Butterflying in Malaysia 5 - Sungei Sedim, Kedah

On 28 June, after about an hour of smooth driving from our hotel, De Gardens at Butterworth, we arrived at the Sungai Sedim Eco Forest Park in the Kedah state just before 9 am.  After paying the entrance fees to this park (RM2 per person), we started strolling along the paths in front of some apparently abandoned chalets.

Before 10 am, we hardly saw any butterflies but we did find a few caterpillars of the Malayan Birdwing (Troides amphrysus ruficollis), mostly on the undersides of some Thottea leaves.  Thottea is a genus of flowering plants in the Aristolochiaceae family. 

We also found a pupa.

We spotted a few adults flying around but getting a good shot was not easy.

There is a tree-top walk in this park - the entrance fees is RM6 for a senior citizen.

We saw a female White-tipped Baron (Euthalia merta) basking under the morning sun.

Butterfly activities were generally low especially in the forested areas before noon. But  once the forest was heated up, we could see more butterflies after noon.

We saw a Glorius Begum (Agatasa calydonia) flying along a forested path, looking for a puddling spot. 

This is the Plush (Sithon nedymond nedymond), a skittish fellow that didn't allow me to have more shots.

This is the Gem Demons (Ancistroides gemmifer), another alert and active skipper that disappeared very quickly.

I spotted this Striped Green Palmer (Pirdana hyela rudolphii) from far. But it scooted off after I took a record shot. We were fortunate to take a few shots at this rather pristine specimen when it landed a few meters away.

Occasionally, we also checked out the sandy patches along the river banks. Amongst the common puddling butterflies such as the Common Blue Bottle which I usually ignored them but not when a pristine and elegant Jeweled Nawab (Polyura delphis concha) appeared.

 In the late afternoon after a short passing rain, we were lucky to spot this puddling Malayan Jungle Glory (Thaumantis odana pishuna).  

This White Four-line Blue (Nacaduba angusta) was puddling on a concrete slab not far away from the river bank.

In the late afternoon before called it a day, this Malay Red Harlequin (Paralaxita damajanti) flew past me and landed on a leaf for some split seconds. 

On 29 June, we decided to come to Sungai Sedim Eco Forest Park again to meet up with Liew. I was indeed honoured to meet him for the first time. 

The Striped Ringlet (Ragadia makuta siponata) was fluttering along the forest edge. 

This is female Malay Baron (Euthalia monina)

We encountered a few Arhopala species during out 2-day outing here . This is Arhopala sublustris. 

According to Dr Seow from BC, this is Arhopala aedias as the rounded and loose post-discal spots are characteristics of this species.

Arhopala metamuta with a glimps of its uppersides

I am not sure what this Arhopala species is.

Thanks to SC who spotted this beautiful lantern bug.

Butterflying in Malaysia 4 - Junjong Recreation Park, Kedah

I met up with SC at the De Garden Hotel in Butterworth on 27 June. About an hour drive in the North-south towards the Kulim direction, we arrived at the Junjong Recreational Park, in Kedah state. Perhaps it was a Friday morning, we didn't see many visitors at the waterfall.

We strolled along a dirt road leading to a private durian plantation as we noticed a few pickups driving past us with baskets of durians.  

Along the way, we did see some common butterflies on a fine morning. This is the Common Bushbrown (Telinga janardana) 

This rather skittish Fulvous Pied Flat (Pseudocoladenia dan) was feeding on the Snakeweeds flowers.

It changed its perches frequently.

A  Jamides species was fluttering along the dirt road. When it decided to perch on a leaf, we quickly took a few shots. Dr Seow from Butterfly Circle identified it as the J. alecto  based on the following features: 
1 FW postdiscal band dislocated at vein 6.

2. FW without costal dashes (forming spots)
3. FW lower white striae thick.
4. HW innermost band dislocated. 

The butterfly activities were low but with patience we did spot some skippers - a Common Red Eye (Matapa aria) was resting at a distance away from me.

At noon time, I was having a short lunch break in a shelter.  I saw another Jamidies puddling on bird droppings.  

I was lucky to capture its uppersides when it scooted off by the camera flashlight.

Dr Seow identified this as Jamides ferrari based on the features:

1. FW postdiscal band slightly dislocated at vein 6.
2. FW without costal dashes /spot.
3. HW innermost band not dislocated or barely so.

This Euploea camaralzeman malayica (The Malayan Crow) was fluttering around the shelter.

Another shot

This damselfly was taking an afternoon nap.

A kind of planthopper which was well camouflaged by the tree trunk.

After snapping some quick shots of this Loxura atymnus fuconius (Yamfly) due to poor butterfly activity, we decided to head towards the Bukit Mertajam Recreation Forest Park.
But the weather was cloudy there and we ended up having an afternoon tea under some big trees with intermittent nice breeze - a different and nice experience. 

Butterflying in Malaysia Part 3 - Bukit Tinggi

Bukit Tinggi is located in the Bentong district of the Pahang State. On 5 June after more than 2-hour drive, we arrived at the Berjaya Hill where the French-theme resort Colmar Tropicale is.  

Surprisingly, the butterfly diversity around this beautify resort is rather  rich. This Dark Posy (Drupadia theda)  always displayed its magnificent uppersides whenever it settled on a new perch under the morning sun.   

It took me quite awhile to snap its undersides shot.

More butterflies came out around noon. There were quite a number of Blue Dandy (Laringa castelnau). 

An inflight upperside shot wasn't intentional.

A solitary Malay Lacewing (Cethosia hypsea) appeared, fluttering around and sunbathing

This Batwing (Parides varuna) was feeding on flowers initially but it never stayed still.  When it rested with a few seconds of sunbathing, we quickly snapped a few shots. 

Not a good shot as the details of the wings were missing.  I have no time to remedy this as it scooted off in the next moment.

I was lucky to capture its taking-off moment.

Different species of butterflies came out different times. I found this Malayan Castor (Ariadne isaeus) shortly after noon.

This Red Lacewing (Cethosia biblis) was resting in a shade. 

The uppersides

There were two specimen of Seargent and one of them is  the Dot-Dash Seargeant (Athyma kanwa) 

It looks rather "haggard"  

Not sure why this lovely little beauty is given the common name, The Witch (Araotes lapithis uruwela).     

Another small fellow that stayed a bit high up is the Spotted Spark (Sinthusa malika). It never came close to me for a better shot.  

Perhaps due to the hill-topping behaviour of the butterflies, it is quite amazing to see the variety of species appearing here.  This is Sumatran Gem (Poritia sumatrae).

At around 1 pm, we drove down to the Japanese Garden and explored a forest trail. Here we spotted some shade-loving butterflies. This is a Purple Bush Brown (Mycalesis orseis).

Another Bush Brown, the Mycalesis maianeas was hopping from perch to perch in a shade.

 We were very lucky to see two Blue Begums (Prothoe franck) feeding on the trail - this is the more pristine specimen.

Though Bukit Tinggi is a bit far from KL. However, from various FB posts, I noticed that this particular location has rich butterfly diversity. I will be visiting this place again in the future.