Kubah NP

[moloch]

We visited Sarawak for five nights before returning to the peninsula. We split our stay between Kubah NP (3 nights) and Permai Beach Resort (2 nights). Both were lovely but Kubah was my favourite due to its tall forest and diverse animal life.

Here are a few shots of the park from the road to Kuching:







The park has both hostels as well as nice chalets. The chalets were good value when the costs were split among the four of us.



There were several trails in the park but the best was a fairly short walk to a waterfall. The trail descended through forest with lots of big trees with buttressed roots.

[moloch]

Aroids were numerous in damp areas along the way:



Waterfall:



I saw a few butteflies near the falls. Some of these responded to shrimp paste bait including these Blue Helens (Papilio prexaspes).




Seow identified this 'Chilasa lookalike' as a Graphium(Paranticopsis) ramaceus ramaceus. It certainly looks different to the race on the peninsula. I looked at photos on the web but only saw shots of those with lots of white on the outer, lower wings.




Five-barred Swallowtail (Pathysa antiphates) stopped a few times at the bait.




Other butterflies at the falls included what I think to be a Athyma reta.

[moloch]

Two species of pierrots stopped at the bait but neither were very cooperative for photos.

Discolampa ethion



This shot is lousy but the pierrot looked unusual to me. Seow identified it as probably a local race of Caleta elna.



This Eurema had a black bar along the lower edge of the upper wing. For that reason, I thought it to be Eurema tilaha. Seow, pointed out, however that E. tilaha (now E. nicevillei) has a cell spot. Therefore, Seow identified this as E. tominia.



This tiny Eurema also flew near the falls. I originally thought that it might have been a Eurema ada due to the small size. Seow indicated that this was not correct due to the wing shape and large black border on the forewing. Seow identified it as Eurema hecabe latilimbata.



Gulls stopped a few times. I think that these are Cepora iudith.

[moloch]

I saw other butterflies in the afternoon as I followed the trail from the waterfall back to the car.

Tagiades lavatus due to no cell spots and white with single black dot. (thanks, Seow)



Notocrypta clavata due to no spots and white band continued to costa , upper margin lightly notched. (thanks, Seow).



Taxila haquinus (thanks, Aaron and Seow). This species was seen twice.




Zemeros emesoides was seen only once.



This Posy had a strange pattern on the upperwing. Seow indicated that this appears to be a local race of Drupadia ravindra.




I was happy to find my first Branded Imperial (Eooxylides tharis). It always landed on a steep-sided gully where I could not approach it but I was able to take this record shot from the walkway above it.

[Angiud]

Again, David, wow!

And your pictures become more and more beautiful!

Amazing trip

[Psyche]

The P. prexaspes looks amazingly different.
The long hiindwing cell ID'ed the 'Chilasa lookalike' as a Graphium(Paranticopsis)-should be G. ramaceus ramaceus.
The lycaenid is probably a local race of C. elna.
1st Eurema could be E. tominia. (E. tilaha (now E. nicevillei) have a cell spot.)
The 2nd Eurema doesn't quite match E. ada, which have rounded forewings. This one also have very broad black forewing border.
Flat is Tagiades lavatus (no cell spots ;white with single black dot.)
Demon is Notocrypta clavata. ( no spots; white band continued to costa , upper margin lightly notched.)
Riodinid is Laxita teneta, Bornean endemic.
Posy appeared to be a local race of Drupadia ravindra. (no other match found.)

TL Seow

[WillFolsom]

David:

I enjoy walking down the trail with you and then seeing what's you've managed to capture. Some of your shots were truly spectacularly sharp and beautiful. Well done. Looking forward to more of your work. William

[atronox]

I saw a few butteflies near the falls. Some of these responded to shrimp paste bait including these Blue Helens (Papilio prexaspes).

This is quite puzzling. Papilio prexaspes is not recorded from Borneo(as far as i know). The only other species this could be is P. fuscus dayacus which lacks the orange lunules on the dorsal hindwing. Or it could be a local form of fuscus especially since this species is very variable throughout its wide range; prexaspes was once a ssp of fuscus as well.

[Psyche]

Papilio prexaspes once treated as a ssp. of P. fuscus was elevated to a full species because its genitalia differs from that of P. fuscus.
Papilio prexaspes : range Andamans to Neomalaya (Sumatra, Malaya & Borneo )
Papilio fuscus : range Sulawesi to PNG/Australia.
ie. P. fuscus no longer exist in Borneo.
See C&P4 page 69.

The Borrnean taxon dayacus becomes a ssp of P. prexaspes.
This Sarawak form may qualifies as another ssp.

TL Seow: Cheers.

[atronox]

Papilio prexaspes once treated as a ssp. of P. fuscus was elevated to a full species because its genitalia differs from that of P. fuscus.
Papilio prexaspes : range Andamans to Neomalaya (Sumatra, Malaya & Borneo )
Papilio fuscus : range Sulawesi to PNG/Australia.
ie. P. fuscus no longer exist in Borneo.
See C&P4 page 69.

The Borrnean taxon dayacus becomes a ssp of P. prexaspes.
This Sarawak form may qualifies as another ssp.

TL Seow: Cheers.

Thx for the clarification, Dr Seow.