me in sheer sarcasm. How do I explain it to those who have never fallen in love?

Blue Pansy, Junonia Orithya

I spotted one buzzing by. Then I knew there were two. They eluded me for hours. Finally my waiting paid off. I photographed one. Then it seemed that they were all around me and in no hurry. 

Grass Demon, Udaspes Folus

Small and camouflaged with dotted crotons, I see them taking off but not where they land. From close up they surprise you with their dotted contrast.  

Plain Tiger, Danaus Chrysippus

True to their name, they demand attention. It remains majestic and special, even if you spot a swarm of hundreds.

Mottled Emigrant, Catopsilia Pyranthe

When flying it looks greater, for its upper wing is white. As if to show off its upper wings they fly around a lot before coming back to the same plant and same flower again and again. 

Red Pierrot, Talicada Nyseus

This tiny one takes your breath away. As it opens its wings you see a completely different butterfly. For a while I refused to believe they are the same.

Tawny Coster, Acraea Terpsicore

I just spotted one, and I clicked till my shutter-button finger ached. It only acquitted with flowers of amazing colours; but none could beat its splendor.

Yellow Pansy,  Junonia Hierta

It would land unceremoniously, when it opens its wings celebrations begin. The two eyes on the wings keep shifting colours.

Angled Castor, Ariadne Ariadne

It flies around like a little fire ball, moving swiftly through leaves and bushes. And finally, bypassing all buds and flowers, it lands on some unexpected places and plants.

Blue Mormon, Papilio Polymnestor

This is a large butterfly, perhaps one of the largest found in the region. It is grand and majestic. It is the state butterfly of Maharashtra.

Brown King Crow, Euploea Klugii

Captivating coffee brown colour decorated with contrasting white spots makes it stand out. A well trimmed and neat butterfly. 

 

Clouded Yellow, Colias Croceus

Adult female butterflies settle, often under a selected leaf, to lay eggs. They select a leaf which could become food for the caterpillar. Caterpillars don't eat all kinds of leaves, it depends on the breed. So the mother butterfly has to make an informed decision.

Common Emigrant, Catopsilia Pomona

These look a little dull while seated, but while flying they become eye-catchy. One would wait for it to fly to see it in full grandeur.

 

Common Four-ring, Ypthima Huebneri

Though small, it's eyeball like patterns stare at you, and gathers attention to itself. Those popup designs on rugged texture makes it special.  

Common Hedge Blue, Acytolepis Puspa 

Though named Common Hedge Blue, they are not so common to find, at least around here, I spotted it only once, and was lucky enough to click a couple of pictures.

 

Common Jezebel, Delias Eucharis

These bear the colours on the proposed flag (2018) of Karnataka state. Yellow, red, white and the emblem in black. Could this be the state butterfly of Karnataka? As of now only Maharastra has a state butterfly. 

Common Leopard, Phlantha Phlantha

The colour and the design gives it the name. Otherwise its withdrawn and timid. Beautiful to spot on a bright green leaves. 

Common Mormon, Papilio Polytes

It is a swallowtail butterfly widely distributed across Asia. These butterflies curiously have three different females. Thus the name, Common Mormon, obviously reflecting the Mormon sect in America, which as we know, practiced polygamy.

Danaid Eggfly Female, Hypolimnas Misippus

They appear like a fire ball when sun hits on them. These do not discriminate; they move from shrubs to grass, from grass to trees, from trees to bushes and plants, and even to dry earth. 

Dark Blue Tiger, Tirumala Septentrionis

These don't come to stay. They appear from nowhere. They are around for a while; and they are gone.  It is the case with many other butterflies too. As I spot them during the sunny part of the day, I often wonder as to where do they come from, and where do they go? 

Grass Yellow, Eurema Hecabe

Photographing a flying Grass Yellow is almost an impossible task, for they fly zigzagged and fast. I was adamant to get one while flying because all their special beauty is on their upper side of the wings. 

 

Lemon Pansy, Junonia Lemonias 

These rarely leave the ground, their beauty gets muddled with the colour of barren earth. But when they emerge out and reveal itself, only they we witness its illustrious wings.

Lime Swallowtail, Apilio Demoleus

Quite common in gardens, a few in a garden makes the garden full. they are large and always flying and moving around; fluttering their wings constantly, even while on a flower. 

Oriental Grass Dart, Taractrocera Maevius

These look small and like a moth, But look closer at its antennae. A butterfly's antennae are club-shaped with a long shaft and a bulb at the end.

Pea Blue, Lampides Boeticus 

This little one almost goes unnoticed. They are small to be noticed while flying, and gets lost at the tips of leaves and flowers while feeding and resting.

Pioneer White, Belenois Aurota

Yellow and white combination is a designer's secret. Here is the designer butterfly. Just awesome.

Red Helen, Papilio Helenus

Red Helen is most often found on the Ixora flower. It is a rather large swallowtail butterfly. It takes time and raids almost every single flower before retiring. 

 

Tailed Jay, Graphium Agamemnon 

The green dots make them almost part of the host plant. among swallowtail butterflies, these stand distinct with its rich green. 

The Small Cupid, Chilades Parrhasius

Keeping to their size, they prefer small flowers, mostly weed flowers, to gather their daily sustenance. one really needs to look down to find them; and stoop down to picture them. 

Blue Triangle, Graphium Sarpedon

It was a rare visitor to the garden. Nobody can miss it for its colour and energy. I ran behind it lest i miss it. Finally it sat on the marigold flower. And my finger pressed on the shutter-button.

Chocolate Pansy, Junonia Iphita

It is so very unassuming, but once we notice it on the leaf it has a strange attraction. Perhaps the chocolate colour does it.

 

Danaid Eggfly Male, Hypolimnas Misippus

These large spotted ones will make you jump with excitement when you spot it. From a direction the round spots have shining blue contour. The upper side wings and the under side of the wings are different and equally pretty.  

Great Eggfly Female, Hypolimnas Bolina

For days I mistook it for Brown King Crow, later I realised these are different. These belong to another family. The design patterns and the the mannerisms are different.

Peacock Pansy, Junonia Almanac

The brighter eyes on the bright wings definitely has the splendour of an Indian peacock. Spends a lot of time on every flower.

Tiny Grass Blue, Zizula Hylax

I found it restlessly flying over the grass and flower beds. Finally sat pretty on the marigold flower. Its tiny by nature, but in close up beautiful to behold. 

Common Baron, Euthalia Aconthea

As I watched out it glided down on to the the leaf of a rather tall teakwood tree. It settled down and was in no hurry. Its sepia brown balanced the colour of the dried teakwood flowers and nuts.

As I wind up this season, I had hundreds of lovely photographs of butterflies. I took equal amount of time to identify and find their names. I have photographed 35 types of butterflies. All from Bangalore.

1. Angled Castor, Ariadne Ariadne
2. Blue Mormon, Papilio Polymnestor
3. Blue Pansy, Junonia Orithya
4. Blue Triangle, Graphium Sarpedon
5. Brown King Crow, Euploea Klugii
6. Chocolate Pansy, Junonia Iphita
7. Clouded Yellow, Colias Croceus
8. Common Baron, Euthalia Aconthea
9. Common Emigrant. Catopsilia Pomona
10. Common Fourring, Ypthima Huebneri
11. Common Hedge Blue, Acytolepis Puspa
12. Common Jezebel, Delias Eucharis
13. Common Leopard, Phlantha Phlantha
14. Common Mormon, Papilio Polytes
15. Danaid Eggfly Female, Hypolimnas Misippus
16. Danaid Eggfly Male, Hypolimnas Misippus
17. Dark Blue Tiger, Tirumala Septentrionis 
18. Grass Demon, Udaspes Folus
19. Grass Yellow, Eurema Hecabe
20. Great Eggfly Female, Hypolimnas Bolina
21. Lemon Pansy Junonia Lemonias 
22. Lime Swallowtail, Apilio Demoleus 
23. Mottled Emigrant, Catopsilia Pyranthe
24. Oriental Grass Dart, Taractrocera Maevius
25. Pea Blue, Lampides Boeticus

26. Peacock Pansy, Junonia Almanac

27. Pioneer White, Belenois Aurota
28. Plain Tiger, Danaus Chrysippus
29. Red Helen, Papilio Helenus
30. Red Pierrot. Talicada Nyseus
31. Tailed Jay, Graphium Agamemnon
32. Tawny Coster, Acraea Terpsicore
33. The Small Cupid, Chilades Parrhasius
34. Tiny Grass Blue, Zizula Hylax
35. Yellow Pansy, Junonia Hierta

The butterfly said to the sun, ‘they can't stop talking about my transformation. I can only do it once in my lifetime. If only they know they can do it at any time and in countless ways’ –Dodinsky.