Interesting places in Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden:

Kwun Yam Shan 觀音山

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SPH Hayesiana triopus
Made by hkmoths
Insecta: Lepidoptera Sphingidae, Macroglossinae Hayesiana triopus This moth was hovering in front of an Agapanthus africanus and feeding on its nectar. Lam Tsuen Valley, Tai Po, Hong Kong The moth looks a little transparent as a fill in flash was used with the camera in aperture priority mode, and it chose a 1/30 second exposure, so the flower was visible for most of the time and the moth filled over it when the flash fired! This also accounts for the double crimson abdominal band that should be a single band. Not perfect, but at least now I know to set it to fully manual and set a faster shutter speed! There was a sad ending for this moth - shortly after this photo was taken, and whilst feeding at another flower, it was gobbled up all of a sudden by a wiley bulbul that swooped by.


another busy night
Made by hkmoths
just some of the contents from one moth trap on a busy early Spring recording session in Hong Kong. Unseasonally warm weather (the minimum temp was 24°C c.f. the normal 15°C for the end of February). In total, an estimated 250 species (well in excess of 2,000 moths) were recorded from three traps, though the actual figure is still being worked on! Update - the figure is 325 documented species, but there are 49 specimens to curate. So probably around 350 species !!! This is totally amazing for February, although not unheard of for late March in Hong Kong.


GEO Comostola pyrrhogona 紅邊水青尺蠖蛾
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Insecta: Lepidoptera Geometridae, Geometrinae Comostola pyrrhogona Lam Tsuen Valley, Tai Po, Hong Kong This little geometrid moth (about 10mm long and 15mm wing-tip to wing-tip) is a member of the subfamily known as emeralds in the UK, though the colour on this is more like a pale jade. The Taiwanese name translates literally as Red-bordered blue-green water geometrid moth. Maybe the little red-bordered jade would be an easier common name?


OEC Promalactis sp indet [undescribed]
Made by hkmoths
Insecta: Lepidoptera Oecophoridae, Oecophorinae Promalactis sp. indet. Lam Tsuen Valley, Tai Po, Hong Kong This is a tiny moth, just 3mm long. I recently co-authored a paper in the journal Zootaxa on this genus from Hong Kong that included 10 species, seven of which were newly described to science. The moth in the photo isn't any of them!


PEN Antestiopsis sp. c.f. cruciata
Made by hkmoths
Insecta: Hemiptera Pentatomidae Antestiopsis sp. c.f. cruciata Lam Tsuen Valley, Tai Po, New Territories Hong Kong. Previously identified from local literature as Antestia anchora, which appears to be a misidentification - see p109 of books.irri.org/8122405819_content.pdf Thanks to Geetha Iyer for the i.d. correction.


NOC Erebus caprimulgus (male)
Made by hkmoths
Insecta: Lepidoptera Noctuidae, Erebinae Erebus caprimulgus seen at night by torchlight, at rest on a leaf. Lam Tsuen Valley, Tai Po, Hong Kong. This is a pretty large noctuid, about 100mm across. There are only a handful of records from Hong Kong, and I think this is the first male that's been recorded in Hong Kong. The blue around the edges of the wings is light refracted from the camera flash.


Shield bug (Scutelleridae)
Made by hkmoths
Insecta: Hemiptera, Scutelleridae a shield bug of some description Lam Tsuen Valley, Tai Po, Hong Kong Should have set this shot using manual mode, not aperture priority - the exposure was too long and I have some camera shake shadowing the flash shot :( Only posted because the colours are so stunning. Explore #321 for 25 July 2008 as of 26 Dec 2008 (caught me by surprise - an extra Christmas present!)


NOTO Netria viridescens (species group)
Made by hkmoths
Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea, Notodontidae Netria viridescens Lam Tsuen Valley, Tai Po, Hong Kong. This species is one of three or four occurring in southern China that form a species complex. Alexander Schintlmeister has recently described the other species in the complex. Dissection of the genitalia is required to determine the actual identity of individuals in this group.


PYR Arctioblepsis rubida
Made by hkmoths
Insecta: Lepidoptera Pyralidae, Pyralinae Arctioblepsis rubida Lam Tsuen Valley, Tai Po, Hong Kong This is one of my favourite moths - fresh specimens are absolutely stunning - bright yellow head, scarlet wings with the veins marked in black. Heaven only knows how they arrived at such a colour pattern - definitely one for the fashion designers!


PYR Lista insulalis
Made by hkmoths
Insecta: Lepidoptera Pyralidae, Epipaschiinae Lista insulalis at light trap, 27 Sept. 2010 Lam Tsuen Valley, Tai Po, Hong Kong. moths in the subfamily Epipaschiinae are noted for their unusual raised wing scales and for extremely long labial palps, that in some species look like bits of moss stuck to the head of the moth!


NOC Sugitania sp. nr. lepida
Made by hkmoths
Sugitania sp. near lepida Noctuidae, Hadeninae This species is not yet formally identified and differs in a few small markings from S. lepida (from Japan). Only a handful of specimens have been recorded, and this is the first (and only one of two) live photo of this species. Lam Tsuen Valley, Hong Kong


NOC Eudocima phalonia (head)
Made by hkmoths
Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea, Noctuidae, Calpinae Eudocima phalonia This species used to be known as Othreis fullonia, but has recently been placed into the wider concept of the genus Eudocima and the senior synonym phalonia was reinstated by Holloway in 2005. (Moths of Borneo, pts 15 & 16).


Calicnemia sinensis (Chinese Mountain Damsel)
Made by hkmoths
Insecta: Odonata, Zygoptera Platycnemididae Calicnemia sinensis Chinese Mountain Damsel Lam Tsuen Valley / lower Tai Mo Shan, New Territories, Hong Kong This species has a restricted global distribution, being found only in Hong Kong, Guangdong and Fujian. It was scientifically described in 1984.


Blue-banded Bee - Amegilla sp
Made by hkmoths
Lam Tsuen Valley, Tai Po, Hong Kong These solitary bees are thieves - they steal nectar from the base of the flower by stabbing through the nectary, rather than using the conventional method of collecting nectar (and getting a dusting of pollen), so are no good for pollinating flowers.


CAL Tetragonus catamitus
Made by hkmoths
Insecta: Lepidoptera Callidulidae Tetragonus catamitus Lam Tsuen Valley, Tai Po, New Territories Hong Kong This moth species is regularly seen by day in cloudy weather and also at dusk and dawn (crepuscular). It could easily be mistaken for a butterfly!


NOC Penicillaria jocosatrix
Made by hkmoths
Lepidoptera: Noctuidae, Euteliinae Penicillaria jocosatrix Lam Tsuen Valley, Tai Po, Hong Kong The subfamily of moths to which this species belongs is called turn-tails - due to the peculiar manner in which the abdomen is held when the moth is at rest.


GEO_Sigilliclystis_kendricki_(male)
Made by hkmoths
Insecta: Lepidoptera, Ditrysia Geometroidea, Geometridae, Larentiinae, Eupitheciini Sigilliclystis kendricki Galsworthy, 1999 (a male - the female doesn't have the scent pouches on the forewing costa.) Lam Tsuen, Tai Po, Hong Kong 9 July 2005


CHO Choreutis orthogona
Made by hkmoths
Insecta: Lepidoptera Choreutidea Choreutis orthogona Lam Tsuen Valley, Tai Po, Hong Kong taken in the afternoon - the moth was active in the usual choreutid way, skipping / jumping around, just like a jumping spider.


TOR Mehteria sp
Made by hkmoths
Insecta: Lepidoptera, Tortricidae unidentified Mehteria sp. rather worn, but a possible first record for Hong Kong of this colourful genus. recorded at light, secondary forest. Lam Tsuen Valley, Tai Po, Hong Kong


GEO Corymica spatiosa (male)
Made by hkmoths
Insecta: Lepidoptera Geometridae, Ennominae Corymica spatiosa Lam Tsuen Valley, Tai Po, Hong Kong This is the male of the species; the female doesn't have the clear (hyaline) patch at the base of the forewing.