Taman Negara -- Riodinidae

[moloch]

Greetings,

I am newbie here on the Butterflycircle Forum. In June, my wife and I visited Malaysia. I have been there a number of times for birding but this was my wife’s first trip. We stayed in KL for a few days and then headed up to the lovely Fraser’s Hill. After that, my wife returned to Australia and I continued on to Taman Negara for another week. Taman Negara with its beautiful rainforest is my favourite of all national parks anywhere in the world. The infrastructure is excellent and the diversity of about everything is extreme. This was my fourth visit to the park.

Before this trip, I did a fair bit of preparation on the web and came across this website and other amazing butterfly websites. I have always enjoyed butterflies but your websites (this site, Nature Singapore, Delias, Goh’s, ...) really rekindled my interest in these creatures. Instead of birds or reptiles, I spent most of my time on this trip searching for and photographing butterflies.

I have travelled a fair amount in my life and I cannot remember anyplace that has such a diversity or abundance of butterflies as Taman Negara. It was just amazing to visit a sand bar along the Tahan River around mid-day and see the mixed species flocks of puddling butterflies. I photographed more than 90 species at Taman Negara and saw many others that were not cooperative for photos.

I don’t have a copy of BMP so have relied on the websites to try and identify what I have encountered. I will post photos of these along with what I think to be their names. I would be very grateful for help with the identifications. Also, please point out what characteristics should be examined to confirm an identity. Thanks for your help!


MetalMarks -- Riodinidae

I saw some of these on earlier trips to Taman Negara so was very happy to bump into them again. I think that these are some of the prettiest butterflies in the rainforest.

Orange Harlequin (Taxila haquinus)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/third/butterfly58zTaxilahaquinus.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/third/butterfly58yTaxilahaquinus.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/third/butterfly58xTaxilahaquinus.jpg


Malay Red Harlequin (Paralaxita damajanti)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/third/butterfly58eV.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/third/butterfly58cV.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/third/butterfly58Paralaxitadamajanti.jpg


White-banded Judy (Abisara neophron) -- I only saw this butterfly once at Taman Negara. It was much more common up in the mountains at Fraser's Hill.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/third/butterfly76Abisaraneophron.jpg


Zemeros emesoides or Zemeros flegyas? I think the former but I am not certain. This butterfly was sunning at the first lookout of Bukit Teresik.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/third/butterfly54Zemerosemesoides.jpg


Regards,
David

[Silverstreak]

Hello there David!

Welcome to ButterflyCircle , we hope you have a pleasant and rewarding stay with us.

Yes , Peninsula Malaya has some of the most beautiful butterflies, do share with us your shots and we will try to assist you in whatever way we can in identifying them for you !



Yes, the first 3 shots are the Females of Taxila haquinus haquinus (http://butterflycircle.com/checklist2/index.php?page=butt_details&butt_id=115) . There is a description of the markings of male and female on he link.

The first Red Harlequin appears to be the Paralaxita damajanti damajanti The Malay Red Harlequin. The rounded forewing is perhaps due to the angle of the shot. Do you have an upper wing shot?

The second and 3rd is the Paralaxita telesia lyclene (Common Red Harlequin).There are some shots here on the Red Harlequin at post #124 (http://www.butterflycircle.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9672&highlight=Malay+Red+Harlequin&page=4) and also here (http://www.butterflycircle.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9095&highlight=Malay+Red+Harlequin&page=2)

The 7th is a Abisara savitri savitri Malay Tailed Judy (http://butterflycircle.com/checklist2/index.php?page=butt_details&butt_id=114)

The last one is a Zemeros emesoides emesoides , the upper side doe does not show any white marking which are present in the 2 Z. flegyas

Cheers!

[moloch]

Thanks very much, Sunny, for the identifications and the links.

I had not realized that there were two similar harlequins, e.g., Paralaxita damajanti and Paralaxita telesia. Your photo from Endau Rompin was very nice! A trip like that would be lots of fun.

I will check to see if I have other photos of the harlequin in question and then post these.

Thanks again,
David

[moloch]

Hello Sunny,

Here is another shot of the first Harlequin. It never opened its wings so I don't have an upper wing shot.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/first/butterfly58fV.jpg

Does that photo help more with the wing shape and species id?


Regards,
David

[Glorious Begum]

Are the 2nd & 3rd Red Harlequin the same ? Looks like 2 different butts. :cheers:

[moloch]

Yes, LC. Each of the above photos (except the addition in subsequent post) are different individuals.