Mt. Kinabalu area, Sabah

[moloch]

My friends and I headed to Sabah after our stay at Taman Negara. We spent about 8 days in the the Mt. Kinabalu area. We stayed at the Kinabalu Pine Resort in Kundasang which turned out to be quite nice and well situated. From the resort, it was a short drive to the Kinabalu NP headquarters, about a 40 minute drive to Poring Hot Springs or about 1.5 hours out to the Rafflesia Centre. We alternated between these sites depending upon the local weather conditions.

Mt. Kinabalu is a scenic place. It is a big mountain so it was quite astounding to see how quickly some people are able to ascend to the summit. We only worked the area from the park headquarters to the trail head of the summit track. Some of the guys walked for a few hours on the Mempening, Liwagu and Silau-Silau tracks where they found a number of interesting birds. The best for me was a Fruithunter, a species that I missed on my first trip to southeast Asia in 1990.

Here are a few shots of the mountain.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/kinabalu12.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Kinabalu1.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/kinabalu10.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Kinabalu2.jpg


The summit of the mountain was often enveloped with clouds.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Kinabalu6.jpg


We often drove to one of the higher lookouts in the morning and watched for birds. The upper forests were rather quiet. We found Indigo Flycatchers, Sunda Bush Warblers, Golden-naped Barbets, Sunda Laughing-Thrush, Sunda Treepies, Little Pied Flycatchers, Scarlet (Temmink's) Sunbirds, Mountain Leaf Warblers, Mountain Imperial Pigeons, Little Cuckoo Doves, various swifts and others.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Kinabalu7.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/kinabalu11.jpg

... my birding friends: (L->R) Bruce, Bill and Ted.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/kinabalu8.jpg

[moloch]

Ted unfortunately sprained his ankle badly at Taman Negara so he was on crutches for much of the trip. I stayed with him for part of the time at Mt. Kinabalu and drove him from area to area for birding. I did not get out on the long forest walks but Bruce and Bill did this a few times with good success. Here is a shot by Bruce of the habitat along the Liwagu Trail. Interesting birds here included Mountain Wren Babblers, Short-tailed Magpies, White-browed Shortwings, Whitehead's Broadbill, Mountain Whistler and others.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/kinabalu13.jpg


Here are shots of the upper end of the Silau-Silau Track. I found a female Whitehead's Trogon, Fruithunter and Sunda Laughing-Thrushes in this area.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/kinabaluhabitat2.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/kinabaluhabitat.jpg


Creek that was good for Sunda Whistling-Thrushes:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/kinabaluhabitat3.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/kinabaluhabitat4.jpg


We also drove from the Kinabalu Pine Resort to the Poring Hot Springs area on a few occasions. The hot springs was a busy place with bus loads of tourists. Most soaked in the pools or went on the canopy walk. Only a few ventured into the forest. Poring had a butterfly garden that was excellent for birds. It was planted with numerous mint-looking plants that attracted a variety of butterflies. There also was a sulphurous stream that flowed through the garden. A few butterflies puddled in places along it.

habitat near Poring Hot Springs:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Poringhabitat.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Poringhabitat2.jpg

I climbed to Langanan Falls one morning. The climb is long and steep but the views along the way are good. Bamboo forest was thick in places along this trail. I had no luck, unfortunately, with the Blue-banded Pitta and Hose's Broadbill but saw other birds including Scarlet-rumped Trogons and the endemic Bornean Forktail.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/poringhabitat7.jpg

[moloch]

Langanan Falls. It was sunny when I started the climb but clouds closed in and it began to rain when I reached the falls. This was disappointing since I expected a few puddlers to be in the area. I saw an odd crow but little else along the creek.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Poringhabitat6.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Poringhabitat5.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Poringhabitat3a.jpg


This pretty Balsam was flowering near the falls:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/balsam.jpg


Flowering tree along the trail:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Poringhabitat4.jpg


The Rafflesia Centre was the third site in the area that we visited. It actually was not all that far from Kinabalu but the roads were poor, traffic heavy and the transit was slow. The forests at the Rafflesia Centre were thick and tall. The understorey was unusually dark even in the middle of the day. This was a top place for the Bornean endemic birds and other species. We saw Bornean Leafbirds, Bornean Bulbuls, Bornean Barbets, Mountain Barbets, Pygmy White-eyes, White-fronted Falconet, Long-tailed Broadbill, Chestnut-backed Scimitar Babblers, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Rufous-tailed Jungle Flycatcher and others.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Rafflesiaheadquarters2.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Rafflesiaheadquarters.jpg


Forest Quaker (Pithecops corvus) were common along the creeks near the park headquarters of Mt. Kinabalu.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/quaker.jpg

[moloch]

Common Posy (Drupadia ravindra). Several seen along the lower portion of the Langanan Falls trails.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Poringposy2.jpg


Mycalesis marginata. (thanks, Les). These were numerous near the park headquarters. They were wary and tended to perch several meters above the ground.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/bushbrown.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/bushbrown4.jpg


Orsotriaena medus One near the orchid garden at Poring Hot Springs.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/bushbrown10.jpg


Mycalesis orseis. (thanks, Les and Seow for your help). This and others were observed in the orchid garden of Poring Hot Springs.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/bushbrown20.jpg


This Mycalesis kina was huge (thanks, Seow). I found it along the track at the Rafflesia Centre. When first observed, I thought that it was a Faun due to the dark colour and large size. I was surprised when I was close enough for photos to see that it was a bush-brown.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Rafflesiabushbrown.jpg


Mycalesis janardana baluna (thanks, Les). This one was found along the Langanan Falls trail.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/PoringBushBrown.jpg


Ypthima pandocus? These were common along the Langanan Falls trail.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/PoringYpthima3-1.jpg

[moloch]

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/PoringYpthima2b.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/PoringYpthima.jpg


Ragadina makuta were common along the Langanan Falls trail.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Poringsatyrinae.jpg


An interesting one was Ragadia annulata (thanks, Les). I saw several of these at the upper trail head to the Silau-Silau Track. They always landed several meters up in trees so good photos were not possible.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Poringsatyrinae2.jpg


Erites argentina. One was found at the orchid garden of Poring Hot Springs.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/satyrinae3.jpg


Lethe perimede. (thanks, Seow). This pretty Lethe dropped to the road near the summit track one morning. It was the only individual of the species that I observed.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/unknown3.jpg


Lethe darena . (thanks, Seow). I saw one of these along the Mempening Track. It had a fair amount of orange-brown on the upperwings. This was a fairly large butterfly.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/satyrinae2a.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/satyrinae.jpg

[Angiud]

Wow! A lot of beautiful and unusual Satyridae.

Congrats with the same friendly jealousy for your amazing interesting trip and for the beautiful pictures.

[Painted Jezebel]

Les suggested that this is Mycalesis gotama.

Er..... I think I said that it looks similar, but I could not see that the species was found on Borneo.:)

Those 'Lethe' species are still confusing me. I have also looked at all closely related genera, but can not find anything. I must be missing something somewhere!

By the way, it is Mycalesis janardana baluna (if I got the ID right!).

[moloch]

Thanks, Antonio and Les.

Sorry about dropping off part of your comment, Les.

Regards,

[Glorious Begum]

Wow. A great set that you got again. Nice ! :thumbsup:

[Psyche]

There is only 1 species of Orsotriaena, so it is correct.
The M. gomata lookalike should be M. orseis.
The large one can only be M. pitana, no other spp left.

Lethe 2 is definitely L. darena.
Lethe 1 can only be keyed out as L. darena , no other left.
I think they could be 2 sexes.

TL Seow

[moloch]

Thanks, Les and Seow.

Seow, those Lethe are certainly dimorphic. I did not recognize these at all as being the same species. Thanks to you and Les for your help with the identifications.

Regards,
David

[Painted Jezebel]

There is only 1 species of Orsotriaena, so it is correct.
The M. gomata lookalike should be M. orseis.
The large one can only be M. pitana, no other spp left.

Lethe 2 is definitely L. darena.
Lethe 1 can only be keyed out as L. darena , no other left.
I think they could be 2 sexes.

TL Seow

Thanks for the correction, it was why I wanted the 'look-alike' part added in, as I felt that it could not be that.

I hope to see the giant M. pitana some day, it sounds great.

As for the Lethe, L. darena was one of four species I have found to be in Borneo, but not in The Peninsular or Thailand, namely L. darena, L. delila, L. dora and L. perimede. I could not find any photos on the net, so had to give up! Idiot that I am, I forfot that C&P4 often includes Bornean species in the keys!!!:stupid: :embrass:

[Psyche]

Didn't realised there is one more in Sabah.
As you can see Lethe 2 is the male L. darena from this website.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/59592328/Butterflies-W-Java

Lethe 1 is either female L. darena or L. perimede.

TL Seow:cheers:
PS. Lethe 1 should be L. perimede.
The female of L. darena should have a white cross band.

http://ia600306.us.archive.org/BookReader/BookReaderImages.php?zip=/20/items/umdieerdeindenja03akad/umdieerdeindenja03akad_jp2.zip&file=umdieerdeindenja03akad_jp2/umdieerdeindenja03akad_0223.jp2&scale=4&rotate=0

[moloch]

Thanks for the clarification, Seow. I have updated the labels accordingly.


Lethe delila. (thanks, Seow). I saw this butterfly once near the park headquarters. It remained in a bamboo thicket and landed on leaves about 3-4m above the ground.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/unknown1.jpg


Malayan Owl Butterfly (Neorina lowii). Observed near fallen fruit along the trail to the Rafflesias at the Rafflesia Centre.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/RafflesiaMalayanOwlButterfly.jpg


Faunis gracilis. Several observed along the track to Langanan Falls, Poring Hot Springs.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/PoringCommonFauna.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/PoringCommonFaun2.jpg


Thaumantis noureddin chartra Les suggested this species due to the wing shape. He also indicated that this is the only race of the species in Borneo. I saw a few of these in the orchid garden of Poring Hot Springs and another at the Rafflesia Centre. All of them had this unusual reddish-brown colour.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/JungleGlory.jpg


Palm King (Amathusia phidippus). (thanks, Seow). It was attracted to the lights of the ticket office at Poring Hot Springs.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/PalmKing.jpg


Clipper (Parthenos sylvia). Numerous in the butterfly garden of Poring Hot Springs.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/PoringClipper.jpg


Jester (Symbrenthia hippoclus) Several seen in the butterfly garden area of Poring Hot Springs.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/jester.jpg

[moloch]

Athyma asura Found on the walkway in the buttefly garden of Poring Hot Springs. I think it to be this species due to the black-centred white spots on the outer upper wings.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/Poringsailor.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/Poringsailor3.jpg


Neptis nata) (thanks, Seow) Butterfly garden of Poring Hot Springs. Seow's comment was "abdomen not banded; hindwing band narrow; forewing discal spot at dorsum triangular".
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/Poringsailor4.jpg


Common Sailor (Neptis hylas) Near our hotel in Kota Kinabalu.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/sailor.jpg


Amnosia decora (thanks, Seow). I saw two and both habitually landed beneath fern leaves along the Langanan Falls track.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/Poringunknown.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/Poringunknown5.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/Poringunknown2.jpg



Blue Knight (Kaniska canace). One was seen at the Rafflesia Centre and others along the road to the summit trail, Mt. Kinabalu.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/Rafflesiablueknight.jpg

[moloch]

Black-tipped Archduke (Lexias dirtea). Rafflesia Centre.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/Rafflesiaarchduke.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/Rafflesiaarchduke2.jpg


Tanacea iapis. The blue on the upper wing seems to have an irregular edge unlike the T. godartii that I photographed at Taman Negara.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/Rafflesiahorsfieldsbaron2a.jpg


Vagrant (Vagrans egista). A few were seen near the headquarters of Mt. Kinabalu.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/vagrant.jpg


Kinabalu White-banded Count (Tanaecia amisa) (thanks, Les and Seow, for all of your work to track down this identification). I saw it a few times near the headquarters of Mt. Kinabalu. It generally was shy although I did miss a couple of good photographic opportunities.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/unknown2.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/unknown2a.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/unknown2c.jpg


Blue Begum (Prothoe franck borneensis) (thanks, Les, for the race info). I saw this butterfly at the Rafflesia Centre. It was quite dull when compared to the race at Taman Negara.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/Rafflesiabluebegum.jpg

[moloch]

Blue Glassy Tiger (Ideopsis vulgaris). Poring Hot Springs.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/tiger.jpg


Plain Tiger (Danaus genutia). Poring Hot Springs
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Poringtiger3.jpg


Yellow Glassy Tiger (Parantica aspasia) I assume that it is this species although it has very little yellow when compared with those from the peninsula. This one was found at the Rafflesia Centre.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/RafflesiaYellow-GlassyTiger-1.jpg


Black-and-White Helen (Papilio nephelus). Photographed at the orchid garden of Poring Hot Springs.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/BlackandWhiteHelen.jpg


Chilasa paradoxa telesicles (thanks, Les and Seow) It did look papiliond-like rather than crow-like to me. This one was puddling in the butterfly garden but it was in an area where I was not allowed to walk. I therefore could not get close to it for photos.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Poringcrow.jpg


Banded Angle (Odontoptilum pygela). In the butterfly garden of Poring Hot Springs and also in an area where I was not allowed to walk.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/Poringskipper3-1.jpg


Creteus cyrina cyrina (thanks, Les and Seow). This was a strange and "hairy" skipper that was active on Mt. Kinabalu on a misty day. It was found at the top of the Silau-Silau Track.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/skipper2.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/skipper2a.jpg

[Psyche]

Post 14.
1. should be Lethe delila.

2. Amathusia phiddipus.(hindwing subdiscal pale band( just to inside of main band) not notched by veins, & broader than inner dark band; main(or discal) band often narrower than the postdiscal band on forewing.)

3. Symbrenthia hippoclus.(cellular bar upper margin not so strongly notched; hindwing orange submarginal band's upper end narrow.)

Post 15.
1. Athyma asura is correct.

2. Neptis nata. (abdomen not banded; hindwing band narrow; forewing discal spot at dorsum triangular.

3. Neptis hylas is correct.

4. Amnosia decora.

TL Seow:cheers:

[Psyche]

Post 16.
The blue baron here is Tanaecia iapis.
Note the other one in Taman Negara is Tanaecia godartii not T. iapis.

The white banded one I have no idea. Have search thru all the Asiatic genera in Limenitinae. No luck.

Post 17
C. paradoxa is correct. Note typical papilionid head ,large eyes & upturn antennal clubs.
An amazing skipper, but again I have no idea where to search for its identity.

TL Seow:cheers:

[Painted Jezebel]

Post 16.

The white banded one I have no idea. Have search thru all the Asiatic genera in Limenitinae. No luck.

Post 17

An amazing skipper, but again I have no idea where to search for its identity.

TL Seow:cheers:

Post 16: The upperside looks very much like Parasarpa dudu, but I the underside is wrong, I think it must be a closely related species, but can not fine one!

Post 17: I think it is Creteus cyrina cyrina, whose type location is Brunei. Funet gives no ssp., but the is a photo of a different Indian ssp. here, http://www.flickriver.com/photos/siddiqui/5055504027/ (http://www.flickriver.com/photos/siddiqui/5055504027/), which appears very similar, including the hind wing spots. Incidentally, Ek-Amnuay gives this species from Northern Thailand as the nominate ssp. I think this must be wrong, and should be the Indian ssp. C. cyrina parca.

Sorry, David, a couple of corrections:
1)The Blue Begum is P. f. borneensis.
2) The Yellow Glassy Tiger is Parantica aspasia.

[Psyche]

Post 17: I think it is Creteus cyrina cyrina, whose type location is Brunei. Funet gives no ssp., but the is a photo of a different Indian ssp. here, http://www.flickriver.com/photos/siddiqui/5055504027/ (http://www.flickriver.com/photos/siddiqui/5055504027/), which appears very similar, including the hind wing spots. Incidentally, Ek-Amnuay gives this species from Northern Thailand as the nominate ssp. I think this must be wrong, and should be the Indian ssp. C. cyrina parca.
.

Hewitson's original description of Hesperia cyrina actually states Darjeeling as the type location.
Ek-Amnuay is probably right.
http://www.archive.org/stream/annalsmagazineof4181876lond#page/450/mode/1up

TL Seow:cheers:

[Painted Jezebel]

Hewitson's original description of Hesperia cyrina actually states Darjeeling as the type location.
Ek-Amnuay is probably right.
http://www.archive.org/stream/annalsmagazineof4181876lond#page/450/mode/1up

TL Seow:cheers:

Apologies, you are correct.

Funet caused this confusion, as it lists the genus under both Pyrginae and Hesperiinae, and they have conflicting details. I looked under the Hesperiinae!

Apparently Borneo is given as the type locality for Hesperia corpa, which has been synonymised with H. cyrina, now Creteus cyrina.

Notwithstanding the above, I still think that this is the correct species.

[Psyche]

Notwithstanding the above, I still think that this is the correct species.

I fully agree. The match is very good.
How did it end up in Borneo?
This reminds me of another skipper which is found in Borneo but not in Malaya. Hasora proxissima.

The white-banded Limenitinine, you are probably right. It could be an isolated race of Parasarpa dudu best treated as a separate species.
Problem is there is no mention of it.
Well, not another new genus, new species stuff surely.

TL Seow:cheers:

[moloch]

Thanks very much, Les and Seow, for your help. I think that you guys are the "butterfly detectives" with your ability to track the butterflies' identity.

The butterfly that looks like Parasarpa dudu was an interesting one. It seems amazing to me that these are not listed or that there are not photos from Kinabalu. I saw several and they were all right around the headquarters. I am surprised that something large and conspicuous could be there but yet be unrecorded. The undersurface of the Kinabalu butterfly seems quite different to photos of P. dudu from Taiwan and China so you are no doubt correct that it would at least be a different race if not species.

I could not find anything regarding the status of the skipper. Is it considered rare? The photo from India was a good match and the photographer there thought that his was the first photo from that part of the country.

Regards,

[moloch]

Another shot of the Creteus cyrina cyrina:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/skipper2c.jpg


Celaenorrhinus dhanada lativittus (thanks, Les and Seow). This flat looked odd with the large translucent patch in the upper wings. I don't see anything like it in the Malaysia guide. This butterfly was photographed in the botanic gardens at the park headquarters of Kinabalu.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/skipper1.jpg


Notocrypta pria. (thanks, Seow) This one was photographed at the butterfly garden of Poring Hot Springs.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Poringskipper.jpg


Koruthaialos frena (thanks, Seow). Photographed at the butterfly gardens of Poring Hot Springs.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Poringskipper2.jpg


Orchid at the Kinabalu Park headquarters:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/orchid.jpg


One of the highlights of the trip for me was seeing my first flowering Rafflesia. These were seen at the Rafflesia Centre. To see the flowers, my friends and I hired a guide and walked about 45 minutes down a steep hillside. There was only this single flower that was open but several buds were developing nearby.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Rafflesia2.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Rafflesia.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Rafflesia3.jpg

[moloch]

This lovely ginger was flowering along the Langanan Falls Track of Poring Hot Springs.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/flameginger2.jpg


There are app. 25 species of Rhododendrons in Kinabalu NP. My favourite was the Low's Rhododendron with its clusters of large yellow flowers. This one was flowering about 10m beyond the gate of the summit track.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/rhododendron1.jpg

More Rhododendrons:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/rhododendron3.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/rhododendron2.jpg


This melastome was abundant near the Kinabalu Park headquarters. The fruits attracted many birds just as they do in the new world tropics.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/melastome.jpg


There were three species of fish in the creek near the headquarters. They were fairly easy to see. All had barbules around the mouth.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/fish3.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/fish2.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/fish.jpg

[moloch]

Oops, I overlooked these two skippers.

Large Snow Flat (Tagiades gana) Photographed at the butterfly garden at Poring Hot Springs.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Poringflat.jpg


Tagiades japetus Photographed at the butterfly garden at Poring Hot Springs.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Poringflat2.jpg


This trilobite beetle was spectacular. I saw several near the botanic gardens.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Trilobite4.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Trilobite3.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Trilobite5.jpg


Large phasmid:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/walkingstick.jpg


Mt. Kinabalu was the best place that we found for moths on the trip. Some of them were spectacular. This one would flick the tip of its abdomen over its back in the manner of a scorpion.
Dudusa vethi borneesis (Notodontidae). (thanks, Les)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/moth21a.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/moth21.jpg

[moloch]

More moths from Mt. Kinabalu:
Moth 1
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/moth11.jpg


Moth 2
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/moth12.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/moth12a.jpg


Moth 3 Netria viridescens (male) - Notodontidae (thanks, Les)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/moth10.jpg


Moth 4 Close to Spilosoma grogane - Arctiinae (thanks, Les)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/moth3.jpg


Moth 5 Anuga rotunda - Eutelidae (thanks, Les)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/moth4.jpg


Moth 6 Problepsis borneamagna - Geometridae (thanks, Les)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/moth2.jpg


Moth 7 Close to Barsine lucibilis - Arctiinae
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/moth13.jpg

[moloch]

Moth 8
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/moth14.jpg


Moth 9 A Syntypisis sp. - They are VERY difficult to tell apart from a photo. (thanks, Les)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/moth15.jpg


Moth 10 Ischyja hagenii - Catocalinae (thanks, Les)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/moth16.jpg


Moth 11 Hypopyra lactipex - Catocalinae (thanks, Les)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/moth26.jpg


Moth 12 Eoophyla nigripilasa - Crambidae (thanks, Les)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/moth32.jpg


Moth 13 A Geometrid - possibly a Eucyclodes sp., but no real idea. (thanks, Les)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/moth33.jpg


Moth 14
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/moth5.jpg


Moth 15 Crambidae (thanks, Les)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/moth17.jpg

[Psyche]

Post 25.

1. Celaenorrhinus aurivittatus.

2. Notocrypta pria. (No forewing spot; white band not notched; hindwing margin squared.)

3. Koruthaialos frena (wide band but hindwing underside no spots as in A. gemmifer or Pseudokerana. )

Post 27.
The 2 Snow Flats are correct.

TL Seow:cheers:

[Painted Jezebel]

The moth in post #27 is Dudusa vethi borneesis (Notodontidae).

I'm in court today, tomorrow is Songkran (Thai New Year), so you may have to wait a couple of days for the rest!

[Painted Jezebel]

Sorry David, but I have failed. I have found some, but not all:

1) No idea
2) No idea
3) Netria viridescens (male) - Notodontidae
4) Close to Spilosoma grogane - Arctiinae
5) Anuga rotunda - Eutelidae
6) Problepsis borneamagna - Geometridae
7) Close to Barsine lucibilis - Arctiinae
8) No idea
9) A Syntypisis sp. - They are VERY difficult to tell apart from a photo.
10) Ischyja hagenii - Catocalinae
11) Hypopyra lactipex - Catocalinae
12) Eoophyla nigripilasa - Crambidae
13) A Geometrid - possibly a Eucyclodes sp., but no real idea.
14) Crambidae - Been unable to find this one.
15) No idea.

[Painted Jezebel]

Post 25.

1. Celaenorrhinus aurivittatus.

TL Seow:cheers:

I have some concern about this one. The band looks too wide and irregular for C. aurivittatus. To my mind, it looks closer to C. dhanada lativittus.

[Psyche]

I have some concern about this one. The band looks too wide and irregular for C. aurivittatus. To my mind, it looks closer to C. dhanada lativittus.

You are right.
I did'nt realise that there is one more species that have slipped passed Malaya into Borneo.
I have assumed it was a ssp. of C. aurivittatus.
The name lativittus means wide band.
Here is the description.
http://www.archive.org/stream/transactionsofzo14zool#page/114/mode/1up

TL Seow:cheers:

[Psyche]

One more oopsie to correct.

The Mycalesis pitana should be Mycalesis amoena (or perhaps as M. kina.)

Staudinger's description of M. pitana. I can't read German but there are frequent reference to M. marginata so it must fairly similar. At any rate the wingspan of 40 to 45 mm is too small.
http://www.archive.org/stream/deutscheentomolo91896gese#page/230/mode/1up

Here is the description of Mycalesis amoena.
http://www.archive.org/stream/proceedingsofgen73zool#page/339/mode/1up
The wingspan of 2 1/8 inches (60mm) is right.

Moulton also described it as M. amoena rampaiana, but Staudinger's M. kina would have precedence whether as subspecies or full species.
http://www.archive.org/stream/entomologist481915brit#page/97/mode/1up

TL Seow:cheers:

[moloch]

Thanks very much, guys, for all of your help. I will make the name changes as you have indicated.


Here are a few more shots from Mt. Kinabalu.

Another shot of Lethe delila
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/unknown1a.jpg


Striped Coral Snake -- DOR at our hotel. Although small, it is to be a highly toxic elapid.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/StripedCoralSnake.jpg


I think that this is one of the water skinks in the genus Sphenomorphus. There are a number of similar skinks in Sabah and I am not certain as to the identity. This was was standing on a rock just below the first waterfall on the Langanan Falls track, Poring Hot Springs.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Poringskink2.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/Poringskink.jpg


Olive Tree Skink (Dasia olivacea)? Ted shot this one at Poring Hot Springs.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/skink2-1.jpg



Blue Argus (Junonia orithya) at Kota Kinabalu:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/blueargus2.jpg

[moloch]

We visited the Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre. Butterflies were not very numerous and I did not see anything unusual. My friends found a few new birds that they had not previously seen.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/habitatkotakinabalu4.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/habitatkotakinabalu3.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/habitatkotakinabalu2.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/800/habitatkotakinabalu.jpg


That is it for the Mt. Kinabalu area. I will start a new post soon of the butterflies of Kubah NP in Sarawak.


Regards,

[Psyche]

I finally realised what the unknown butt. is. Bornean endemic Tanaecia amisa.
Its ID eluded me because I did not realised its white bands were centrally placed.

TL Seow:cheers:

[Painted Jezebel]

Well done, Seow. You are absolutely correct. That white band fooled me into looking towards a completely wrong direction.

Photo here:http://www.planktonik.com/museum/en/insects/f_le_ichimonji.html

[moloch]

That was great work, Seow. Thanks for tracking down the identification.

Thanks, Les, for the link.


Regards,
David

[Psyche]

It looks like Mycalesis kina is the correct name.
http://www-users.york.ac.uk/~jkh6/index.htm

TL Seow:cheers:

[atronox]

Lethe delila. (thanks, Seow). I saw this butterfly once near the park headquarters. It remained in a bamboo thicket and landed on leaves about 3-4m above the ground.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Mt%20Kinabalu/Mar2012/unknown1.jpg


This is very late, but i have to comment that this butterfly is not Lethe delila; it's Ptychandra talboti, a rare(?) species and the only one in the genus endemic to Borneo(the other spp. are Philippine endemics). I would say that this is most likely the first photo of a living specimen.

Reference: http://archive.org/stream/bulletinofbritis32briti#page/n434/mode/1up figs. 25, 26

[Psyche]

Well done Aaron. I didn't even know such a species exist in Borneo.
The ID of Lethe delila was a tentative one after eliminating what I thought all possibilties then.

TL Seow : Cheers.