The last week of March was the school break and so, I went on a daily photoshoot session around Raub, principally at Bukit Telaga because of its proximity...(more pics to come in later updates).
Cirrochroa emalea emalea
The Indian Leaf, Kallima limborgii amplirufa has an incredibly adapted cryptic underside. This is not a common butterfly but I have noticed it flying around the undergrowth along the stream in Bukit Telaga, once even saw it engaged in an aerial combat with another butterfly encroaching into its territory along the banks of the stream. As luck would have it, I stumbled upon it along the trail and it took flight, first it wanted to land on me for some salt lick as I was sweating and almost wet on my shirt but I moved and didn't want it to do that because that would have ruined my chance for a good shot. It then decided to land not too far nor too high up the trunk of a tree. As I flashed it, it got stunned and stayed immobile for a few moments, enough for me to get a few nice shots before it took flight and disappeared again into the cryptic undergrowth.
As the wings opened once it was relaxed, the beautiful blue sheen against the vivid orange gave it away...this must be arguably the most beautiful butterfly that inhabits the undergrowth of the Malayan jungle.
A Common Nawab came to the sand bank for a drink...
A dry season form of the Common Evening Brown, Melanitis leda leda. This butterfly display highly variable forms (the underside markings) that adapts to the season and environment it lives in.
The Great Mormon, Papilio memnon agenor is a large and powerful flyer and it is an unmistakable insect. It can be seen frequently flying around villages, especially at the forest's edge as well as sometimes observed on a sand bank in the afternoon.
Hallmark of Bukit Telaga - the Malayan Owl, Neorina lowii. This is the largest Satyrid butterfly in Malaysia and is decidedly a forest insect.
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