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Thread: Samui 2012

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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Koh Samui, Thailand
    Posts
    4,446

    Default Samui 2012

    This is supposedly going to be a weekly update of species seen on the Island. The first 3 days of the year were very wet and windy, so ~I did not go out. However, since then the sun has shown herself, and I was hopeful that some interesting species may now be appearing as we are approaching the best time of the year for butts. Sadly, I have been disappointed. Very little flying at the moment.

    1&2) Famagana alsulus. This species is not supposed to be here, being found generally from the Philippines to Australia. However, it has been found at Nakhon Sri Thammarat (once), a single coconut plantation here on Samui, and very recently on Koh Phangan. I have now managed to find a second colony on Samui, so I am a bit happier about its future as a viable local species. The upperside (male) is the first time I managed this, it is just a shame that it is marred by a shadow from a grass stalk. The problem with this species is that it always flies low to the ground and rarely perches. Even when it does so, it is always in grass thickets where it is difficult to get clear shots.

    3&4) Ampittia dioscorides camertes. At the same location as the new Famagana colony, I saw several specimens. This is not common here.

    5) Rapala iarbus. This has become quite common recently, but only shows itself in the afternoon. I have been trying to get an upperside for a long time, but they seem to rest just too high up to get a good photo.

    6) Danaus affinis. This mangrove specialist is under threat owing to the loss of its habitat. I have only ever found two colonies, one on the west of the Island, now being developed as a resort, and the other on the East, next to the airport which is being enlarged. I had not seen this species last year so was worried about its continued existance. Fortunately, I saw a couple last week, including an ovipositing female.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Toa Payoh (Singapore)
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    4,440

    Default

    Danaus affinis is beautiful. Hope it continues to survive in Samui.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Wollongong, NSW. Australia
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    Hello Les,

    Your shots are very nice. It is interesting to me to hear that the Danaus affinis is a mangrove specialist on Samui. Here in Australia, I see it in a variety of habitat ranging from eucalyptus savannah to freshwater swamps.

    Regards,
    David
    David Fischer
    Wollongong, Australia

    My photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/moloch05/sets/

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
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    Koh Samui, Thailand
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    4,446

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by moloch View Post
    Hello Les,

    Your shots are very nice. It is interesting to me to hear that the Danaus affinis is a mangrove specialist on Samui. Here in Australia, I see it in a variety of habitat ranging from eucalyptus savannah to freshwater swamps.

    Regards,
    David
    David, it is not just Samui where it is considered a Mangrove species. It is the entire peninsular, and the Indonesian archipelago. Its hostplant is also a specialist of mangroves and swampy areas, so I can understand it being found in freshwater swamps. It's occurance in eucalyptus savannah, however, really suprises me.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Koh Samui, Thailand
    Posts
    4,446

    Default Week 2

    Apart from the Arhopala agaba posted elsewhere, nothing particularly unusual this week. Nevertheless, to show I have not been completely idle :

    1&2) A nice male Hypolycaena erylus teatus (Common Tit)
    3&4) A male Surendra quercetorum quercetorum (Common Acacia Blue)
    5) Arhopala silhetensis ssp. indet. (Sylhet Oakblue). Not sure about the subspecies here. Possibly a new ssp. but I need to do more work to confirm certain matters.
    6) Hidari irava (Coconut Skipper). I have always found this very common species rather boring, but this one seems to have a nice sheen to the wings, which I have not managed to capture before.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Singapore
    Posts
    783

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    The Coconut Skipper and Sylhet shots are beautiful.
    -Brian

    My flickr

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