August 2012 Fraser's Hill

[Painted Jezebel]

My first lot from the Hill, itself.

PJ9 & 10) Hasora mus pahanga ( found at our hotel)
PJ11 & 12) Ideopsis gaura perakana (Small Wood Nymph)
PJ13) Parantica sita ethologa (Chestnut Tiger) - Male
PJ14) Trogonoptera brookiana albescens - Female underside

[Painted Jezebel]

My last ones!

PJ15) Delias baracasa dives (Yellow Jezebel)
PJ16) Delias decombersi eranthos (Red-spot Jezebel)
PJ17) Rapala nissa pahangana (Common Flash)? A guess, but seems most likely!
PJ18) Stiboges nymphidia nymphidia (Columbine)
PJ19) Poritia phama rajata.

A highly successful and enjoyable trip, with 26 species seen which were new to me. Now to update my website!

[Commander]

PJ13) Parantica sita ethologa (Chestnut Tiger) - Female

I'd always thought that the specialised scales (dark patch) at the tornal area of the hindwing of Danainae means that it's a male? Not in this case?

[Painted Jezebel]

I'd always thought that the specialised scales (dark patch) at the tornal area of the hindwing of Danainae means that it's a male? Not in this case?

Yes! Oops!!! Changed.

[Bluebottle]

Two Curetis for ID:

1. Curetis santana malayica (Malayan Sunbeam)
2. Curetis bulis stigmata

[Bluebottle]

Some 'environmental shots'

1. From left to right: Loke, Khew, Sunny, Chng
2. Shooting the breeze and waiting for the sun to come out
3. Getting the perfect shot.
4. Cleaning up the gears after a day of hard work in the field. You would not believe how much sands had stuck in the camera and lens
5. Shooting the 'rare one'
6. Going home...

[Psyche]

Two Curetis for ID:

1. Curetis santana malayica (Malayan Sunbeam)?
2. Curetis santana malayica (Malayan Sunbeam)?

1 is correct.
You can see the band is totally dislocated on the hindwing.

2. is Curetis bulis stigmata.
The band continues from the forewing apex through the hindwing cellend mark to the tornus.
The black border at the upper part of the hindwing is broader than in santana and it broadens much more downwards.
Interestingly the legs are banded brown whereas that of santana are banded red. If constant, would be a useful ID feature.

TL Seow

[WillFolsom]

Nice to see the 'premium team' members in action! Wished I could have joined you. Did some reading about Fraser's Hill on Google. Sound cool and inviting.
William

[Bluebottle]

Sharing a video:

Trying to isolate one of these skittish Chocolate Albatross will make you go mad. Worse still, they keep disturbing other puddling butterflies. May be you can hear Sunny *&%$% at the background

[Bluebottle]

This is probably one of the most majestic butterflies I have ever shoot. There were a least 5 or 6 of them on that day. After a few round of shootings, there was no more photographer queuing up to shoot them and I am able to take my time to shoot a short video of this beauty.

Jewel Nawab