Forest walk
Visitors to Chiang Mai usually head up the mountain to visit Wat Doi Sutep. Beautiful and impressive though this temple is, it can get quite crowded on weekends and holidays. … Continue Reading Forest walk
The Common Earl, a butterfly with green eyes!
The Common Earl (Tanaecia julii), as the name suggests, is a relatively common butterfly with a wide distribution, including India, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, China, West Malaysia and Sumatra. It is … Continue Reading The Common Earl, a butterfly with green eyes!
Old blue eyes!
The Dusky Diadem [Ethope himachala (Moore, 1857)] is a fairly common species in upland regions of northeastern India, for example in provinces such as Arunachul Pradesh, Meghalaya and Nagaland (1). … Continue Reading Old blue eyes!
Blues on the heath!
The hills and mountains of of Galicia in north-west Spain are covered in heather and gorse which flower from late summer into autumn. The heather and gorse are alive with … Continue Reading Blues on the heath!
An endemic egg-fly from Sulawesi
I chased this butterfly for quite a while before it settled down on a leaf and let me take a photograph! I did not know what it was at the … Continue Reading An endemic egg-fly from Sulawesi
Flap happy!
I like to try to capture insects in flight – but it is not always easy! These two photographs are not great (I am not sure if the shutter speed … Continue Reading Flap happy!
A jaggedy edged butterfly
This strange butterfly is a member of the family Lycaenidae; one usually associated with blues, coppers and hairstreaks. There are however, a group of butterflies in the subfamily Miletinae which … Continue Reading A jaggedy edged butterfly
Paris Peacock butterfly scales
Paris Peacock butterfly scales.
Paris Peacock butterfly scales
The tropical Paris Peacock (Papilio paris) butterfly – not to be confused with the temperate or European Peacock ( (Inachis io) – is widely distributed throughout India and South East Asia. This … Continue Reading Paris Peacock butterfly scales
A multi-frocked courtesan!
What stands out most about this butterfly are its bright yellow eyes. I don’t know what function the yellow has, if any, but it offers a beautiful contrast to the … Continue Reading A multi-frocked courtesan!
A wandering snowflake
This little butterfly is a member of the family Pieridae, and has a wide distribution which covers Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. I took this photograph in northern Thailand. … Continue Reading A wandering snowflake
Thai Cruiser feeding on poinsettia flowers
I came across these butterflies feeding on poinsettias in early November (2013) when I visited the headquarters of the Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand. The butterfly is the … Continue Reading Thai Cruiser feeding on poinsettia flowers
Jacintha Eggfly (Hypolimnas bolina)
I chased this butterfly along a road in Chiang Mai Zoo, last November (2013). It eventually landed on a fallen log and I was able to get this picture of … Continue Reading Jacintha Eggfly (Hypolimnas bolina)
Camouflage – in whose eyes?
When we look at beautifully camouflaged insects, such as certain butterfly species which look so much like the leaves or vegetation of their environment, we sometimes forget that they are … Continue Reading Camouflage – in whose eyes?
The Southern Monarch butterfly.
The Southern Monarch butterfly, Danaus erippus (= Danaus plexippus erippus), is found in tropical and subtropical latitudes of South America, including Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru. The larvae feed on a … Continue Reading The Southern Monarch butterfly.
The proboscis – a very versatile instrument
We all know that proboscises (or is it probosci?!) are what butterflies use to suck up nectar – upon which they feed; but it is only when you look very … Continue Reading The proboscis – a very versatile instrument
