Southeastern Asian Butterflies

[Paul K]

Thank you Adam

So we can confirm  that T.aeacus malaiianus occurs even north of Koh Samui as it was previously known.


Paul

PS.
I was trying to compare hind wings and  they are similar in pattern.
Years of study makes it easy   .

[Paul K]

Graphium sarpedon sarpedon (Linnaeus,1758)

Common species through out southeast Asia, just confirmed its residency on Koh Tao.
Very fast flyer can be seen at the edges of forest mud puddling or feeding on lantana flawers.


This specimen has its lucky day, after been digitally recorded forever, being less then a perfect it flew away enjoying the rest of the afternoon   .

[Paul K]

Microlepidoptera

Something little different 


Need help with ID 
the bottom one has about 5mm wing span.

Paul

[nomad]

Hi Paul, I believe the ID for your Microlepidoptera will be difficult. You will need a good specialist for these, I expect there are hundreds of new species waiting to be discovered.

[Paul K]

Jan 14, 2016 19:35:51 GMT nomad said:

Hi Paul, I believe the ID for your Microlepidoptera will be difficult. You will need a good specialist for these, I expect there are hundreds of new species waiting to be discovered.

Yes I believe there are many in remote areas new microlepidoptra species, but unless you know someone who specialize in those from exact area you may never find out you have new undiscovered species in your collection.

Paul

[Paul K]

This specimen was collected in Koh Tao on Jan 17, 2016.
Help with identification needed.
My guess it is Euploea radamanthus but I am not sure about subspecies or maybe it is something deferent at all.





Paul

[wollastoni]

I am not an expert and far from my books but the recto makes me think of a Nymphalinae, more than a Danainae.

[nomad]

Perhaps deliasfanatic will know.

[Paul K]

It could be a mimic of Euploea radamanthus, but what is it?

[Paul K]

Found it!...Euripus nyctelius nyctelius , female f.isina
Mimic of Euploea radamanthus.
Olivier you were right it is Nymphalinae
Actually it is Apaturinae...

[wollastoni]

[deliasfanatic]

Yes, I agree with the identification - well done, and a scarce form!

[wolf]

I caught two different forms of this in Vietnam at the same place. The male has only one form while the female can have different ones!

[Adam Cotton]

I arrived late at the party, but recognised it as Euripus nyctelius instantly when I scrolled down past the Microlep posts.

I remember someone telling me long ago that this species roosts communally at night, and if you find the place where they gather you can easily collect them using a torch.

Adam.

[Paul K]

Koh Samui

During my research on Koh Tao I have visited neighbouring island of Samui.
I was wondering of the habitat of much larger island of approximately 10 times greater area then Island of Tao.
I had only few hours to collect there and I choose the stream named Lipa Yai and waterfall Hin Lat located about 4km south east of Nathon pier. To my surprise driving 2 km off the main city road I end up in the beautiful primary rain forest. It seams like you would go back in time by 100 years within 5 min time. The landscape was beautiful and I was just hoping to find a nice spot to collect along the stream. On the arrival a nice specimen of Euploea tulliolus ledereri welcomed me at the begin of the trail. So far this species is not found on Koh Tao.
During my hike along the the stream I have seen many deep forest butterflies such Faunis canens arcesilas, Thauria aliris pseudaliris, Xanthotaenia busiris busiris. Disturb by walking along the pathway they fly away into the underground forest and completely disappear when resting on the floor due to their perfect camouflage wing pattern on the underside. Some other species of deep forest prefer to relax on the tree foliage and those include Cyrestis themire themire, Chersonesia rahria rahria, Euthalia (Bassarona) dunya dunya, Euthalia aconthea gurda, Euthalia (Bassarona) teuta gupta, Lebadea martha malayana, Taenacia julii xiphiones.




After about 45 min walk I spotted a patch of sandy beach on the other side of the stream.


I knew I have to investigate the place as the potential collecting spot for mud puddling butterflies. I wasn't wrong and when I crossed the water I found many different specimens of all families. I met there Papilionidae sp. Graphium doson evemonides, G.agamemnon agamemnon, G.sarpedon luctatius, Papilio memnon agenor, P.helenus helenus and the most beautiful Papilionid I have seen in the wild P.palinurus palinurus
.

Among Nymphalidae family a few species such Polyura athamas athamas, Vindula erota erota and Cirrochroa tyche rotundata enjoy the party.
I must not missed to mention some amazing Pieridae sp. joining the mud puddling and those would include beautiful and common Hebomoia glaucippe glaucippe, Cepora iudith malaya, Cepora nadina nadina and few small species of Eurema. A small but lovely Caleta roxus pothus
beside Prosotas nora superdates was representing Lycaenidae.
Unfortunately shortly after discovered this piece of paradise the clouds rolled in and the butterflies have disappeared looking for refuge between the vegetation.

In the late afternoon I had to go back to the pier but on my way home still met some other species not discovered on Koh Tao and those would include Cheritra freja freja a very long tailed Lycaenid butterfly, Paduca fasciata fasciata, Parthenos sylvia lilacinus. Next two : Cupha erymanthis erymanthis and Cethosia methypsea methypsea are common in Koh Tao and the last one resembles in flight South American Heliconid butterflies with its striking red back ground and black and white markings.

Overall I must say that Samui habitat is much more rich in butterflies fauna then Koh Tao due to few primary rain forest spots which they were left along. Also having few streams and rivers allows easier way to spot and collect insects. Koh Tao's habitat is much more dry and there is no permanent river or stream other then shortly after heavy rainfall you may see water running down the hills. Most of Koh Tao's forest was cut down and replaced with coconut palm farms around 60 years ago when first settlers arrived. Fortunately coconut palm business is no longer at much profit here and most of Thais moved to tourist leaving many plantations along and let the secondary vegetation grow there creating some new habitat for wildlife. For how long it will last no one knows. More resorts have been build here and many of them have no permit and no assessment in regards the impact to the natural environment.

In the conclusion I must say I would like to explore more Koh Samui and its natural wonders and I look forward to go back there for a nice collecting trip.

Paul

PS.
The pictures are as bad quality as they can get as they where taken with iPhone 5.
Regret not to take my camera there  .