254: Bayadera hyalina Selys, 1891

     Number: 254 / Family: Euphaeidae / Genus: Bayadera

Species: Bayadera hyalina / Clear-winged Satinwing

Province(s) sighted: Chiang Mai

Habitat: Forested Shaded streams

In flight: July / Sightings (by me): Rare

Species easily confused with: N/A

*As there is no common name, even for the genus, I decided upon 'Clear-winged' as it ties in with the Thai name and I raised the name 'Clear-winged' for the genus Bayadera. If you can think of better, let me know.

One species I have always wanted to see and apparently lives at Nam Nao National Park (though I have never seen it), is Bayadera hyalina. Well, that chance finally came along on a trip to Chiang Mai with Noppadon Makbun in July, 2024. While we were at Doi Inthanon, one teneral male dropped down onto a leaf right above up obscuring most of it, but you could clearly see the markings. I got a couple of photos, but Noppadon already has great shots of it. For me, it was a first. So I attempted to get him to move a little. It was a calculated risk and it absolutely worked! Then I woke up and ate my cornflakes. Nope... it flew about 10 metres or so, landed, then quickly moved again. I ended up with a couple of terrible shots. I wanted to cry, but then Noppadon reminded me that I had now seen it so not all bad! I will return one day to try and find it again. Having said that, I really want to find it at Nama Nao.

The 'Teneral' Male

Here is what we first saw... you can clearly see the stripes on the thorax.

When I tried to coax him out of hiding, he flew further away and was even more obscured.

Here I could see him better but he was about 15 metres away in the gloom... then gone...

Apologies for these terrible shots but will definitely return to try and find it again!