The Metallic Caerulean is Alive and Well !!

[Silverstreak]

I thought we have lost it...........with the Mandai Orchid Garden flatten and now a flat piece of barren land!!!!:-(

The Butterfly Fairy smiled on me late in the afternoon and led me to a colony at another location. Saw at least 5 individuals


:cheergal: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheergal:



Jamides alecto ageladas ( The Metallic Caerulean )

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d156/Schir/Sunny-Chir---EOS-1D-Mark-III--30_08_2011--0395.jpg

[Commander]

That's good news. The Zoo has transplanted the Torch Ginger clumps from MOG and is probably ready to take some translocation. Perhaps we should do that, as an "insurance" to spread the species to other locations.

[Silverstreak]

From my limited knowledge on plants, ........ the host they are on at this location appears NOT be the Torch Ginger , but another variety of ginger.

[Commander]

Better still then, if they have alternative host plants. :thumbsup: Then there is more hope that they can survive any clearing of the land for development.

[Psyche]

This is a great shot that shows the slightly darker bands nicely contrasted against the paler ground colour.

This allows the key in C&P4 to be easily understood.
The postdiscal band is completely dislocated at vein 4, with the lowermost spot in space 3 shifted fully inwards (basad).
( Error in text of C&P4 which states the dislocation is at vein 3.)

Note J. alecto have a tendency to have extensive orange.

TL Seow:cheers:

[WillFolsom]

I wish you guys well on anything you can do to re-establish host plants. It's worth the effort. Great shooting, as always, Sunny! William

[Silverstreak]

Any volunteer(s) to plan and manage the project of relocating the Metallic Cearulean.........it will take lots of effort and time and not just a one-off relocation of a few individual in order to have any chance of sucess.

:old: ..... I cannot keep volunteering least people think I am "Hao Lien" (pompous) :bsmile:

""Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted."":)

I expect another Thundering Silence !~!;P


:cheers:

[WillFolsom]

Sunny: For a chance to work with an exception photographer (that would be you), for a chance to contribute to the protection of a national treasure, for the rewards of helping restore a small measure of balance to nature after the destruction at the hands of man?? Who wouldn't volunteer. Put me down!
William

PS: What stop should I get off the busn to meet up with you and all the BC members!

[benetay]

Sunny, I can try helping since I'm nearer to the location.

Cheers!

[Peacock Royal]

If I am free, I am most willing to help.
Seriously, BC can't be doing alone without the proper support. It will be another fruitless effort just like a few of us were trying to help save the No Brand Grass Yellow.

[horace2264]

Sunny,
Went to that location for a brief visit during lunch hours. No luck with the adults, but found signs of cat activities on flower buds (pic 1). The ginger plant looks like Torch Ginger to me (pic 2). :thinking:

[Silverstreak]

Horace,

Yes , they are Torch Ginger , my initial thought was swayed by the small flowers buds, and even the few matured ones are fairy small as compare to those at the former Mandai Orchid Garden. The females here tend to lay their eggs on the young buds instead of the matured flower.

The ginger torch flower buds is an important ingredient for Laksa( local spicy rice noodle) and Rojak ( a local salad ). The plot has being constantly harvested for the laksa and rojak market......and consumers are unknowingly eating the Metal Cearulean eggs/cats :bsmile:

:cheers:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d156/Schir/Bin/Sunny-Chir---EOS-1D-Mark-III--03_09_2011--0806.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d156/Schir/Bin/Sunny-Chir---EOS-1D-Mark-III--03_09_2011--0805.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d156/Schir/Bin/SNAG_Program-0002-SNAG_Program-.jpg

[Silverstreak]

Another site found with a very healthy population of J. alecto. :yeh-yeh:

Looks like the continuity of this species is quite secure now with 2 colonies at 2 different sites. Both these two sites are unlikely to be affected by development. :)

During my 20 minutes on site , counted at least 20 adults chasing each other in the shade.


:cheers:

[henrykoh]

Great work Sunny and all. Brings back fond memories of MOG

[bluefin]

Went to the location and came back with these two shots. :)
They are doing alright. :cheers:




http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6095/6291341709_c85f81b05c_b.jpg


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6100/6291861720_4eb8701948_b.jpg

[WillFolsom]

Great shots, as always. William