Blooming String Bush@Tampines Eco Green Nature Park

A last minute decision on 13 May (Vesak Day) brought me to Tampines Eco Green Nature Park. It has been a long time since my last visit to this rather huge neighbourhood park.

Many Plain Tiger butterflies (Danaus chrysippus chrysippus) were fluttering under the hot sun and "dancing in the wind" at the main entrance facing Tampines Ave 9.

Blue Pansy (Junonia orithya wallacei) butterflies were extremely skittish and alert. I was lucky to get a instinctive shot when one of them perched in front of me.

Quite a few critters were attracted to the many small white flowers of  the String Bush (Cordia cylindristachya). A critter with a triangular-shaped head and a reddish-orange elongated body, this is kind of net-winged beetle which was hooked on the flowers.

Many day-flying moths were competing with other critters for the nectar of these flowers.

Take a closer look at the this lycaenid - a Tailless Line Blue (Prosotas dubiosa lumpura) had become a prey for a white crab spider.

Taken from another angle, the crab spider could be seen more clearly.

A male Slate Flash (Rapala manea chozeba) was found feeding on these small flowers - an interesting posture with its legs folding close to its hindwing.

I quickly snapped a shot when it perched on a leaf after feeding. 

I remembered there was a colony of  Silverline butterflies about three years ago. After a long search, a lonely Long Banded Silverline (Spindasis lohita senama) was spotted feeding on the flowers.

A few Blue Glassy Tigers (Ideopsis vulgaris macrina) were also attracted to these tiny String Bush flowers.

The Lesser Grass Blue (Zizina otis lampa) was fluttering around a shelter when I took refuge from the hot morning sun.

The blooms of the String Bush injected so much life to the park. Other than the "dancing flowers" in the air, I could see many bees and wasps also. I am not sure what this wasp is,  having a pair of orange antennae.

A few skippers of spotted but they didn't seem to like the white flowers as much as the lycaenids.  This is the Bush Hopper (Ampittia dioscorides camertes) when it  rested high on a leaf.

Orange or brown skippers are always difficult for us to name them correctly with certainty - I guess this is a Potanthus ganda feeding on the Snakeweed (Stachytarpheta indica).  

Here is another shot taken when it used one of its antennae to "support' its body - an interesting moment being captured.

There were a few skippers zipping around with high speeds. Occasionally, once they perched at the right place at the right time, I might be able to snap a quick shot like this - a suspect of the Pelopodas mathias mathias due to the presence of a fading hindwing cell spot.

Another Small Banded Swift (Pelopidas mathias mathias) was found at the entrance.

The different types of natural habitat help to enrich the biodiversity of the park. Apart from butterflies, there were dragonflies, lizards and birds in the park that may surprise you. So, when you visit the park next time, slow down your pace and take a closer look at these fascinating creatures in nature.

Related blog articles:
1. http://www.butterflycircle.blogspot.sg/2012/12/favourite-nectaring-plants-2.html
2. http://mynatureexperiences.wordpress.com/2013/12/13/15-tampines-eco-green-park/
3. http://peacockroyal.blogspot.sg/2011/08/what-can-you-find-tampines-eco-green.html