A few photos from Taman Negara

[moloch]

Greetings,

Here are a few more photos of butterflies from Taman Negara. I imagine that most of these are common species and a familiar sight to you on your trips. Most were new to me so very exciting. I just loved the diversity and the colour of the butterflies at Taman Negara.

I saw quite a number of species on a mid-morning walk up Bukit Teresek. The morning was clear and I had a good view of the distant Gunung Tahan and the interior of Taman Negara.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/fourth/habitat10.jpg


Laringa castelnaui -- Is this an unusual species? I was only able to find a few photos on the net. This butterfly had what appeared to be an entirely blue uppersurface and a hint of the colour can be seen in the photo. It was beautiful in flight but routinely perched several meters above the ground. I found it a little below the summit area of Bukit Teresek and it was the only individual of this species that I encountered on my trip.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/third/butterfly60.jpg


Royal Assyrian (Terinos terpander) -- these are such lovely butterflies. I saw them sunning at times with their wings opened wide but I never could get close enough for photos.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/third/butterfly52TerinosterpanderRoyalAss.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/third/butterfly53a_400TerinosterpanderRoy.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/third/butterfly53_400TerinosterpanderRoya.jpg


Purple Duke (Eulaceura osteria)? To me, it looks similar to the butterfly on LC's website or Ellen's (butterly effect).
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/second/butterfly35cModuzaprocrisCommander.jpg


Arhopala sp. possibly A. abseus? -- I saw these a few times while walking along the Jenet Muda trail.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/third/butterfly59ArhopalaabseusAberrantOa.jpg



Great Argus -- This bird must be habituated to tourists. Its display site is right on the Jenet Muda track.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/fourth/GreatArgus2.jpg

[moloch]

Dark Blue Jungle Glory (Thaumantis klugius)? I usually saw them deep in the forest in the mornings. I quite like these especially in flight. They remind me of their New World relatives, the Morphos and Owls.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/third/butterfly65ThaumantisklugiusDarkBlu.jpg


Common Duffer (Discophora sondaica)? One day, I walked from Mutiara to Lata Burkoh. This butterfly was seen close to the river crossing and it was the only member of the species that I observed.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/fourth/butterfly86DiscophorasondaicaCommon.jpg



Faunis sp., maybe F. gracilis? I saw these a few times along trails near the Tahan River.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/fourth/butterfly84Faunisgracilis.jpg


Leaf Butterfly (Kallima limborgii) -- tattered individual but I was very happy to see this species. I have seen photos of it before and it is such a wonderful leaf mimic. It was much larger than I expected. I only found two on the trip. Are they scarce or is it a matter of finding the right habitat and/or time of the year?
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/third/butterfly73Kallimalimborgii.jpg


Mycalesis sp. Is this M. anapita or something else? It was the only orange coloured bush brown that I observed.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/third/butterfly83Mycalesispatiana.jpg



Common Five Ring (Ypthima baldus) -- I know that this butterfly is common but I quite like the pattern.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/second/butterfly30.jpg



Mycales sp? -- another common species around the forest edge.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/third/butterfly68MycalesisorseisPurpleBus.jpg


Coelites epiminthia -- common in the forest.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/fourth/butterfly85aCoelitesepiminthia.jpg

[moloch]

It was a wonderful experience for me to see flocks of puddling butterflies. I have read of this behaviour before and saw many photos on the net but this was my first encounter with large, mixed-species groups of butterflies. I know that this would be just an ordinary observation for most of you but to me, it was very exciting!

I found most of the puddlers here on rocky areas along Sungai Tahan:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/fourth/habitat12.jpg

This little stream near the Tahan Hide also produced a few puddlers:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/fourth/habitat7.jpg


Mixed flock of Jays. These included Common Jays (Graphium doson), Blue Jays (Graphium evamon) and Striped Jays (Graphium bathycles).
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/second/butterfly24bGraphiumevemonSpottedJa.jpg


A family stopped at the waterhole for a swim. Their son's shoes were like a magnate to the Graphium Swallowtails. Common Bluebottles landed here along with a Five-barred Swallowtail:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/second/butterfly29aGraphiumsarpedonCommonB.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/first/butterfly29bGraphiumsarpedonCommonB.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/second/butterfly29PathysaantiphatesFiveBar.jpg


I was happy to see this Great Mormon (Papilio memnon) stop by the for a few minutes.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/second/butterfly27PapiliomemnonGreatMormon.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/second/butterfly27aPapiliomemnonGreatMormo.jpg

[Peacock Royal]

Wah so many butts :gbounce: . Last time (June 2008) when I was there, we didn't see many puddling butts !

Those shots were taken in one outing there ?

[moloch]

Yes, Federick, these were all on the same 5-day trip to TN. It is such a wonderful national park. My prior trips were for birds and it never disappointed with so many species, especially in Feb/Mar when the northern migrants are there.


The pierids were also great to see. The largest groups of these tended to be on the upper bank near vegetation rather than out on the rocks with all the swallowtails. There were several species of Grass Yellows (Eurema sp.) in this flock.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/second/butterfly24Euremasimulatrix.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/second/butterfly94.jpg


Various species of Albatross (Appias sp.) were also numerous:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/second/butterfly95.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/second/butterfly23.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/second/butterfly43cAppiaslyncidaChocolateA.jpg


... several with the Grass Yellows:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/second/butterfly24Euremasimulatrix-1.jpg



Migrants have me confused. I looked at the checklist and it seems that Lemon Migrants (Catopsilia pomona) are highly variable in appearance. Are these just different colour phases of this species?
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/second/butterfly93_yellows.jpg


... just amazing. I think that there were at least 10 species of butterflies and some sort of moth in this photo:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/first/butterfly11aAppiasnero.jpg

[Glorious Begum]

Wow.. so any of them. Great stuffs and keep them coming. :redbounce

[Painted Jezebel]

I am really enjoying this thread, thank you.

Your photo of the Duffer, is actually a Saturn. Not absolutely sure which species, but the hind wing shape rules out any of the local Duffers.

Your last photo has an Eurema nicevillei at the top. I have never come across this species before. Very nice to see.

The Lemon Migrant has 5 female and 2 male forms in the peninsular. Most can be seen all year round.

[orionmystery]

Nice set David. Lots of varieties there :)

[Glorious Begum]

Kurt is waiting for your insect shots. :bsmile:


Nice set David. Lots of varieties there :)

[moloch]

Thanks, LC.

Les,
I really appreciate the help with the identifications. I had another look at the checklist and see what you mean about the wing shape of the Saturn. Thanks for that and the other info.

Thanks, Kurt. By the way, those are incredible beetles that you use for your avatar. Do you see them often?


Kurt is waiting for your insect shots.
... there just might be a few, :bsmile:


Plain Nawab (Polyura hebe) -- I saw a few of these fast flying butterflies as well as a couple tattered Jeweled Nawabs (Polyura delphis). They and many other leps were attracted to the special "bait" that someone left along the river.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/second/butterfly26a.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/second/butterfly26.jpg


Tawny Rajah (Charaxes bernardus) -- I only saw a few of these.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/second/butterfly30aCharaxesbernardus.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/second/butterfly38Charaxesbernardus.jpg



Commander (Moduza procris) -- fairly common.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/second/butterfly35aModuzaprocrisCommander.jpg



This Banded Yeoman (Cirrochroa orissa) and Royal Assyrian liked my camera case.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/third/butterfly53bTerinosterpanderRoyalAs.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/third/butterfly50yCirrochroaorissa.jpg

[moloch]

Malay Yeoman (Cirrochroa malaya) also liked the sweaty camera case.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/second/butterfly44Cirrochroamalaya.jpg


Rustic (Cupha erymanthis) -- There is a similar Cupha in tropical Australia as well. I will post photos of it eventually when I post photos of the butterflies of the wet tropics of Oz.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/second/butterfly50CuphaerymanthisRustic.jpg


The Cruiser (Vindula dejone) -- There is a very similar species in tropical Australia as well, V. arsinoe. I have seen males a number of times but they tend to remain in the canopy of the rainforest and are hard to photograph. I have never seen them puddle like the Cruiser at Taman Negara.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/second/butterfly48aVinduladejoneTheCruiser.jpg


... more on the special "bait":
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/fourth/butterfly98.jpg



This dazzling Banded Peacock stopped by for a few moments before it was disturbed by the wake of a passing boat. It then shot off and I did not see it again.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/third/butterfly69.jpg



Tailed Jay (Graphium agamemnon) -- it actually held still for several minutes in the early morning sun. Normally, these seem to be in perpetual motion. This species is also found in tropical Australia.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/third/butterfly79Graphiumagamemnon.jpg



Malay Lacewing (Cethosia hypsea), I think. This butterfly was the only lacewing that I saw on the trip.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/third/butterfly67aCethosiahypsea.jpg


Magpie Crow (Euploea radamanthus) -- a common and lovely butterfly.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/second/butterfly41aEuploearadamanthusMagpi.jpg

[orionmystery]

Wow..it gets better and better. I won't be surprised if next years BC outing is to Peru instead of Endau Rompin :bsmile:

David, the giraffe weevils are quite common here. I know where to find them. Sighting guaranteed :D.

[Glorious Begum]

I guess that is Ypthima fasciata torone rather than 5 rings.

There is a small ocelli in the space 4 and dark fasciae crossing the underside.

The following picture, quite close to Mycalesis perseoides except that the last ocelli of the forewing is appeared big.

[Banded Yeoman]

What!

You are So so so so so so so so so so so so....

LUCKY TO SEE THE ARGUS!!!!

Only 1 out of 100 get to see it!!!

:what: :what: :what: :what: :what: :what:

[Glorious Begum]

It is F. gracilis. :cheers:

[Great Mormon]

Thats a rare shot of the upperside of the magpie crow! :thumbsup:

[moloch]

Thanks, Kurt. I might have a chat with you before heading back to KL again. I would love to see those giraffe beetles.


LC,
Thanks very much for the identification information. It is very useful to me when you add the distinguishing features like you did. I found an online bookstore in Singapore that will ship me a MBP. They are out-of-stock at the moment but will have the book in another couple of weeks. After I receive a copy, I hopefully will have a better idea about what I see.

What is the total list for peninsular Malaysia? I would imagine that it must be > 1000 species?



Jonathan,
Thanks. Great Argus are certainly wonderful birds. I think my best pheasant at Taman Negara was Crestless Firebacks. My son and I saw two males near Kumbang Hide in 1998.



Thanks, Anthony. I almost always saw them with closed wings so was happy when this one landed on my camera bag and kept its wings open.

[Glorious Begum]

LC,
Thanks very much for the identification information. It is very useful to me when you add the distinguishing features like you did. I found an online bookstore in Singapore that will ship me a MBP. They are out-of-stock at the moment but will have the book in another couple of weeks. After I receive a copy, I hopefully will have a better idea about what I see.

What is the total list for peninsular Malaysia? I would imagine that it must be > 1000 species?




You are right, it is around 1100 species in peninsular Malaysia.
The C&P4 book over here is RM70 ringgit. :cheers:

[moloch]

Thanks for the info, LC. Here in Australia, I think we only have 450 species or so and most of these are found in the narrow strip of wet tropical rainforest in northeastern Queensland.


Great Orange Awlet (Burara etelka) -- This nicely coloured skipper was attracted to mammals excrement along a little creek near Tahan Hide. I saw in the late afternoon.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/second/butterfly31bGreatOrangeAwletBurarae.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/second/butterfly31cGreatOrangeAwletBurarae.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/second/butterfly31dGreatOrangeAwletBurarae.jpg



Also seen late in the day was this huge skipper. I think that it was a Giant Redeye (Gangara thyrsis).
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/second/butterfly89aGiantRedeyeGangarathyrs.jpg



A flat of some sort:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/second/butterfly90.jpg



Banded Yeoman cat?
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/fourth/caterpillar1.jpg


... this one appears to have met an unpleasant fate. I think that it was covered with some sort of parasite. Wasp larvae?
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/fourth/caterpillar4.jpg


another caterpillar but I have not idea of its identity:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/fourth/caterpillar2.jpg

[moloch]

Here are more common butterflies.

Mapwings (Cyrestis nivea) are quite amazing insects. I really enjoyed seeing these lovely butterflies:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/first/butterfly22Cyrestisnivea.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/first/butterfly21aCyrestisnivea.jpg



Common Mormon (Papilio polytes)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/first/butterfly3.jpg



Chocolate Pansy (Junonia iphita) -- very similar to J. hedonia from tropical Australia.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/first/butterfly1JunoniaiphitaChocolateSol.jpg




This orange moth had me totally confused. I thought that it must have been a lycaenid due to its wing shape but it looked odd with strange eyes. I was surprised when I finally found it on the net and discovered that it was a moth.
Callidula sp:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/third/butterfly66a.jpg

[moloch]

This mantis was incredible. It looked so much like a rolled, dead leaf:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/fifth/mantis1.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/sixth/mantis15.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/fifth/mantis2.jpg


More of the many mantids observed at Taman Negara:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/fifth/mantis14.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/fifth/mantis13.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/fifth/mantis11.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/fifth/mantis10.jpg

[moloch]

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/fifth/mantis7.jpg


These were really odd looking insects. I suppose that they are some sort of hemipteroid:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/fifth/homopteran1.jpg


A giant pentatomid:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/fifth/hemipteran1.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/fifth/hemipteran2.jpg


This Stalk-eyed Fly was so strange. I only saw a single individual and managed one quick shot before it vanished. I tried many times to locate this species again but had no luck. Are they scarce?
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/fourth/fly1.jpg


This derbid was considerably larger than those that I saw in Peru. It almost looks like it has tusks.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/sixth/derbid1a.jpg


These grasshopper reminded me of the monky hoppers from Peru. Are there members of Eumastacidae in Malaysia?
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/fourth/grasshopper2.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Malaysia/Taman%20Negara/June2010/fourth/grasshopper1a.jpg

[atronox]

Interesting mantid shots, so incredibly diverse.:grin2: