Back to Fraser’s Hill - 3rd time lucky – Part I

This is my third trip to Fraser’s Hill and I have 3 lifer !

The first is a small white inconspicuous lycaenid. I was trailing an Abisara savitri when I noticed a tiny white ‘moth’ flew out form under a leaf. It has a weak moth-like flight and is about the size of a Lesser Grass Blue butterfly. I ignored it and continued to photograph the Abisara. The white moth then landed in front of me and I noticed it has clubbed antenna. It is not a moth ! I quickly snap a few shots and it turned out to be an uncommon lycaenid – Takara mahanetra.

Takara mahanetra

My 2nd lifer was observed in the most unlikely place, inside Puncak Inn. It was in the evening and we were at Puncak Inn having our lemon tea when I noticed 2 butterflies trapped under the glass roof. Both were Arhopala but one looks interesting.

I borrowed Jee Kin’s camera which has the Tamron 180 on it, and took a few shots. It turned out to be another lifer for me ! It is Arhopala paraganesa mendava. According to book ‘Butterfly of Malay Peninsula’, this species is rare and confined to montane. This individual was recorded at 1000m.

Arhopala paraganesa mendava

I encountered my 3rd lifer while we were checking out a road leading to an Orang Asli settlement. We saw a few small lycaenids fluttering under a cluster of bamboo leaves.

On closer examination, we recognized the lycaenid as Miletus sp. The female were laying eggs where there were cluster of ants.

Miletus gallus gallus

The lycaenid was later identified as Miletus gallus gallus.

Jewels from Fraser’s Hill, May 2011

This is my 2nd trip to Fraser’s Hill this year and one of my all time best ! The best because we had the pleasure to feast on the authentic and BEST ‘Mao Shan Wang’ (Gua Musang) durian in Malaysia and I saw many spectacular and rare butterflies out of which 2 are lifer* for me :

• Graphium empedovana
• Chilasa paradoxa aenigma -f. eucyana
• Lamproptera, most likely L. meges.
• Ixias pyrene alticola
• Amathuxidia amythaon dilucida
• Sumalia daraxa theoda
• Hestina nama nama*
• Prothoe franck uniformis*

Here are some butterfly photos from the trip :

Female Yellow Orange Tip (Ixias pyrene alticola) – a subspecies found on highland, the female can be easily mistaken for other pierinae.

The Banded Puffin (Appias pandione lagela)– a common pierinae at Fraser’s hill.
The Yellow Glassy Tiger- a common butterfly at Fraser’s Hill.

The Striped Blue Crows, sipping seepage from on rock surface.

The Blue Begum and Koh-I-Noor – both are rare and were sighted at the same location ! Awesome !

Staff Sergeant (Athyma selenophora selenophora)

The Green Commodore (Sumalia daraxa theoda) - A highland species which like to settle high above ground, can be mistaken for a small G. sarpedon. This is the first time I managed to photograph this species.

The Common Nawab - common but always a joy to watch and photograph.

The Circe – flies and looks like a Chestnut Tiger ! It will trick all but the true expert. RARE ! Jackpot !!

The Larger Yamfly (Loxura cassiopeia cassiopeia)
The White Banded Awl – one of the more colourful Awls.

and last but not least the authentic Mao Shan Wang durian.

Larva of Miletini

Last week at Pulau Tinggi,  a Croton plant outside my chalet was infested with mealy bugs.  I noticed some of the mealy bugs were rather big. They were between 5mm to 8mm long. On closer examination, I realised they were not mealy bugs but caterpillars !  In fact I have seem these big ‘mealy bugs’ before and it never occurred to me that they wre butterfly caterpillars.

Unlike most butterfly caterpillars, the caterpillar of the butterfly from the tribe Miletini are carnivorous and feeds on Homoptera and ants broods.

These are some photos of these big ‘mealy bugs’ :

1. The caterpillar is covered with white powdery stuff.

2. This caterpillar felled onto a leave when I tried to photograph it. 

 

3. This caterpillar has moved away from its food source and prepare to anchor itself to a leave to start the process of transforming to a pupa.

More Plain Tigers eclosed

7 Plain Tigers eclosed today – 4 male and 3 female. 

3 flew off when I open the container to check on them and the other four were released near One North.

Back to Gopeng – Part II

Continue from Part I ..

We saw lots of interesting and rare butterflies.  Below are some butterfly photos from the trip.

Rajah Brooke’s Birdwing (Troides brookiana albescens), very common at Gopeng and forest reserves in the state of Perak. They can even be seen at Adeline’s Rest House and Villa.
Male Malayan Birdwing (Troides amphrysus), not uncommon in the state of Perak,

Female Common Birdwing (Troides helena cerberus).
We saw Banded Peacock (Papilio palinurus palinurus) on 2 separate occasions.

Female Great Mormon form esperi (Papilio memnon).

White Dragontail (Lamproptera curius), locally common.  We saw > 10 individuals this trip. A lifer for me !

Red-Spot Marquis (Bassarona recta monilis) – Another lifer.

The Siamese Black Prince (Rohana parisatis siamensis) - This is different from the Tokin Black Prince (Rohana tonkiniana siamensis) I saw in Thailand. Another lifer.

Orchid tit (Chliaria othona) - This uncommon lycaenid was photographed at Adeline’s Rest House and the Villa. Another lifer.

Dark Cupid (Tongeia potanini), Another lifer.

The Banded Angle (Odontoptilum pygela)

Great Orange Awlet (Burara etelka) photographed at Adeline’s Rest House.

 

 <== Go back to Part I

Back to Gopeng – Part I

Last week, a few of us went back to Gopeng for butterfly watching.  We stayed at Adeline’s Rest House and later move over to her ‘new and improved’ Adeline’s Villa.

The Rest House consists of wooden huts on stilts. They are simple, rustic and comfortable. That is me taking a rest under our hut.

The villa is catered more for those who want to enjoy nature without compromising urban comfort. The villas have attached bathroom, hot water and are air-conditioned !

  

View of the villas at night.

A new large and spacious kitchen that allows Adeline to cook up a storm.

A very spacious and bright dining area that can easily accommodate more than 50 pax.

Panoramic view of the  dining area with villas on the left.

The new common washroom with a cascading waterfall entrace ! 

The food at Adeline’s place is superb as usual.  I’ll let the photos do the talking :

Now is the Durian season and Adeline’s Rest House and Villa are surrounded by Durian trees. Every morning, we went looking for Durian and we had Durians during breakfast, tea and supper everyday !

Continue to Part II =>

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=> April 2009 Rajah Brooke’s trip - Gopeng
=> July 2009 Rafflesia trip - Gopeng