Butterflies in February and March 2025 - Rare and Colourful ones

It has been a 'dry' season in February and March 2025. I tried my luck at my favourites spots in GTJ and BT but hardly see any rare ones as well. So it's the lowlands species which grab the headlines.

Glorious Begum

Agatasa calydonia calydonia

This is only my second time seeing this gloriously rare butterfly. 

Glorious Begum

Agatasa calydonia calydonia

It was initially on the ground but flew up and landed upside down on a tree trunk (as what it usually does) when it spotted me moving closer to it.

Four-bar Swordtail 

Graphium agetes iponus (Westwood)

This is an awesomely uncommon Graphium. 

Four-bar Swordtail 

Graphium agetes iponus (Westwood)

I saw four of them.

Four-bar Swordtail 

Graphium agetes iponus (Westwood)

This Graphium has a pinkish head.

Four-bar Swordtail 

Graphium agetes iponus (Westwood)

It is slightly smaller than a Malayan Zebra (Graphium delessertii delessertii).

Malayan Zebra 

Graphium delessertii delessertii

Looks like there are lots of Graphium puddling this time.

Malayan Zebra 

Graphium delessertii delessertii

Four species at one place. Sometimes you can see even more than 10 species.

Pendlebury's Zebra

Graphium ramaceus pendleburyi

Another not so common Graphium has joined the party.

Pendlebury's Zebra

Graphium ramaceus pendleburyi

Many people would like to have this kind of shot.

Tufted Jungle King

Thauria aliris pseudaliris

Another forest gem. You can actually get close to it if you move slowly. This one was shot with a 105mm lens.

This one below is quite a tricky species but I believe it's a Blue Imperial.

Blue Imperial

Ticherra acte liviana

From afar, you would probably mistaken this rare butterfly as a Common Imperial (Chetritra freja).

Blue Imperial

Ticherra acte liviana

Most of the time it would land upside down under a leaf. Very skittish as well.

Branded Straw Ace

Pithauria marsena

A familiar and common skipper.

Malay Rajah

Charaxes distanti distanti

This 'Rajah' has been quite a common feature lately.

Malay Rajah

Charaxes distanti distanti

An orangey appearance from head to abdomen.

Dark Posy

Drupadia theda thesmia

This Posy is not as common as its other cousins.

Ultra Snow Flat

Tagiades ultra

Although most skipper including flats are reportedly sun loving insects but most of the time I will find them upside down under a leaf.

                                                                          
                                          Demon Flitter                                             

                      Oerane microthyrus nearea                        

                              See how some lighting can affect the appearance of a species.

     Demon Flitter     

Oerane microthyrus nearea

This is the best shot I have on this skipper.

Forest Hopper

Astictopterus jama jama

Many people wouldn't bother to take this skipper's photo.

Forget-me-not

Catopchrysops strabo strabo

Silver Forget-me-not

Catopchrysops panormus exiguus

Silver Forget-me-not

Catopchrysops panormus exiguus

A view from the top.

Here's a comparison of some Jamides.

Royal Caerulean

Jamides caeruleus

Royal Caerulean

Jamides caeruleus

Yep ! both are the same species but at different environment. The former (above top) was shot inside a forest trail while this one above was seen on an open space beside a forest edge.

Gram Blue

Euchrysops cnejus cnejus

Female

Gram Blue

Euchrysops cnejus cnejus

Male

Little Yeoman

Cirrochroa surya siamensis

Haven't been seeing much of Oakblues lately except this one.

Tailed Disc Oakblue

Arhopala atosia jahara

Common Red Flash

Rapala airbus airbus

Here are some ground dwelling species.

Ciliate Blue

Anthene emolus goberus

                                                                   
                                                          

Pointed Ciliate Blue

Anthene lycaenina miya

Forewing like a spear head.

Parallel Sunbeam

Curetis freda

Haven't seen many Curetis lately. So it's nice to see one now.

Parallel Sunbeam

Curetis freda

The best shot I have on this species. It landed right in front.

Black-veined Tiger

Danaus melanippus hegesippus

This one was shot at BT.

Is this a Yasoda pitane laruta or a Yasoda pita dohertyi?

 Here is something different. A crabby crab !

iNaturalist has identified this crustacean as a Johora intemedia. My lifer crab.

THAT'S ALL FOLKS. Brrr ! 

BETTER LUCK THE NEXT MONTH I HOPE.

Exploring the micro world of fungi - March 2025

The flowering season has yet to fully begin at lowlands over here and couple with the unpredictable weather, butterflies are appearing sparsely nowadays. Luckily I found a new interest. Spotting for fungi as in plural and mushroom as in the entire structure of the fungi have been my new hobby since January 2025. Yep! just only started early this year.

Apparently there are about 4000 species of fungi in Malaysia alone (Source: FRIM) and many more I believe are unrecorded especially those from the Cordyceps species. Here are some of my favourite fungi photos which I have seen within just a short period of time. Most of the identification were obtained from the more experienced Mycologist. 

Psathyrella Sp

Scaly Tangerine Mushroom 

Agaricus trisulphuratus 

This mushroom stick out like a sore thumb beside a trail. It looks exotic but since you can see many of its photos out there, I guess it is quite a common fungi.

Here is another common species especially when they are in season.

Cup mushroom

Cookeina sulcipes 

Cup mushroom

Cookeina tricholoma 

Poison Fire Coral

Trichoderma cornu-damae 

Don't play play ! They are actually as what it is named - poisonous ! Reportedly quite common in Japan and Korea. Not sure how they ended in this region.

Coniolepiota spongodes

This one is also quite a common fungi.

Coniolepiota spongodes

This one is at a juvenile stage.

Some of them can appear in large clusters like these ones.

Maybe one of those Punctularia Sp

False Turkey Tail

Stereum ostrea

These were seen in Taman Negara, Pahang.

False Turkey Tail

Stereum ostrea

Micropsalliota Sp

Microporus Sp

This is a common year-round species which means you can see it through out the year. They can be as large as your palm.

Shaggy Cap Fungi

Boletellus emodensis

This one was also seen in Taman Negara.

Shaggy Cap Fungi

Boletellus emodensis

They can come in various sizes and shape.

Pisolithus aurantioscabrosus

According to an expert from FRIM, this species is endemic to Malaysia and was first discovered at Panti Forest in 1995. This one was seen in Taman Negara, Pahang.

Some of them even have bioluminescent properties.

Entoloma mastoideum

Wood Ear fungi

Auricularia auricula

Dripping Bonnet

Roridomyces roridus

If you may have noticed or experienced, majority of the fungi here are either whitish or plain brownish.

Volvariella Sp

                                                                                                                  

Some can appear orangey or pinkish like these ones. I have yet to see those green and blue ones.

Pulveroboletus ridleyi

You can see their whitish mycelium at the bottom of their stem.

It appears like glowing in the dark.

Pulveroboletus ridleyi

Luminous Porecap

Favolaschia manipularis

Luminous Porecap

Favolaschia manipularis

Saw these ones just beside a stream surrounded by running water all over them.

Mycena Sp

Cystolepiota Sp

Cystolepiota Sp

Sanguinoderma rugosum

 Cantharellus cerinoalbus

According to a research by Eyssartier et al., (2009), there are 5 species of Cantharellus in Peninsular Malaysia and C. cerinoalbus is the latest been discovered. Apparently all Cantharellus have the smell of apricot.

According to the literature, there are generally two types of fungi - the macro fungi and the micro fungi. So here are some of those tiny ones.

Orange Pinwheel ?

Marasmius Sp

Collybiopsis Sp

Mycena Sp I think.

Finally I saw this weird one. Not sure whether this is a fungi or not.

Shroom hunting gear.

That's my basic gear for mushroom hunting.

Like some blooming flowers.

WILL BE POSTING MORE INTERESTING MUSHROOMS PHOTOS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

UNTIL THEN ENJOY NATURE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN