In early November, 5 of us took the long trip up to Chiang Mai Province, spending a couple of days to the East of the City near Doi Mot and then travelling further north to stay in the mountains at Doi Ang Kang (1900m), which was very beautiful.
The mountains at Doi Ang Kang
The first part went well, but we had forgotten that in the mountains, up north, it gets rather cold, 8C (this is what comes when you live in a place where the coldest night time temperature is a freezing 25C! I had not needed socks, long trousers or sweaters for 7 years.) and there were few butterflies at altitude at the time. Accordingly, we spent most of our time at the bottom of the mountain at Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary, which was brilliant.
DOI MOT – This area does not reach the altitudes were to find later on, but we did come across some interesting species. The highlight here, for me, was Delias acalas pyramus. The subspecies is only found in the northern part of Thailand.
Delias acalis pyramus
The other real find was the very rare skipper, the Nonsuch Palmer (Creteus cyrina cyrina).
Creteus cyrina cyrina
DOI ANG KANG – This is where we stayed, in the mountains, and, as previously mentioned was poor in butterflies, no doubt owing to the time of year we visited. Nevertheless, there were a couple of new species for me, including the local subspecies of a species I had come across commonly when living in the UK, the Green-Veined White, Pieris napi montana.
Artogeia canidia canidia
Another Pierid we saw was the Indian Cabbage White (Artogeia canidia canidia). The other interesting species for me there was the very aptly named Dull Forrester (Lethe gulnihal peguana).
Lethe gulnihal peguana
CHIANG DAO WILDERNERSS SANCTUARY – This was, by far, the most productive area we visited. Many new species were seen, and it was not the best season. I am travelling there again at the end of February. Just some of the species found can be seen below.
Athyma cama cama
Kallima inachus siamensis
Hestina nama nama
Hestina persimilis persimilis
Niphanda asialis
Catapaecilma subochrea
Gerosis sinica narada
Delias agostina agostina
Papilio alcmenor alcmenor