Another morning of 'near misses', I'm afraid. I wasn't proposing to post today, but on the way home I spotted what surely must be called the 'Bird-dropping Spider'. It reminded me of the Black Hairstreak pupa, and showed no sign of moving, even when prodded gently. This place is full of surprises......

Thanks, Guys, and thank you, Guy, for your gentle expertise. 26th November: Did my usual early morning circuit in brilliant sunshine, but apart from a very fresh Lemon Emigrant, which declined to be photographed (I did warn you that it was likely to be a 'near miss blog'), I saw only the usual suspe...

Thanks, Chris, I have also been doing a bit of 'netting', and came up with Cepora aspasia . Both certainly look possibles - any other offers. I have finally met a Doc from the Biology Dept, who I hoped would be able to cast some light on the various species found in Ateneo... Turns out he's a specia...

Instead of cluttering up the ID section of the forum with Philippines pix, it seemed sensible to start a blog here, and them them as wants to look, can look. I fear that it may turn out to be a litany of 'nearly' photo opportunities, as many of the species here seem to blast about without any sugges...

Another view of the supposed Large Dart. This was a different and slightly smaller specimen, but certainly the same species. DSC00270.JPG Also another view of the Swift posted yesterday: DSC00285.JPG I was also fortunate to happen on a compliant Striped Albatross. They normally tear about the place ...

Thanks, Guy,

As I noted in my 'Another biggy' post, I think I was a little ambitious sizewise (ugh! horrible!), with this one. 36/38mm would have been nearer the mark. Apologies...

Tony.

DSC00260.JPG I think this may be a Large Dart Potanthus serina - it was certainly big enough. It had a tremendous burst of speed and rocked the foliage when it took off. It was the same sort of length as the 'Paintbrush', but much heavier. I think I was a bit exuberant, yesterday, with my assessmen...

pbs.jpg Found this, this morning. It was a big beastie - 45/50mm wingspan - and the forewing long, sharp and narrow. Maybe too big for Paintbrush or Philippine Swift. The books suggest that these Swifts can only be confidently separated by genital dissection, but I thought it worth a post - especia...

Hi Guy,

Looking further, I'm sure it's hecabe,as you suggest. I didn't think that the forewing smudges were sometimes present in the species. This place is a very steep learning curve .

Tony.

Found this at the edge of a jungle path - I think it is Troides rhadamanthus . I was considerably dehydrated at the time, having just walked a couple of miles uphill to a waterfall, and was not thinking straight. I should have potted it and reared it through :roll: - might have produced some good pi...

Thanks, Guys,

I'm enjoying finding them, frustrating though it often is.

Tony.

One from this morning - any ideas, anyone? Not 'Anderson's', I'm sure, although that looks the nearest. Why has no one produced a definitive 'Butterflies of the Philippines' .....
Tony M.

Common Birdwing.jpg This amazing insect was sailing around a small valley near the coast at San Juan. It was being 'buzzed' by a very aggressive 'Eggfly', which looked about a quarter its size. I think it may be a Filipino version of the Common Birdwing. Common Grass Yellow.jpg One of the 'Grass Ye...

Unknown Lycaenid 2.jpg UNKNOWN LYCAENID 1.jpg A couple more 'Blues' from the Philippines. The second was only seen once, puddling near some roadworks. The first, maybe one of the 'caerulians??, was quite common during a forest walk, but a devil to photograph - I think this one may have been smoking...

DSC00134.JPG DSC00133.JPG Found this little chap this morning - a new one for me. I think it may be Aeromachus plumbeola , a species, which, I think, is restricted to the Philippines. Sorry for the poor photos, not sure why.... It was a little early in the morning, and a drop or two of medicine was...

Me too...

Tony M.

Thanks, Guy,

We are well north of the eye and out of danger. Pity the poor guys on Cebu, many of whom are still in tents following the earthquake last month...

Hope for calm, sun and more photo opps tomorrow.

T.

Thanks again, Guy, I did wonder about ancyra , but this was in a new place where there appeared to be several butterflies congregating around one small tree. The ones that I saw flying appeared to be pure white! I'm sure they were not ancyra . It seems likely that the one I photographed was not one ...

Certainly, Guy,

I know you are a Lycaenophile from wayback - delighted to oblige.. This one was one of the 'white' Blues, and I can find nothing with the orange lunules along the whole underwing margin.
Tony.

Pretty sure the Lycaenid above is a Lesser Grass Blue (Zizina otis lampa). Happy to be corrected if not..

Tony M.