LUDWIGIA AND MOTTLED EMIGRANT

These photos were taken in August showing a large Ludwigia plant with yellow flowers that attracted the Mottled Emigrant butterfly.

BUTTERFLIES

There are 3 species of native butterflies highlighted in this post. I have not talked or posted about them for a long time now.

The first is the Plain Tiger on the flower of the Tabernaemontana. The second is the interesting Tawny Coster that is often found in wastelands. We do have the weedy climber host plant Passiflora foetida found in certain parts of the garden and the Bidens alba provides the nectar for its butterflies. Finally, the caterpillars of the Mottled Emigrant are abundantly found on the host plant Senna alata planted at several spots in the garden.

SENNA ALATA & MOTTLED EMIGRANT

I planted the Senna alata (synonym: Cassia alata; Family: Fabaceae / Leguminosae) at the same time when I planted the Calotropis gigantea. Imagine my joy when I saw some of the badly eaten leaves because this is a sign of the presence of the caterpillars.


True enough, I found lots and lots of big and small caterpillars of the Mottled Emigrant on the host plants planted all over the place. This is another success story, so what host plants should I add next?

BISHAN PARK - PART 5

1st - 3rd photos - Torenia fournieri (Wishbone Plant)
8th, 11th - 12th, 17th & 18th photos - Common Grass Yellow
9th - 10th, 13th - 16th photos - Mottled Emigrant

NATIVE GARDEN - PART 2

In the Native Garden, other than theBulbophyllum vaginatum, they have also grown other native orchids such as the Liparis. Another interesting small tree with beautiful small purple flowers and pink fruits Memecylon caeruleum was planted along the trail. This is a beauty that should be introduced more in our parks and roadsides since we are all into planting native plants now to maintain our natural heritage.

Then, there was the Cynometra ramiflora (common name: Katong Laut; Family: Fabaceae / Leguminosae) tree with pinkish new leaf flushes like the handkerchief trees. How many people actually know that this is the Katong tree? The small stream was almost completely blocked by vegetation but at the lower end is another highlight for me. The pond is home to a few species of native fishes, which I saw at the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital pond too, such as the Harlequin Rasbora and Two-Spot Gourami. I am not sure if the fish with the white spot on its head is the Mosquito Fish though.

As for butterflies, there was the Mottled Emigrant and the elusive Peacock Pansy. If not for its bright orange colour, I would have missed the latter although there were a few of them flitting around. It was a challenge chasing after it to get its photos and I couldn't help but kept staring at the beautiful spots on its wings. After a while, the two spots on its hindwings appear to me as eyes. How interesting! I guess it uses this decoy to frighten off bigger predators.