How to bait or lure Troides species ?

[Adam Cotton]

Actually, if the ground is damp you can use urine anywhere, so it's not an issue during the rainy season, but if the ground is dry you do really need to be next to a stream or have access to lots of water (unlikely) that you can use to keep the ground in the bait area wet.

I remember Paul had a similar problem on Koh Tao, no streams, but he was there in the distinctly dry season (the Andaman coast tends to have more rain out of season than the Gulf of Thailand), but I suspect that on many islands there are no permanent rivers or streams because they are too small.

Adam.

PS. I see Paul posted a similar reply just before I did.

[wollastoni]

If it works on damp ground, then I know 2 or 3 good spots in the forest where it should work fine.
Koh Phiphi Don is twice smaller than Koh Tao so finding a stream is indeed an issue.

There is a mangrove in the North of the island, transforming into a river in the land, but it is salty water, full of local fishermen habitations.
It is unfortunately too polluted/destructed to attract butterflies, even common Troides.
I can guaranty you that with the odor you can smell in the village, there is tons of urine (and not only) in this mangrove...

The good spots of Phiphi are in the forests in the "mountains" but I found no streams there.

[nomad]

Well best of luck Olivier I am sure you will bring us back something very nice to look at   If Troides occur on that Island perhaps you should seek out the blossom trees.

[Adam Cotton]

There may be up to 3 species there, T. helena should be the commonest, and it is possible that amphrysus and aeacus could also be there, certainly aeacus does occur on the mainland not far from there, but it is rarer in southern Thailand than further north.

Adam.