Halfway between MacRitchie Reservoir and Bukit Timah Reserve, three men and a sai set up a trap for lonesome Lepidoptera. Apparently, one method of drawing out these deceptively pretty but in fact rather disgusting bugs is to pee on the ground. The ammonia attracts them like bees to honey, like flies to carrion, like monkeys to pies..... you get the idea.
But despite my duck's willingness to contribute the necessary bait, sai chose to use his home made belacan, which should by right cause every sane creature to flee rather than fly down. But the dumb insects seem to have a penchant for pungent prawn paste and gathered for a taste. In order to take their little mugshots, my duck had to lie flat on the pebbly trail, picking up dirt and dead matter that had to be washed off later. He's a rather sensitive thing, you know...
Don't ask me what species they are. I am waiting for sai to tell me...
This orange butterfly was extremely rude. It landed in front of my duck and promptly lowered its abdomen to emit a squirt of buttery shit! Look at the buay-song look in its eye!
I know the name of this one! They call it the Archduke. This is a male and his dukeship refused to sit still, resulting in this unflattering pose. The duchesses display a totally different wing pattern from their menfolk.
I call this the cowsai butterfly, because it's sai's favourite bug and it tries to imitate a Holstein cow. I don't think it's a very effective form of mimicry as the bug is much smaller than it looks (not too mention a full grown cow).
This fellow was a bit vain, posing at length for photos. Or maybe it had a wee too much belachan for its own good and was starting to feel a little green.
After spending nearly half an hour waiting for this bugger to finally land and sit still for more than 2 seconds, I still can't remember its name.
And finally, a real fly! Fortunately not a necrotic one. And not some fluttery thing that wings about drunk with nectar and horny for sex. And goodness knows why they are named after churn milk fat! Humbutterfly!
nice catch ... where did you learn the urine trick to attract butterflies? :) I suppose you know Khew Sin Khoon? I don't but I'm impressed with his knowledge in butterflies.
http://www.geocities.com/rainforest/vines/2382/
Posted by: slurp! | 22 January 2006 at 01:36 AM