butterfly of malaysia

22-11-2009 - Sunday 0930 AM

Malaysia

Penang :

The Penang Butterfly Farm, reputedly the world's first tropical live butterfly sanctuary is just 15 minutes away from the Batu Ferringhi tourist belt. Established in 1986, the farm features some 4000 live butterflies of 150 different species, a nature park with small reptiles in their natural habitats as well as the Museum of Asian Artefacts. Expansion plans are underway to include a night zoo, which will feature nocturnal creatures and tropical insects. The farm is a not-to-be-missed for many and it attracts some 250 to 300 visitors daily.

At the Butterfly Farm in Penang you'll be surrounded by a myriad of fluttering butterflies within a seemingly natural setting. Visit the Butterfly Farm in Teluk Bahang, Penang, a sanctuary for over 120 species of rare and exotic tropical butterflies. The farm is complete with a hatchery and a "Preserved Butterflies of the World" museum. The butterfly farm covers an area of .8 hectares and has over 3,000 butterflies.

We can wander between carnivorous plants [which eat flesh] and pools with giant koi. In the nursery, newly emerged butterflies dry their wings. Overcome your fear of creepy crawlies at an educational talk by letting a giant millipede march across your hands. We may wear bright colors to encourage the butterflies to land on you. Volunteer opportunities are available. The Penang Farm is more than just a tourist attraction. It is set up as a 'live museum' to educate the public as well as a research centre to develop breeding methods. The Farm's founder David Goh explains the philosophy behind its operation

The main attraction of the Butterfly Farm is undoubtedly the free flying papilions in the enormous enclosure. The visitor can inspect the butterflies at close quarters as they flit around their favorite nectar plants. The exhibition of selected insects and reptiles are also crowd drawers. The visitor, having traversed this complex of displays ends up in a souvenir shop selling butterfly-related paraphernalia.

Today, the Penang Butterfly Farm is the first tropical butterfly farm ever set up in the tropical world, with an average flying population of 4000 Malaysian butterflies of 120 different species, including the rare Indian Leafl (Kallima paralekta) and the endangered Yellow Bird wing (Troides helena). Probably the most famous of Malaysian butterflies is the Rajah Brooke's Bird wing of the Papilionidae family. First discovered in Borneo in 1855 by A. R. Wallace, it was named after the first British Rajah of Sarawak.

Malay Peninsular has over 1000 recorded butterfly species, among the highest of any country in the world in relation to small land mass. David Goh, the founder of the Penang Butterfly Farm was inspired and encouraged by Mr. Clive Farrell, owner of the Stratford Butterfly Farm at Stratford-on-Avon (birth-place of William Shakespeare) in England, to start a tropical butterfly farm in Malaysia.

The Penang Butterfly Farm is now a household name in Penang and a "must-see" for visitors since it opened in 1986. The farm located right at the end of the tourist hotel strip at Batu Ferringhi stands on a 0.8 hector site in Teluk Bahang, about 17km from George town. It has become one of the most popular stops on Penang's round island tour. The success of the Butterfly Farm as a tourist attraction has even inspired a series of similar commercial operations in Malacca, Cameron highlands and Singapore.

Malaaca

Butterfly Farm, Malacca is worth your visit. It is a unique Tourist Attraction in Malacca and if you are a first time visitor then you must visit this place. It is located at Ayer Keroh and can be easily accessed from your accommodations in Malacca. Butterfly Farm, Malacca is perfect to witness the exotic tropical butterflies. If you are interested in checking out these colorful species then you must visit Butterfly Farm in Malacca.

There are 200 kinds of tropical butterflies at this park. You can see butterflies like Raja Brooke and Birdwing. It will be a totally different experience to explore the fabulous farm. The lush tropical rain forest has several trees, flowers and ponds. Such environment is perfect for butterflies to thrive. A visit to Butterfly Farm, Malacca will make you feel as if you are in a natural paradise. It is a visual treat to watch hundreds of butterflies fly around and sitting on the flowers. Butterfly gardening is quite common in the Butterfly Farm, Malacca. Such Sightseeing in Malacca will make your trip to this Malaysian country more interesting.

Butterfly Farm, Malacca also houses an extensive 400 kinds of rare insects. There is an in-house laboratory where researches on the butterflies are carried on. Butterfly Farm in Malacca is one of its own kind in entire Southeast Asia and the second best in the world. it is also a reptile park which houses several kinds of snakes and miniature houses. Apart being a well known Sightseeing in Malacca this place is also apt for school excursions. A visit to this park will be a learning experience for both the adults and children.

Apart from a museum there is also a souvenir shop within the premises of Butterfly Farm, Malacca. If you feel tired while exploring the butterfly garden, there is a café where you can chill out. Butterfly Farm, Malacca is worth your visit.

 

Camaroon highlands of Malaysia

Cameron Highlands is one of the few places in Malaysia, where insects are collected regularly and exported. There are some insect dealers in Tanah Rata and as well in Tapah. Tanah Rata is a nice small town in the middle of the Highlands and has an interesting feature like butterfly farm It is not as spectacular and big as the Penang butterfly farm; but it has many birdwings flying around, the most amazing of which is Trogonoptera brookiana albescens. This species was named after the first white Rajah of Malaysia, named James Brooke. It is a common saying that the butterflies contain the soul of this white Rajah. The farm also exhibits some other insect species, such as Walking leaves (Phyllium bioculatum), Stick insects and Dead Leave (Deroplatys spp.) and Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus). All in all, it is worth a visit, especially as the entrance fee is quite cheap.

In Malaysia within the lowland dipetercarp and hill forests dwell more than 1,032 species of butterflies, which present unlimited opportunities for the delightful hobby of butterfly watching. The butterfly represents tranquility, grace and freedom. Unfortunately, they are extremely sensitive to the environment and have an extremely short life span -- only an average of two weeks. Catching sight of these living works of art is a wonderful experience that should be cherished.

Malaysian butterflies can be roughly divided into highland and lowland species though some can be found at all elevations. The Clipper (Parthenos Sylvia), for example, is a lowland species that is frequently found at the edge of the rainforest and scrub areas. On the other hand, the Malay Lacewing (Cerhosia Hypsea) lives on both lowland and hilly areas. The Raja Brooke Birdwing is the most famous of Malaysian butterflies. It was discovered in 1885 by A.R. Wallace and named after the first Rajah of Sarawak.

The amateur who is taking the plunge in butterfly watching for the first time should first note the behaviour of tropical butterflies. Large numbers of butterflies are seasonal, often coming with moderately wet weather after a dry spell and an abundance of flowers and new leaves. Generally, they prefer a cool, moist and leafy habitat. Butterfly hotspots are flowers, hilltops, mud puddles and caterpillar food plants. Flowers often attract butterflies because of the nectar they produce. Sometimes a plant or tree that is in full bloom will have swarms of butterflies feeding on its nectar. Many species are also attracted to rotting fruits and animal urine. Certain areas attract certain species. For example, the majestic Raja Brooke Birdwing is often hovering near river banks, while the Blue Crow and Banded Yeoman are fond of clearings and the forest edge. Though many butterflies start searching for food early in the morning, they are most active between 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. It is recommended that dull coloured clothes be worn, and that you arm yourself with a pair of binoculars.

Three popular tourist spots where one can observe highland butterflies are Fraser's Hill, Cameron Highlands and Bukit Larut in Perak. Though Fraser's Hill (1,524m) and Cameron Highlands (1,462m to 1,755 m) are in Pahang, they are both accessible from Kuala Lumpur. Bukit Larut (1,054m) is only 7 km from Taiping in Perak, and forms part of the Bukit Larut Forest Reserve. Among the recommended areas in the lowlands for butterfly watching are Pantai Aceh Forest Reserve on Penang Island; Paya Indah Wetlands Sanctuary in Putrajaya; Templer's Park and Kanching Forest Reserve in Kuala Lumpur and Air Keroh Forest Reserve on the northern fringe of Melaka town. All these areas can be visited on a day trip.

At Fraser's Hill, the WWF-sponsored Nature Education Centre in the sports complex dispenses maps showing the nature trails around its seven hillocks. For butterfly watching, the Mager Trail is the most rewarding, and the area around the Jeriau Waterfalls also teems with colourful flitting creatures. Choose those trails that meander past waterfalls and alongside streams. The Parit Fall and Robinson Waterfalls are also hot spots for butterflies. Bukit Larut is located in the wettest region in the country, with most of the forest trails near its summit.

Visitors who do not wish to trek in the jungle can visit one of the five butterfly farms in the country: namely, Penang Butterfly Farm, Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Farm, Cameron Highland Butterfly Farm, Melaka Butterfly Park and Poring Butterfly Farm in Sabah

The Insect Museum is packed with more than 2,000 specimens, including 600 species of butterflies and moths 800 species of beetles and other creepy crawlies.

The Poring Butterfly Farm is located in the settlement of Poring, 40km southwest of Kinabalu Park headquarters. The farm is divided into four areas; namely; netted enclosure, exhibition gallery, breeding room and food plant nursery. The netted enclosure is 25 metre square and six metres in height, and houses more than 500 butterflies of various species. In the exhibition gallery, preserved specimens and photographs are displayed. Information panels present interesting facts n the butterfly as such distribution and behavioral characteristics such as mimicry and colouration.

The Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Farm is modelled after the one in Penang, and is nestled within the lush Lake Gardens. Cameron Highlands's butterfly farm is perched atop a plateau, about 5km from Kea Farm in Brinchang. Melaka Butterlfy Park is located in Ayer Keroh, and also includes a marine centre. . There is also a small butterfly park within the sprawling grounds of the Jubli Perak Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Agricultural Park, which is located 5km from Bandar Indera Mahkota near Kuantan.

Facing buying a preserved Raja Brooke Birdwing or a Banded Yeoman mounted in a decorative glass case as a souvenir? Pop over to Papillion in Batu Caves Light Industrial Estate in Batu Caves, just 10km north of Kuala Lumpur. This is probably the only company in the country that manufactures all sorts of collectibles using the butterfly. There are plastic paper weights, pen holders and key chains with preserved butterflies embedded within them.

Hereunder I post a beautiful FDC showing pictures of 4 butterflies of Malaysia along with brochure brought out by POS, MASs

butterfly of tuvalu - miniature

3-25 PM – 14th November, 2009


Some more stamps of Tuvalu – miniature sheets

1993 – 6th Asian International Philatelic Exhibition

1993 – Bangkok World Philatelic Exhibition – Paradisea Stamdinger

Taipei International Invitation exhibition – Geoffroyl Godart

 
 

Butterfly - General Information

Butterfly - general

In this world there are lot of insects, animals and other habitats. Of all these, there is a special place for butterfly. This fluttering species always attracts the people and make them happy.

There is a secret of this flutter by species. All these days one may be knowing that the butterfly does not have ears and feel only through the nostrills. A research was conducted by Bristol University. The researchers who attended the research discovered that the blue marbo butterfly has ears and that the ears are located on their body just nearby the wings. It is found to be just like a small dot projected upward and like a very small tube. The colour of this part is mostly of faded yellow. This butterfly can hear sound between 1000 and 5000 Hrts [human beings it is 20 to 20000].

One of the researcher also informed that upto 1912, it was believed that the butterfly does not hear the sound. Following this, it was also found that some species of butterfly feels the sound waves. Now that we have discovered that Blue marbo species has ears.

[translated from a local language paper]
7-11-2009 1700 hours.

Butterfly - Nicaragua

Nicaragua

Nicaragua is the largest country of Central America. It borders Costa Rica and Honduras. Managua is the capital of this latin country.Nicaragua has some spectacular nature. There is a wide variety of landscapes and habitats that allow for many different types of vegetation and animal species to thrive. For the nature lovers, Nicaragua has a lot to offer. Rainforest is still present in Nicaragua. Although shrinking, the rainforest has been left relatively untouched.

In Nicaragua it is estimated that there are roughly 600 species of butterfly. There is a reserve area for butterfly with a calm and serene environment enclosing the area. It is just four kilometers from Granada. In the reserve farm we can learn more about species while watching the colourful species. The garden has many different species. We can easily see the morpho peleides-the big blue, orange, yellow fauna. We can see them while strolling through the farm even from a little distance.

A guide can also be hired who can tell us more facts about these beautiful creatures. The reserve authority chose with much care, the plants for the peaceful habitation of the butterfly and to increase/enrich the environment itself, thereby give out a colorful and friendly atmosphere to the walkers-by

There is a cost for visiting the reserve form which we can get known at that area. The park is open to public from 0800 to 0400 pm upto Saturday.

Hereunder I post a beautiful sheet let of butterfly.

1. Sheet - four rows left to right all at the rate 1.50 == 1994 Hong Kong





Callicore Patelia    Chlosyne Narva      Anteos Maerula       Marpesia petreus
pierella helvitia      kurytides epidaus    epidanus heliconios   doris symrna blomfidio
eveides lybia olympia     adelpha heraclea Heliconious   hecale zuleika    parides montesuma
morpha polyphemus     eresia alsina prepona     omphale octavia    murpho granadensis


2. Registered Post cover real posted to me [ stamps not full set]

Three stamps of 9.00 each left to right

Caligo atreus dionysos    Morph amaronte Eryphanis    Polyxera locomedon











3. Set of four used stamps : - two rows - left to right

050 - Dynamina Myrrhina          120 - Eunica alcmena
150 - Callizona acesta               300 - Parides Iphidancas

Butterfly some facts

1. Buttterfly lives for a short span for about two weeks.
2. The eggs of the insect only 2% of the eggs attain maturity naturally.
3. The herbicide and insecticide tremendously damage this
4. The colours of the wings are caused by scales which reflect and refract light
5. Butterfly has cold blood and thus needs sun light to get warm to remain active
6. The great threat is loss of habitat and not the collection of species.
7. Brush foot butterfly ie., Nymphalidae appears to have only 4 legs since last two
    legs very small and near the head.
8. Some species of the creature produce polarised light on the wings.
9. The blue and green colour are caused by defraction rather than pigments in the
     wings. Other colours are caused by pigments only.

australia - butterfly

yesterday i posted information on stamps of australia and about australia butterfly farm. the post cards which i reportedly included in the post, are not picturised. sorry.  it will be posted later.  the stamps shown are in full. for information of all viewers. thanks.

butterfly - australia information

0945 PM on 29-10-2009


Australia Butterfly - information.

A butterfly farm has been in existence in Australia since 1987 [Kuranda village]. The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary is a twenty year old. It is the large captivating enclosure in the country for the butterfly. Since its opening, million of people have visited there and enjoyed the flutterby creatures. This is the biggest in the southern hemisphere.

The aviary [cage like] at the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary has been designed to recreate the butterfly's natural tropical habitat. As we go through along the path ways which go through the aviary take time to appreciate the vast variety of Lepidoptera (species of butterflies and moths).

The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary is also home to the world’s largest moth – the Hercules Moth. The Hercules Moth is endemic to Tropical North Queensland Australia and is a majestic creature of the jungle that really has to be seen to be believed! The tour guides are more informative to the visiting guests. We will be told about the unique and less known butterfly such as the Red lacewing, Glasswing or Orange Cruiser. There is a museum in the sanctuary where many species around the world are on display. Australian Birdwing, which is the largest butterfly in Australia.

Being located just 27 Km west of Cairns, the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary is readily accessible for the people. Cairns is also full of rainforests that can provide an ideal environment for the butterflies. The sanctuary was designed to become self-sustainable for the butterflies, so only plants where caterpillars can feed and lay their eggs are abundant within the sanctuary's premises. Australian Butterfly Sanctuary is situated in the centre of Kuranda Village and is listed by the Guinness Book of Records as Australia’s largest butterfly flight aviary and exhibit. Conceived, designed and built by Paul and Susan Wright in 1987, the sanctuary rears only native butterflies to Australia which are bred on the premises. Today, however, it holds the record as the biggest aviary in the southern hemisphere. Since butterflies are rainforest species, the aviary's landscape was created to imitate the rainforest environment, with special attention given for the needs of the Ulyses butterfly. It is complete with a running stream, a waterfall and a rainforest under-storey and canopy. As such, the aviary is not only a paradise for butterflies, but is also a wonderful place for people to experience. The Sanctuary is open from 9:45 to 4:00 pm daily except during Christmas Day. Please do visit there when you are on tour to Australia.

Hereunder, I post some stamps of australia alongside some post cards having butterfly stamps. The stamps however may not be full.


1981

4C = Euschemon Rafflesia = Hesperiidae - Regnet skipper
10C = Troides euphorion = Papilonidae - Cairns Birdwing
20C = Graphium Macleayanus Papilonaedae =Macleay's Swallowtail
27C = Papilio Ulysses = Papilionidae Ulysses = Ulysses
30 C = Pseudalmenus Chlorinda Lycaenidae = Chlorind Hairstreak
35 C = Tirumala Hamala = Nymphalidae = Blue Tiger
45 C = Cressida Cressida Papilionidae = Big Greasy
60 C = Dilias Agauippe = Pieridae = Wood White
80C = Ogyris Amaryllis Lycaenidae = Amaryllis Azure
$1 = Tisiphone abeona Nymphalidae = Sword Grass Brown

1998
Nymphalidae - Cethosia Cydippe - Red lacewing 45C
Licaenidae - Arhopala Centaurus - Dull Oakblue - 45C
Nymphalidae - Junonia Villida - Meadow Argus - 45C
Papilionidae - Papilio Ulysses = Ulysses - 50C
Hesperiidae - Chaetocnemebeala - common Red Eye 45 C

Information on butterfly :::

There are migration records for about 30 species of Australian butterflies, although only 10 do so regularly. Brown awls, a type of skipper, migrate in their thousands, spending the winter in north-east Queensland and moving south in summer. The next generation makes the return trip north in late summer. During winter, a number of Wet Tropics butterflies move to the coast, and to sheltered areas along creeks, where they congregate in clusters of hundreds or even thousands for three months or more. Blue tigers and common Australian crows (which are related to the wanderers/monarchs) are the most noticeable but they may be joined by black and white tigers and eastern brown crows. They hang from twigs waiting for temperatures to rise and new leaves to appear on larval food plants. Yellow and lemon migrants, as their name suggests, also move in large numbers.

Made up of many lenses, an adult butterfly's eyes are a vast improvement on those it possessed as a caterpillar and are particularly sensitive to movement and colour. Experiments with paper flowers have shown that certain butterfly species prefer blue to purple and yellow to red, ignoring green until they were ready to lay eggs. At least some species are able to see ultraviolet; when viewed in this light, the wings of some male white butterflies, can be seen to have iridescent patches which are invisible to us but presumably play an important part