Cameron Highlands - Collection for insects
My self-found Cheirotonus arnaudi female, isn't she a beauty?
As one could read in my last years description of the Cameron Highlands, it is a really good and easily accessible collecting spot. I found quite a few species last year, but this year consider myself quite successful.
Let me give you a rough schedule of how we spent one week in the Cameron Highlands: We stayed in Tanah Rata in the Papillon Guesthouse, which was cheap, but compared to all other hostels we had stayed in without comparison clean, hot shower, etc. In addition to this, the owner were more than friendly driving us to different places, picking us up at night, and showing us some places where the average tourists do not come to. If you have the chance to stop by in Tanah Rata, please tell them my Regards.
We were collecting in the Hotel Ecuatorial again, as it was a good location last year as well. But this year we were overwhelmed with success, we found during nights at the lights, Odontolabis femoralis femoralis, even one major male, Prosopocoilus astacoides elephus giants, Cyclommatus pahangensis pahangensis, Dorcus reichei prosti, and many many more species in females, such as Hexarthrius parryi deyrollei, Dorcus parryi, Odontolabis gazella, and Chalcodes aeratus, as well as a tiny male of Gnaphaloryx perforatus. we also managed to find many moths, such as Urania ssp., Attacus ssp., and many many more, some of which with amazing coloration, others showing perfect mimicry, huge ones and tiny ones...
A wild orchid on the road side, and me after finding a Pomponia gigantea, the largest Cicada in the world.
The most perfect moment in my collections was the moment when I found a huge female of Cheirotonus arnaudi, laying on its back in the lobby of Hotel Ecuatorial. In the daytime, I managed to find many weird looking species of caterpillars and grasshoppers.
To me it was a special encounter to find two Pomponia gigantea, which are the world's largest Cicadas, but please see the pictures to be convinced. We also stopped by the Butterfly Farm and Butterfly garden, but please check the separate report on this page. One day we went for a hike, which was about 2 hours to a waterfall, which was in tiger area, the nature was amazing, wild orchids were growing along the roadside, beautiful insects flying around us, above all it was a beautiful hike. At the waterfall there was absolutely nobody and no garbage at all. Perfect. On the way back, I caught a huge Agestrata orichalcea male, which to me was one of the biggest surprises.
The wild caught Agestrata orichalcea and I
For those who think that one has to be in the nature to find insects, I can tell you that I found Rutelinidae, Melolonthidae and even Lucanidae on the main road of Tanah Rata. If you ever find the time to visit Cameron Highlands, take your time for that beautiful place, there is many things to do, many insects to encounter and many new friends to be made.
Any questions, please write email to me:
Butterflies (Lycaenidae) mating
Butterflies (Lycaenidae) mating 1
Insects on the water surface 1
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