new cp from AH 20/04/04

[macross]

Found a new larva to add to my collection. id needed. Here are two pics of the larva:

1.


2.

[y0ngcheng]

hehehe so cute
but can't help u in this. not very gd at it.

[Papilio]

Originally Posted by macross Found a new larva to add to my collection. id needed.

This is the caterpillar of the Mottled Emigrant. It must've dropped from its host plant though, cos the plant on which it is crawling now is not its host plant.

[macross]

Originally Posted by Papilio It must've dropped from its host plant though, cos the plant on which it is crawling now is not its host plant.

So poor thing...

When I was photographing it, it keep crawling and crawling..., and I thot it was camera-shy.... It must have been starving.... Which is its host plant? Maybe next time I can help.


The following was shot yesterday:



Is the cp the same species. Hope that the one I shot today will not end up like this....

[mr_jason]

Don't worry, all part of nature's cycle. Survival of the fittest.

So since you've just been to AH, what's flying around this week? Last time i went an abundence of Leopards, and very few of anything else.

[Papilio]

Originally Posted by macross So poor thing... When I was photographing it, it keep crawling and crawling..., and I thot it was camera-shy.... It must have been starving.... Which is its host plant? Maybe next time I can help. The following was shot yesterday: Is the cp the same species. Hope that the one I shot today will not end up like this....

Yes, that's the same species. So besides the Changeable Lizard eating up the cats, these Kerengga (Fire Ants) are also helping themselves to the buffet. I saw a poor Common Birdwing cat being attacked by these aggressive ants in the same way.

The cat of the Mottled Emigrant feeds on the Cassia alata tree. It's the medium sized tree that overhangs the drain near the Lantana bushes. In many cases, the cats drop off the tree and go off somewhere to pupate. The cat that you shot may be doing just that.

[macross]

Let me recall.... I went AH these two days, but was in the evening...

Common Palmfly - many (seems like mating season for them)
Dark Brand Bush Brown - many
Blue Glassy Tiger - many
Pale Grass Blue? - many (too small to see clearly)
Striped Blue Crow? - 2 (quite large, but difficult to shoot)
Palm Bob - 1
Leopard - 1
Chocolate Pansy - 1
xxx Sergeant - 1
xxx Yellow - a few
Common Birdwing? - 1 (really wanted to add this fellow to my collection, but very difficult to shoot; keep flying and flying and flying...)
larvae of Common Rose - 3 or 4

plus other insects... and lots of mossies!

oh, saw a squirrel on the fence when I was at the bus-stop outside AH.
Wanted to take a few shots at it, but it was too quick for me... up in the tree by the time I got my cam out...

[mr_jason]

What!! So many! Must be insane with all the fellas flying around.

Thanks. Think I'll head down Saturday. Too lazy to do nature walks, heh.

[macross]

Happy shooting. Usually work during weekends, so shoot during weekdays (also not many pple ard).

[macross]

Thanks skyflash.

Think last night was tired and did not recall and check properly. The butt that I was mentioning was not Common Birdwing (thot of black and yellow and wrote the wrong name). It has tails at the hindwing. Check the 'virtual bible' just now. It was something like a Blue Helen or that type of butt.

[macross]

Originally Posted by skyflash Spotted a few in Sime Forest. Unable to get a good snap (since my working distance is less than 1 metre). It seems to feed while flapping its wing -- I gave up :P

Yes, I think that shld be the one. When it was feeding on a flower, it could not stand still. It kept flapping its wings and moved a bit. When I finally got a focus on it, it flew off to another flower. It kept moving and flying. A real challenge to take a good pic of this fellow.

[Papilio]

Originally Posted by macross Thanks skyflash. Think last night was tired and did not recall and check properly. The butt that I was mentioning was not Common Birdwing (thot of black and yellow and wrote the wrong name). It has tails at the hindwing. Check the 'virtual bible' just now. It was something like a Blue Helen or that type of butt.

If it's in the urban areas that you saw the butt, then it's most likely a Common Mormon. The Blue Helen is a forest butterfly, whereas the Common Mormon can be found in urban areas, where its host plant, the Indian Curry Leaf plant is cultivated.

[Papilio]

Originally Posted by skyflash Thanks for the information! :P So, both have similar feeding behavior?

You mean the adult butterfly? Generally yes, they both hold their hindwings relatively still, whilst only the forewing flaps actively to keep it aloft. Both species can be seen at Sime, but the Common Mormon can be found all over Singapore - even in my own garden!