Butterflies of Sarawak

[butterfly_effect]

Can C&P4 be used for butterflies in Sarawak/Borneo? I went to Sarawak to shoot some butterflies and a lot of them don't seem to match any in C&P4.

This tiny skipper doesn't zip... it hovers like a helicopter.. very weird
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3345/3447839868_dfe9f5dbf3.jpg

I was not able to find a match for this butterfly in C&P4
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3339/3447839670_8aefc93658.jpg

Nor for this faunis looking butterfly
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3389/3447839470_c2d42a8b74.jpg

Nor for this dark blue jungle glory looking butterfly but the colouring looks off. It was a very very deep shade of bluish grey
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3596/3447839334_e658aa30c1.jpg

I thought this was the dark jungle glory but again colour looks too dark as compared to the checklist...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3643/3447024621_5e6d7981a0.jpg

This looks like the common 3 ring... but I don't remember the hindwing being so lightcoloured in the 3 rings normally seen in Singapore... I wonder whether my eyes are playing tricks on me
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3649/3447892334_3a43e15e2c.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3559/3447077805_867b199b23.jpg

[Great Mormon]

good + sharp shots! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Commander]

Like I was trying to tell a 'self-proclaimed guru' old man in another forum, if you are shooting in West Malaysian/Singapore region, it's probably wiser to use C&P4. However, in that episode, the old bugger was using a Thai book to identify a Malaysian species up to subspecies level and even misinterpreting the write up to conclude (like an expert ) what he was supposed to have shot! :prrr:

Similarly, since you shot these in Sarawak, using C&P4 would be inappropriate.

Anyway, for East Malaysian butterflies there are adequate books from which you should be able to get the IDs of what you shot in Sarawak.

The first skipper is... well, you know about ID'ing skippers from field shots like that... ;P

The 2nd shot is the East Malaysian subspecies of the Black Veined Tiger, (Danaus melanippus), which has no orange colour on the wings.

The 3rd shot could be one of several Faunis. This is probably a female Faunis stomphax. But do your research... don't take my word for this one.

The 4th and 5th shots are East Malaysian subspecies of our Dark Blue Jungle Glory, and the Dark Jungle Glory (Thaumantis noureddin). The colours are slightly different over there, as you have correctly pointed out.

The last one is their subspecies of the Common 3 Ring (Ypthima pandocus) and yes, the hindwing markings are distinctly more white from the picture that I've seen in books on Bornean butterflies.

[butterfly_effect]

Gee thanks Khew!

I'm looking for a book for East Malaysia... but the closest I can find to Bornean butterflies is one by Otsuka printed 2001 called "Field Guide to Butterflies of Borneo and South East Asia" and is out of print on Amazon and not sold at Nature's Niche.

I really love Sarawak. Besides the butterflies here, there were a lot more. Butterflies flying out from underfoot right at backyards. :)

I'm hoping to get a guide for butterflies in East Malaysia. I hope somebody knows where to get one. :)

[Commander]

I'm looking for a book for East Malaysia... but the closest I can find to Bornean butterflies is one by Otsuka printed 2001 called "Field Guide to Butterflies of Borneo and South East Asia" and is out of print on Amazon and not sold at Nature's Niche.

Yes, I have that book. Got it some years back at the Penang Butterfly Farm. Not the best of quality as far as the photography goes, but adequate to identify the species from the supplementary set specimens. Also the book is oddly organised by species found in various habitats. Unfortunately, many species overlap habitats.

But it's a good guidebook nonetheless. And like many butt-crazy enthusiasts, I also have a whole collection of butterfly books from the various countries that I visit, including places like Sri Lanka, South Africa and Vietnam. :)

[butterfly_effect]

Hmmm... looks like I'll probably have to source for a second hand Otsuka book somewhere... or visit Penang and buy it there... hahaha

It's a good idea to collect butterfly books from all over the world... it's interesting to read even if I never get to places like... Africa... possibly.

There's a huge book online at http://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/Books%20Page.htm
that is for butterflies of the WORLD with 7000 species in it. Tempting...

[Painted Jezebel]

Pemberley Books http://www.pemberleybooks.com has the Otsuka book (or did when I received this years catalogue). £40.00 plus postage.

Just checked the website, and it is stll there. I regularly use this firm, and find their service second to none!

[butterfly_effect]

Yes they do have it!!! Thanks Les for pointing that out... I just ordered the book! Now the floodgates are open! I better not browse through anymore of the books there... >_<

[philiplo]

The first skipper looks like a Taractrocera, probably a T. luzonensis. :read:

[butterfly_effect]

thanks philip. Trying to find info abt this species. No luck so far.