Butterflies and Other Critters Along Ulu Sembawang Park Connector

I have not been shooting for more than 2 months due to personal commitments and a medical problem (no major concern after a series of tests). 

This 1.3 km-long park connector links the Seletar Expressway to Mandai Road.  A large plot of wasteland is situated along the park connector and it was formally the site of a ornamental plants nursery.  This vacant site now is covered with wild vegetation and it has become a popular spot for viewing magnificent sunrise for cyclists and hikers (see https://mothership.sg/2021/06/cyclist-sunri and hikers se-ulu-sembawang/). 

There were quite a number of butterfly species being photographed at this wasteland some weeks again r so I decided to take a look on a cool weekday morning two weeks ago.  I believe the  abundance of the flowers of the Bidens pilosa, the Lantana and Singapore Rhododendron (Melastoma malabathricum) and the fringe of the forested area provide good feeding and and "playing ground" for  butterflies.   

On my first visit to the site, I was very lucky.  The first shot of the morning was this Halpe porus (Moore's Ace) resting on a leaf. Getting a shot of this species in SG is actually my primary objective of the visit - didn't expect I achieved it so fast. But strangely, after this shot it took off and I didn't see it again 

 

According to the record: 

Biodiversity Record: New record of Moore’s ace butterfly, Halpe porus, in Singapore (nus.edu.sg it was discovered by Zick in Feb 2022 in Mandai area. 

Some bees and the Yellow Vein Lancer (Pyroneura latoia latoia) were fighting for nectar -  the larger one seemed to have advantage.  A very common skipper, Yellow Vein Lancer can be found easily feeding on flowers along a forest fringe. 

The Common Snow Flat (Tagiades japetus atticus) showed up to feed on the Bidens flowers on two days when I visited the site. I was hoping to see the Dark Flat as someone had shot it before. 

The Chocolate Sailor  (neptis harita harita ) was sighted on 8 Oct late morning when the sun was high and sky was clear. It sailed along the forest fringe from perch to perch. When the moment was right, I snapped a few shots. 

At a far end  corner of this wasteland, there were a few Singapore Rhododendrton shrubs. A male Colour Sergeant (Athyma nefte subrata) chose one of them to feed on and rested on a leaf.

A female Baron (Euthalia aconthea gurda) was hovering around another shrub and when it settled down for a meal, that is when I could take a few quick shots. 

A few Common Red Flash (Rapala iarbus iarbus) were flitting around but most of them look quite tattered. This one got hooked on this wild and invasive Mile-a-minute (Mikania micrantha) flowers,  climbing around one of the Singapore Rhododendron shrubs.

However, you can see why this unlucky Common Red Flash was unable to enjoy the nectar of the  flowers. 

Another victim of a crab spider.

This Acacia Blue (Surendra vivarna amisena) was sunbathing   

A common species, the Dark Glassy Tiger (Parantica agleoides agleoides) feeding posture did entice me to a take few shots when there were no other species around.

I could see a skipper zipping around at high speed.  When it finally landed on a flower, I noticed that it was a Chequered Lancer (Plastingia naga) - I think this is my first shot of a Chequered Lancer feeding on a flower. 

I usually shoot a Line Blue in the field, hoping that it is something new or rare. However, this is a very common specie, the Tailless  Line Blue (Prosotas dubiosa lumpura)  

This is a male Camacinia gigantea, a rather large dragonfly that can be found in a number of forested areas in Mandai. 

A kind of leaf beetle I believe, there were quite a number of them feeding on the Bidens flowers. 

Zick has compiled a list of butterfly species that have been photographed by butterfly photographers. Here are some not-so-common species recorded in the list
1. Rachana jalindra burbona (Banded Royal) 
2. Horaga syrinx maenala (Ambon Onyx)

3. Everes lacturnus rileyi (Indian Cupid)

4. Abisara geza niya (The Spotted Judy)

5. Drupadia rufotaenia refotaenia (Pygmy Posy)
6. Rapala domitia domitia (Yellow Flash)
7. Athyma pravara helma (Lance Sergeant)

8. Pandita sinope sinope (The Colonel)

9. Tapena thwaitesi bornea (The Dark Flat)
10. Unkana ambasa batara (Hoary Palmer)
11. Zela storeyi (Storey's Palmer) 

12. Halpe ormenes vilasina (Dark Banded Ace)