Iraota timoleon
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~60%
Iraota timoleon, the silverstreak blue, is a species of lycaenid or blue butterfly found in Asia. Male. Upperside. Forewing black, the basal two-thirds of the lower area of the wing deep metallic blue, varying in extent in different specimens. Hindwing also black, the disc deep metallic blue which also varies in extent, abdominal marginal space pale, a glandular basal patch between veins 7 and 8; tail black, tipped with white. Cilia of both wings black, tipped with white. Underside dark chocolate brown variegated, being paler in parts. Forewing a gradually formed club-sliaped silvery streak in the cell, touching the sub-costal nervure, reaching a little beyond the middle of the cell, a round silvery spot at the end of the cell, a discal series of four spots in a straight line, in pairs, the upper two below the costa, the other two in the middle of the disc, the upper and lower portions of the wing paler than the centre portion. Hindwing with a very prominent, curiously-shaped silvery band, which extends from the base where it is narrow, suddenly broadens, has a point upwards and a lobe downwards, then narrows somewhat and turns upwards and expands into a large lobe... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
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More parks will be added in future updates.
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Silverstreak Blue sighting in Hong Kong on a given day, based on 141 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 75th most-seen of the 1125 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 60%, if each day is a fresh chance.
November to January
In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Silverstreak Blue in Hong Kong on a given day, against about 10% in February to October, the lowest months. Those are among Hong Kong's driest months, with about 30 mm of rain a month against 280 mm in June.
Among the best
Of the 6 cities where we can rate Silverstreak Blue sightings, Hong Kong ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Tuen Mun (China, about 10%).
Same family: Lycaenidae
The closest relatives of the Silverstreak Blue that you can see in Hong Kong (family Lycaenidae, Gossamer-winged Butterflies) are Pale Grass Blue (about 20%), Plains Cupid (about 20%) and Abisara echeria (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Silverstreak Blue is recorded against all the insects logged in Hong Kong (141 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
