Kubah NP

We visited Sarawak for five nights before returning to the peninsula. We split our stay between Kubah NP (3 nights) and Permai Beach Resort (2 nights). Both were lovely but Kubah was my favourite due to its tall forest and diverse animal life.

Here are a few shots of the park from the road to Kuching:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...0/habitat8.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...bitatkubah.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...0/habitat9.jpg


The park has both hostels as well as nice chalets. The chalets were good value when the costs were split among the four of us.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ommodation.jpg


There were several trails in the park but the best was a fairly short walk to a waterfall. The trail descended through forest with lots of big trees with buttressed roots.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...00/habitat.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...0/habitat5.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3.../habitat11.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...0/habitat4.jpg

Aroids were numerous in damp areas along the way:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3.../habitat12.jpg


Waterfall:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...b/habitat2.jpg


I saw a few butteflies near the falls. Some of these responded to shrimp paste bait including these Blue Helens (Papilio prexaspes).
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...allowtail4.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...llowtail3c.jpg


Seow identified this 'Chilasa lookalike' as a Graphium(Paranticopsis) ramaceus ramaceus. It certainly looks different to the race on the peninsula. I looked at photos on the web but only saw shots of those with lots of white on the outer, lower wings.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...00b/crow4a.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...00b/crow4b.jpg


Five-barred Swallowtail (Pathysa antiphates) stopped a few times at the bait.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...allowtai2l.jpg



Other butterflies at the falls included what I think to be a Athyma reta.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...0b/nepthis.jpg

Two species of pierrots stopped at the bait but neither were very cooperative for photos.

Discolampa ethion
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...b/Pierrot2.jpg


This shot is lousy but the pierrot looked unusual to me. Seow identified it as probably a local race of Caleta elna.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...0b/Pierrot.jpg


This Eurema had a black bar along the lower edge of the upper wing. For that reason, I thought it to be Eurema tilaha. Seow, pointed out, however that E. tilaha (now E. nicevillei) has a cell spot. Therefore, Seow identified this as E. tominia.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...00b/Eurema.jpg


This tiny Eurema also flew near the falls. I originally thought that it might have been a Eurema ada due to the small size. Seow indicated that this was not correct due to the wing shape and large black border on the forewing. Seow identified it as Eurema hecabe latilimbata.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...0b/eurema2.jpg


Gulls stopped a few times. I think that these are Cepora iudith.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...b/Cepora2a.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...0b/Cepora3.jpg

I saw other butterflies in the afternoon as I followed the trail from the waterfall back to the car.

Tagiades lavatus due to no cell spots and white with single black dot. (thanks, Seow)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...b/skippera.jpg


Notocrypta clavata due to no spots and white band continued to costa , upper margin lightly notched. (thanks, Seow).
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...b/skipper2.jpg


Taxila haquinus (thanks, Aaron and Seow). This species was seen twice.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...harlequina.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...arlequin2a.jpg


Zemeros emesoides was seen only once.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...Planchello.jpg


This Posy had a strange pattern on the upperwing. Seow indicated that this appears to be a local race of Drupadia ravindra.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...000b/Posy2.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...1000b/Posy.jpg


I was happy to find my first Branded Imperial (Eooxylides tharis). It always landed on a steep-sided gully where I could not approach it but I was able to take this record shot from the walkway above it.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...1000b/blue.jpg

Again, David, wow!

And your pictures become more and more beautiful!

Amazing trip

The P. prexaspes looks amazingly different.
The long hiindwing cell ID'ed the 'Chilasa lookalike' as a Graphium(Paranticopsis)-should be G. ramaceus ramaceus.
The lycaenid is probably a local race of C. elna.
1st Eurema could be E. tominia. (E. tilaha (now E. nicevillei) have a cell spot.)
The 2nd Eurema doesn't quite match E. ada, which have rounded forewings. This one also have very broad black forewing border.
Flat is Tagiades lavatus (no cell spots ;white with single black dot.)
Demon is Notocrypta clavata. ( no spots; white band continued to costa , upper margin lightly notched.)
Riodinid is Laxita teneta, Bornean endemic.
Posy appeared to be a local race of Drupadia ravindra. (no other match found.)

TL Seow:cheers:

David:

I enjoy walking down the trail with you and then seeing what's you've managed to capture. Some of your shots were truly spectacularly sharp and beautiful. Well done. Looking forward to more of your work. William

David,

It is always a joy to read your travelogue.

Thanks for sharing these!


Cheers!

Thanks, guys, for the feedback.

Seow, thanks for all your help sorting out the names of the species in these photos.

I looked for paintings/pictures of the E. tominia and came across this online book. Do you know of it?
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=...ominia&f=false

"The families of Melanesian Moths and Butterflies" Holloway et al.


Here are more shots of another Blue Helen that was puddling at a stream crossing along the trail to the falls.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...allowtail6.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...allowtail5.jpg

I will add more photos tonight.

Regards,

Laxita teneta!!!:redbounce