Giants do exist, on Samui!

[Painted Jezebel]

Ever since a friend from the Ukraine mentioned that he had seen a Giant up in the hills above Samui during a holiday in February 2009, I have made regular trips up there, but all to no avail. Indeed, I had started to think that Giants were only a myth.

It is not a myth!

1)I am delighted to provide you with a new species to BC, The Giant Imperial (Purlisa gigantea gigantea):redbounce . This is a male, and rather worn, having lost most of its tails, and its resting place was not conducive to a great shot, but beggars can not be choosers. There were a couple of other specimens, both with tails but they flying high in the canopy and never landed. Now to get a pristine specimen!
2) Up to now, I have only seen females of Athyma nefte (both forms), so it was great to find thism male.
3) It was a surprise to find this male Bassarona teuta gupta up in the hills. I had only previously seen it in the forests around Hin Lad Waterfall.

[bluefin]

Congrats Les on the Giant find. :cheers:

Looking forward for a more pristine specimen to turn up for you. :)

[Angiud]

Congratulations, Les, never seen in Koh Phangan

(until now :bsmile: )

P.S.: Just seen here: http://yutaka.it-n.jp/lyc4/83470001.html that the Lycaenidae is reported for "Koh Pa Nga", I hope wrong translittering for Koh Phangan (or Koh Pha Ngan as somebody write)

[Painted Jezebel]

Thanks for the link, Antonio, I missed this one, probably because Yutaka has very few Theclini specimens on show. There appears to be a couple of geographical errors here. Under the 'specimens examined' section he states that Koh Samui is in Nakhon Sri Thammarat province, whereas it is in Suratthani Province.

Also, can you confirm if KP is in Chumphon province or Suratthani as well? I have seen both mentioned.

If you go searching for it on KP, you will need to go to the highest parts of the Island (450m upwards), it is primarily a montane species, though we seem to get montane sp. at lower levels around here!

I am still looking for Neocheritra amrita on KS. At what altitude have you found it on KP?

[Angiud]

Yes, I've seen those mistakes too.

BTW Koh Phangan I under Suratthani province too.

I've found several times Neocheritra amrita always in the same area bottom of a hill, say 15/20 mt high, together with Common Imperial too. The hill (or small mountain) could be around 400 mt high.

Pictures taken between June and August 2011:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2278/5826726109_2435b6496f_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/angiud/5826726109/)
The Grand Imperial (http://www.flickr.com/photos/angiud/5826726109/)

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6029/6003877465_dde59a890e_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/angiud/6003877465/)
The Grand Imperial (http://www.flickr.com/photos/angiud/6003877465/)

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6017/6016796398_6bf9998dd7_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/angiud/6016796398/)
The Grand Imperial (http://www.flickr.com/photos/angiud/6016796398/)

[Psyche]

A great find. :cheers:

The champagne can be put to good use.

Interestingly Purlisa is named after the northernmost state of Peninsular Malaysia, Perlis (old spelling ,Purlis.)

TL Seow:cheers:

[atronox]

Congrats, Les for finally nailing the Purlisa. This is so exciting:redbounce

[Painted Jezebel]

Thank you all for your kind comments. For me, Purlisa beats the Charaxes dunfordii we came across Taman Negara, and I thought that was great! You have to see it in flight, amazing!!!!!

[moloch]

Well done, Les!

[Glorious Begum]

Congrats Les for the rare find. :cheers:

[WillFolsom]

Congratulations on your discovery. Dogged perseverence paid off! Well done, Les. William

[Painted Jezebel]

Thanks David, William, LC.

I now have something to rival your Ritra!!!!:grin2:

[Glorious Begum]

Can you keep an eye on it. Next time when I visit Koh Samui, I hope to see it.


Thanks David, William, LC.

I now have something to rival your Ritra!!!!:grin2:

[Silverstreak]

Les,

Congrates for recording the Giant!!:cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

[Peacock Royal]

Have not been keeping up with many posts here.
Really looks like a giant lycaenid. My late congratulations to you, Les