Insects of Taipei American School
The following is a list of insects have been recorded and identified on the campus of Taipei American School between 1994 and 1999. Because of a lack of comprehensive field guides, many species are pending identification. Since most insect species in Taiwan don't have an English common name, the Chinese name is also displayed here. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. Species featured in the photo gallery have links to their picture. I have started an insect collection for Taipei American School, which will be my contribution to the school.
Butterflies are most abundant during the warmer months, from April until October, but some species may be seen year-round. While most species are commonly found on the plain or hills in Taiwan, a number of rare species have made their appearance here, such as the Golden Birdwing (Troides aeacus kaguya), a large, protected butterfly usually found only in southern Taiwan. Small butterflies are easily overlooked and require more careful observations to determine their true status, such as species in Styridae, Lycaenidae and the Eurema butterflies.
Papilionidae
Troides aeacus kaguya ¶À»n»ñ½º
Golden Birdwing
Graphium sarpedon connectens «C±a»ñ½º
Common Bluebottle
Papilio xuthus koxinga ¬a¾ï»ñ½º
Chinese/Common Yellow Swallowtail
Papilio demoleus libanius µL§À»ñ½º
Lime Butterfly
Papilio polytes pasikrates ¥É±a»ñ½º
Common Mormon
Papilio protenor amaura ¶Â»ñ½º
Papilio memnon heronus ¤j»ñ½º
Great Mormon
Papilio bianor takasago ¯Q¾~»ñ½º
Pieridae
Eurema sp. ¶À½º (many possible species)
Catopsilia pomona pomona »È¯¾²H¶À½º
Lemon Migrant
Appias lyncida formosana »OÆW¯»½º
Chocolate Albatross
Hebomoia glaucippe formosana ºÝ¬õ½º
Great Orange Tip
Pieris (Artogeia) rapae crucivora ¯¾¥Õ½º
Cabbage Butterfly
Pieris (Artogeia) canidia canidia »OÆW¯¾¥Õ½º
Danaidae
Anosia chrysippus chrysippus ¾ì´³½º
Plain Tiger
Salatura genutia genutia ¶Â¯ß¾ì´³½º
Common Tiger
Radena similis similis ¯[²y«C´³½º
Parantica melaneus swinhoei ¤p«C´³½º
Chocolate Tiger
Euploea mulciber barsine µµºÝ´³½º
Striped Blue Crow
Euploea tulliolus koxinga ¤pµµ´³½º
Dwarf Crow
Euploea sylvester swinhoei ´µ¤óµµ´³½º
Satyridae
Lethe chandica ratnacri »Û½Å½®½º
Angled Red Forester
Elymnias hypermnestra hainana µµ³D¥Ø½º
Common Palmfly
Nymphalidae
Timelaea maculata formosana °\¯¾½º
Polygonia c-aureum lunalata ¶Àß潺
Cynthia cardui cardui ®V¬õß潺
Painted Lady
Phalanta phalantha phalantha ¬õÀÀ°\´³½º
Common Leopard
Argyreus hyperbius hyperbius ¶ÂºÝ°\´³½º
Hypolimnas bolina kezia ¯[²yµµß潺
Great/Common Eggfly
Precis almana almana ¤Õ³¶ß潺
Peacock Pansy
Cyrestis thyodamas formosana ¥ÛÀð½º
Common Map
Dravira chrysolora »OÆW¤pµµß潺
Lycaenidae
(none identified yet)
Hesperiidae
(certainly present, though more observation needed)
While I have seen at least a dozen species of moths at TAS, only recently have I begun identifying them. Generally, the ratio of moth species to butterflies in any given area is close to 10:1. However, since most species are nocturnal or are easily missed, very few species have been identified on campus so far. Most of those recorded are found clinging on windows or light sources at night. There are also colorful day-flying moths that are often confused with butterflies.
Asota heliconia ¶êºÝÀÀ¿O¸¿
Lantern Moth
Milionia basalis ¾í±aÂŤظ¿
Histia flabellicornis ultima »ñ´³¸¿
Most species of beetles go unnoticed in TAS. However, a number of interesting species have made their appearance on campus in 1998 (see below). Ladybirds are quite common, but none have been identified yet.
Scarabaeidae
Protaetia elegans ºñÆA¥ÕÂIªáª÷Àt
Flower Chafer
Protaetia inquinata ÂÅÆA¥ÕÂIªáª÷Àt
Flower Chafer
Gametis forticula formosana ¤pºñªáª÷Àt
Flower Chafer
Euselates proxima ¥_®H³´¯¾ª÷Àt
Flower Chafer
Dicranocephalus bourgoini »OÆW³À¨¤ª÷Àt
Formosan Stag-horned Beetle
Lucanidae
Dorcus titanus «óÁê§ÎÂÎ
Stag Beetle
Cerambycidae
Anoplophora macularia ¬P¤Ñ¤û
Long-horned Beetle
Meloidae
Mylabris cichorii ¾î¯¾Í´µ×
Blister Beetle
Four species of dragonflies have been identified so far. Many species of dragonflies and damselflies visit Blanks' Pond to lay their eggs in. The most common dragonfly by the pond is Orthetrum sabina while dense congregations of Pantala flavescens often appear on the field in the autumn. Damselflies are only found by Blanks' Pond and are about an inch long.
Anax parthenope ºñ¯Ý®Ë¸»
Dragonfly
Orthetrum sabina §ùªQ»f¸»
Dragonfly
Crocothemis servilia µV¬õ»f¸»
Dragonfly
Pantala flavescens Á¡¯Í»f¸»
Dragonfly
Bees, hornets, and wasps may be frightening because of their ability to sting, but those found on campus are docile and rarely attack unless their nest is disturbed. Polistes rothneyi often build their nests on the school building outside classrooms. Four species have been identified, though many smaller species are abundant but have been overlooked.
Apis mellifera ¸q¤j§Q¸Á European
Honey Bee
Polistes rothneyi ¶Àªø¸}¸Á
Hornet
Delta pyriforme ¶À¯Ýªd³ý¸Á
Hornet
Vespa affinis ¶À¸yªêÀY¸Á
Hornet
GRASSHOPPERS, CRICKETS, KATYDIDS, & MANTIDS
Grasshoppers and crickets are easily found in the tall grass by Blanks' Pond and on the side of the long jump track, though no cricket species have been identified yet. Katydids occasionally find their way into the school building where they draw much attention from students. No praying mantids have been found yet, but they are very likely to exist in the tall grasses.
Mecopoda elongata ¥xÆWÄÌ´µ
Katydid
Pseudorhynchus gigas ¤j°Å´µ Katydid
Oxya chinensis ¥xÆW½_½À Grasshopper
These types of insects only have one or two representative species found on campus so far, so they're all clumped here. Cicadas are commonly heard from late spring into early autumn. Stoneflies and lacewings are sometimes attracted to light sources. Water striders skate on the surface of Blanks' Pond. Cockroaches, flies, mosquitos, ants, and other pests that live in close proximity with human beings are frequently seen.
Cryptotympana facialis ºµÂÍ Cicada
Neochauliodes bowringi ´³¯Í³½³M
Stonefly
Aquarius elongatus ¤j¤ôàï Water
Strider
Episyrphus balteatus ²Ó«ó¹°HÃÇ
Fly
Sarcophaga peregrina ¦×ÃÇ Fly
Polyrhachis sp. ´ÆÃÆ Ant
Periplaneta american ¬ü¬wÁ½¸
American Cockroach
Periplaneta australasiae ¿D¬wÁ½¸
Australian Cockroach
El Nino? In 1998 there appeared to be an extraordinary diversity of insects on campus. Three species of beetles were found that have never been seen on campus before. The beetles found include a female of the endemic species Formosan Stag-horned Beetle Dicranocephalus bourgoini, and a male stag beetle Dorcus titanus. These species are normally dependent on dense forests for survival, and may have been attracted to the campus at night by the bright lights on the field. Butterflies also proliferate in the warm spring weather. Studying in front of a window for one period on a sunny morning in May, I counted more than two dozen species of butterflies fluttering by, including many never seen on campus before such as Timelaea maculata formosana and the endemic Dravira chrysolora. What is the cause of this sudden explosion in insect diversity? Unusually warm weather? El nino? The answer might never be known...
Compiled as of June 9, 1999
