Sikkim 2014 Natural History Highlights

As usual, there was such a mass of new things in the Indian Himalayas, that it was difficult to make a choice. I have gone with 3 wise Hanuman langurs (Semnopithecus entellus) in West Bengal and Indian muntjac deer (Muntiacus muntjak) in the Himalayan Zoological Park. Birds included a Wall creeper (Tichodroma muraria) at Teesta V, female (yellow) and male (red) Short-billed minivets (Pericrocotus breviostris) at the Tibetology Instiitute and a nice close up of an Oriental magpie robin (Copsychus saularis) at Saramsa Gardens. There was an Argiope spider conveniently next to a Hindu sign at Teesta V. There were impressive insect galls on leaves at the Tibetology Institute. A green-eyed fly (probably a female Tabanus nigrovittatus) was spotted at the Hidden Forest Retreat and a Bibio species at the Himalayan Zoological Park. Got a nice shot of a Praying mantis at the Tibetology Institute. Striking butterflies included a mineral-seeking Red helen (Papilo helenus) at Teesta V; a nectar-taking Paris peacock (Papilo paris) at the Hidden Forest Retreat; a Tropical fritillary (Argynis hyperbius hyperbius) at Temi Tea Plantation as well as a Red-spot jezebel (Delias descombesi) and an Oriental striped tiger (Danaus genutia) both at Saramsa Gardens. Moths included an Owl moth (Erebus macrops) at the Hidden Forest; an Oleander hawk moth (Daphnis nerii) at the Guru Padsamabhava statue; an enormous, brown Saturniid, a Numenes patrana and a Lappet moth (Trabala sp) all at Hidden Forest and a much-spotted Antipercnia belluaria in Gangtok centre. A strikingly-coloured caterpillar was pictured near Rumtek and black and yellow larvae completely defoliated a tree at the Hidden Forest. Little Japanese umbrella-type fungi (Coprinus sp) massed at the Hidden Forest and a single, pink flower was revealed in Rumtek.