2-6-2023 BALI BUTTERFLY PARK - RED HELEN SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY (Papilio helenus)

Papilio helenus, the red Helen, is a large swallowtail butterfly found in forests of southern India and parts of southeast Asia.

Papilio helenus is rarely found in Sri Lanka, southern and north-east India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Kampuchea, Vietnam, southern China (including Hainan, Guangdong province), Taiwan, southern Japan, South Korea, Ryukyu Islands, peninsular and eastern Malaysia, Brunei, Philippines, and Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, Bangka, Kalimantan, the Lesser Sunda Islands except Tanimbar).

In India it occurs along the Western Ghats from Kerala to Gujarat, also Palnis and Shevaroys, in the north from Mussoorie eastwards, to north-east India and onto Myanmar.

14-7-2023 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - LONG SKIMMER DRAGONFLY (MALE) (Orthetrum trinacria)

Orthetrum trinacria, the Long Skimmer, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is found in Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ethiopia, France (Corsica), Gambia, Ghana, Italy (Sicily and Sardinia), Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and possibly Burundi. It was recently recorded in the Maltese Islands in 2003 and was recorded breeding on the island of Gozo in 2004. Its natural habitats are rivers, shrub-dominated wetlands, swamps, freshwater lakes, intermittent freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marshes. Also breeding in Southern Spain (Murcia and Malaga Provinces) and the Canary Islands.

 

14-7-2023 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - BROAD SCARLET DRAGONFLY (MALE) (Crocothemis erythraea)

These dragonflies are easily regognised due to their flattened and very broad abdomens. The adult male is bright red with small amber patches at the bases of the hindwings. The veins on the leading edges of the wings are red.

Females and immatures are yellow-brown and have a conspicuous pale stripe along the top of the thorax.

Most similar to Crocothemis sanguinolenta, the Little Scarlet. The Broad Scarlet is readily differentiated by its larger size, broader abdomen, and longer, yellow pterostigmas. The two also occupy somewhat different habitats with Crocothemis sanguinolenta preferring habitats with running water and rocks.

 

14-7-2023 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - BROAD SCARLET DRAGONFLY (FEMALE) (Crocothemis erythraea)

The scarlet dragonfly (Crocothemis erythraea) is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. Its common names include broad scarlet, common scarlet-darter, and scarlet darter.

The scarlet dragonfly is a common species in southern Europe and throughout Africa. It also occurs across western Asia as far as southern China. It is a very rare vagrant in Britain. Its first record in the country was at Hayle Kimbro Pool, The Lizard, Cornwall, on 7 August 1995. Since then there have been a few further records at scattered locations throughout Britain.

A wide range of both running and standing waters, except those that are shaded. Adults may be found some distance from water in habitats ranging from desert to open woodland; absent from dense forest.

Crocothemis erythraea can reach a length of 33–44 millimetres (1.3–1.7 in). These dragonflies haves a flattened and rather broad abdomen. The adult male scarlet dragonfly has a bright scarlet red, widened abdomen, with small amber patches at the bases of the hindwings. Also the veins on the leading edges of the wings are red. Females and immatures are yellow-brown and have a conspicuous pale stripe along the top of the thorax.

2-6-2023 BALI BUTTERFLY PARK - SWIFT PEACOCK BUTTERFLY (Papilio peranthus)

Papilio peranthus is a butterfly of the family Papilionidae. It is found in Indonesia (including Java, Sulawesi and the Lesser Sunda Islands).

The wingspan is 70–90 mm.

 

2-6-2023 BALI BUTTERFLY PARK - COMMON BIRDWING BUTTERFLY (Troides helena)

Troides helena, the common birdwing, is a butterfly belonging to the family Papilionidae. It is often found in the wildlife trade due to its popularity with butterfly collectors. The butterfly has seventeen subspecies.

 

2-6-2023 BALI BUTTERFLY PARK - LARGE CROW BUTTERFLY (Euploea phaenareta)

Euploea phaenareta, the giant crow is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It was described by Johann Gottlieb Schaller in 1785. It is found in the Indomalayan realm and the Australasian realm.

 

2-6-2023 BALI BUTTERFLY PARK - COMMON SUN SKINK (Eutropis multifasciata)

Eutropis multifasciata was first observed in Taiwan in 1992, in the southern Kaohsiung area. It has since spread northward and established populations in the central-western and south-western lowlands. The species has successfully adapted to Taiwan's agricultural areas, open forests, and human-disturbed areas. It's high fecundity (reproductive ability) has enabled it to compete with other species for resources. This is likely the cause of the decline in the populations of indigenous lizard species that occupy the same habitats as Eutropis multifasciata. Since this species has a poor cold tolerance, its elevational distribution in Taiwan is restricted below 500 meters. However, it is expected that in response to rising temperatures associated with climate change, this species will benefit from increased maximum activity time. As a result, distribution of this species is expected to expand from lowland areas to higher elevations, especially if the landscape becomes more open.

 

2-6-2023 BALI BUTTERFLY PARK - MALAY CRUISER BUTTERFLY (Vindula dejone)

Vindula dejone, the Malay cruiser, is a butterfly from the family Nymphalidae found in Southeast Asia. It is sexually dimorphic.

Larvae feed on Adenia.

 

2-6-2023 BALI BUTTERFLY PARK - GREAT MORMON SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY (Papilio memnon)

Papilio memnon, the great Mormon, is a large butterfly native to southern Asia that belongs to the swallowtail family. It is widely distributed and has thirteen subspecies. The female is polymorphic and with mimetic forms.

Its range includes north-eastern India (including Sikkim, Assam and Nagaland), Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nicobar Islands, Andaman Islands (stragglers only), western, southern and eastern China (including Hainan), Taiwan, southern Japan including Ryukyu Islands, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Kampuchea, Malaysia and Indonesia (Sumatra, Mentawai Islands, Nias, Batu, Simeulue, Bangka, Java, Kalimantan and the Lesser Sunda Islands).

2-6-2023 BALI BUTTERFLY PARK - GREAT ORANGE TIP BUTTERFLY

Hebomoia glaucippe, the great orange-tip, is a butterfly belonging to the family Pieridae, that is the yellows and whites. It is found in the Indomalayan realm and Wallacea.

This species is found in much of south and southeast Asia, as well as in southern China and southern Japan.

 

2-6-2023 BALI BUTTERFLY PARK - COMMON TREE NYMPH BUTTERFLY (Idea stolli)

Idea stolli, the common tree nymph, is a species of nymphalid butterfly in the Danainae subfamily. It is found in South East Asia. There are twelve Idea species, of which five occur in West Malaysia.

The wings are white with black dots and veins. The wingspan is about 150 mm.

The larvae feed on Aganosma cymosa and Aganosma corymbosa..

2-6-2023 BALI BUTTERFLY PARK - MALAYAN LACEWING BUTTERFLY (Cethosia hypsea)

The Malay Lacewing is a very pretty butterfly. It is bright orange-red above with broad black borders. The wings are scalloped, giving the hindwings an almost sawtooth-like appearance. The undersides are orange-red with white fasciae and are spotted with black forming an intricate pattern which probably gives the origin of its name "Lacewing".

The butterfly is quite common in the nature reserves and can be found fluttering around flowering bushes like Prickly Lantana (Lantana camara) and the Snakeweed (Stachytarpheta indica) as shown in the photos.

The wine red caterpillar has long spines and is known to feed on Passion Fruit vine (Adenia spp.)

Cethosia hypsea, the Malay lacewing, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in from Burma to Indonesia and the Philippines.

The wingspan is about 80 mm.Adults are bright orange red above with broad black borders, warning predators of their toxicity. The underside is orange red with white fasciae and is spotted with black. The wings are scalloped.

The larvae feed on Adenia species. They are wine red and have long spines. They are also poisonous.

The forewings are black with a white subapical band beyond the cell; the basal area is orange-red for the male (with the red confined to the base of the wings) and black for the female (with a yellowish-white patch in mid space 1b). The hindwing is entirely orange-red (paler in the female) except for the scalloped black distal border. Underneath, the wings are orange-red with white fasciae and adorned with black spots. The forewing cell has several black-edged, pale blue transverse stripes. The wing borders are dark coloured and deeply indented with lace-like pattern of white markings. One distinguishing feature to separate Malay Lacewing from other Cethosia species is the absence of a white submarginal band on the hindwing underside.

The Malay Lacewing is essentially a forest dweller and its local occurrence is confined within the sanctuary of the nature reserves in the catchment areas. It is not uncommon in the reserves, and adults can be spotted visiting flowers of flowering plants such as Leea indica in forest clearings or alongside forest trails. At times, females can also be seen checking out leaves of various plants in search of an ovipositing site.

2-6-2023 BALI BUTTERFLY PARK - MOTH ORCHID (Genus Phalaenopsis)

Phalaenopsis (/ˌfælɪˈnɒpsɪs/), also known as moth orchids, is a genus of about seventy species of plants in the family Orchidaceae. Orchids in this genus are monopodial epiphytes or lithophytes with long, coarse roots, short, leafy stems and long-lasting, flat flowers arranged in a flowering stem that often branches near the end. Orchids in this genus are native to India, Taiwan, China, Southeast Asia, New Guinea and Australia with the majority in Indonesia and the Philippines.

16-5-2023 KOTA KINABALU NAT PRK, BORNEO - MOUNTAIN BLACKEYE (Zosterops emiliae)

The mountain blackeye (Zosterops emiliae), sometimes referred to as the olive blackeye or simply black-eye, is a species of passerine bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to the highest mountains on the island of Borneo. It is known from both Malaysian states on the island, and four of the five Indonesian provinces, but has never been recorded in Brunei. Typically found at elevations above 1,800 m (5,900 ft), the mountain blackeye sometimes moves to lower altitudes during periods of drought. There are four subspecies, which show clinal variations in size and coloring. Birds in the north are largest, darkest, and proportionately longer-tailed, while those further south are smaller, paler, and proportionately shorter-tailed. Adults are dark olive-green with a sharply-pointed, bright yellow-orange bill and a small dark mask connecting black lores with a black eye-ring. The subspecies show varying amounts of yellow in their plumage, particularly on the face and underparts. Young birds resemble their parents, but have less brightly colored bills.

It feeds on insects, nectar, pollen, and small fruits, and is a major pollinator of several species of Rhododendron. It is also a minor partner in a symbiotic relationship with the pitcher-plant Nepenthes lowii. Little is known about its breeding ecology. Its nest is a shallow cup made of rootlets and lined with bits of moss. The female lays a single egg, and the nestling takes 14–15 days to fledge after hatching. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists it as a species of least concern. Although its population has not been quantified, it is very common across much of its range.

2-6-2023 BALI BUTTERFLY PARK - LOWER EPIDENDROIDEAE (Genus Dendrobium)

Dendrobium is a genus of mostly epiphytic and lithophytic orchids in the family Orchidaceae. It is a very large genus, containing more than 1,800 species that are found in diverse habitats throughout much of south, east and southeast Asia, including China, Japan, India, the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, New Guinea, Vietnam and many of the islands of the Pacific. Orchids in this genus have roots that creep over the surface of trees or rocks, rarely having their roots in soil. Up to six leaves develop in a tuft at the tip of a shoot and from one to a large number of flowers are arranged along an unbranched flowering stem. Several attempts have been made to separate Dendrobium into smaller genera, but most have not been accepted by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.

2-6-2023 BALI BUTTERFLY PARK - GARDEN BALSAM (Impatiens balsamina)

 Impatiens balsamina, commonly known as balsam, garden balsam, rose balsam, touch-me-not[1] or spotted snapweed, is a species of plant native to India and Myanmar.

8-7-2023 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MEDITERRANEAN PALE GLOW-WORM (Nyctophila reichii)

Nyctophila reichii, the Mediterranean firefly, is a species of firefly. The species is very common in the southern and eastern part of the Iberian Peninsula.

 

7-7-2023 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MOORISH GECKO (JUVENILE) (Tarentola mauritanica)

Tarentola mauritanica, known as the common wall gecko, is a species of gecko (Gekkota) native to the western Mediterranean area of North Africa and Europe. It has been introduced to Madeira and Balearic Islands, and the Americas (in Montevideo, Buenos Aires and California). A nocturnal animal with a predominantly insectivorous diet, it is commonly observed on walls in urban environments in warm coastal areas; it can be found further inland, especially in Spain where it has a tradition of cohabitation with humans as an insect hunter. A robust species, up to 15 centimetres (5.9 in) long, its tubercules are enlarged and give the species a spiny armoured appearance. 

10-7-2023 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WAVE MOTH (Idaea eugeniata)

Idaea eugeniata is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is found in Italy, France, Andorra, Spain, Portugal and North Africa.

The wingspan is 21–22 mm for males and 24–25 mm for females.

The larvae are polyphagous and have been recorded feeding on various herbaceous plants.

27-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - CHESTNUT WINGED BABBLER (Cyanoderma erythropterum)

The chestnut-winged babbler (Cyanoderma erythropterum) is a babbler species in the family Timaliidae. It occurs in the Malay Peninsula from southern Thailand to Singapore, and in Sumatra. It inhabits forests and shrublands up to an elevation of 800 m (2,600 ft). It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

It is chestnut-brown with a greyish face and underparts, and is 12.5–13.5 cm (4.9–5.3 in) long. It feeds on small Coleoptera beetles, Phasmida insects, ants, and Hemiptera bugs.

Timalia erythroptera was the scientific name proposed by Edward Blyth in 1842 for an olive-brown babbler from Nepal. It was later placed in the genus Stachyris, but since 2020 is recognised as a Cyanoderma species. The grey-hooded babbler (C. bicolor) of Borneo was formerly considered conspecific.

2-6-2023 BALI BUTTERFLY PARK - CARRUTHER'S FALSE FACE (Pseuderanthemum carruthersii)

 Pseuderanthemum carruthersii, the Carruthers' falseface, is a species of plant in the family Acanthaceae. It is native from the Solomon Islands to Vanuatu.

2-6-2023 BALI BUTTERFLY PARK - SACRED LOTUS (Nelumbo nucifera)

Nelumbo nucifera, also known as sacred lotus, Laxmi lotus, Indian lotus, or simply lotus, is one of two extant species of aquatic plant in the family Nelumbonaceae. It is sometimes colloquially called a water lily, though this more often refers to members of the family Nymphaeaceae.

Lotus plants are adapted to grow in the flood plains of slow-moving rivers and delta areas. Stands of lotus drop hundreds of thousands of seeds every year to the bottom of the pond. While some sprout immediately, and most are eaten by wildlife, the remaining seeds can remain dormant for an extensive period of time as the pond silts in and dries out. During flood conditions, sediments containing these seeds are broken open, and the dormant seeds rehydrate and begin a new lotus colony.

Under favorable circumstances, the seeds of this aquatic perennial may remain viable for many years, with the oldest recorded lotus germination being from seeds 1,300 years old recovered from a dry lakebed in northeastern China. Therefore, the Chinese regard the plant as a symbol of longevity.

17-5-2023 PORING HOT SPRINGS, BORNEO - VELVET FRONTED NUTHATCH (Sitta frontalis)

 The velvet-fronted nuthatch (Sitta frontalis) is a small passerine bird in the nuthatch family Sittidae found in southern Asia from Nepal, India, Sri Lanka ‍and Bangladesh east to south China and Indonesia. Like other nuthatches, it feeds on insects in the bark of trees, foraging on the trunks and branches and their strongly clawed toes allow them to climb down tree trunks or move on the undersides of horizontal branches. They are found in forests with good tree cover and are often found along with other species in mixed-species foraging flocks. Adult males can be told apart by the black stripe that runs behind and above the eyes. They have a rapid chipping call note. They breed in tree cavities and holes, often created by woodpeckers or barbets.

26-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - BORNEO WHITE LIPPED FROG (Chalcorana raniceps)

Chalcorana raniceps inhabits a broad range of lowland primary and secondary rainforest habitats. It breeds in ponds, intermittent streams, and quiet side pools of streams. Males call in small groups from twigs and vegetation 0.5–1.5 m above the ground.

 

27-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - ORBWEAVER SPIDER (Gasteracantha mengei)

Gasteracantha mengei is a species of spider in the spiny orb-weaver genus Gasteracantha. Its range includes Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, and Sumatra in Indonesia.