Shing Mun Country Park

Lopez Root is flourishing with flowers here, attracting many Swallowtail butterflies to its nectar. With luck, you can see Spangle (Papilio protenor) and Common Mormon (Papilio polytes) welcoming visitors at this starting point.

Next to this wide catchment, you can appreciate the serene mirror-like reservoir. There is a plant on the slope of the reservoir called Lidded Cleistocalyx. In early summer, it bears small white flowers and its distinctive scent attracts many butterflies to feed on nectar. The commoner ones are Common Bluebottle (Graphium sarpedon) and Colour Sergeant (Athyma nefte).

There is a Mango tree at the exit of picnic site No. 2. Its leaves are the food source of White-edged Blue Baron (Euthalia phemius) caterpillars, attracting the adult butterflies to lay eggs. Other butterflies are also attracted to feed on nectar when the Mango tree is in bloom. Red Helen (Papilio helenus) and Common Jester (Symbrenthia lilaea) are frequent visitors.

If you come here in winter, pay attention to the tops of the branches. You may notice clusters of winter roosting Danaids hanging there. Danaids are among the few local butterflies that overwinter as adults. They are also migratory. They move from a cold place to a warmer place in winter. There are recent studies showing that Shing Mun is a transit station for winter roosting Danaids. They stay here temporarily to feed on nectar and restore their physical strength before flying to other places for late winter.

The retaining wall at the right side of the road is covered with weeds. This is in fact a feeding area for Whites and Yellows, as well as Danaids! The most common visitors are Three-spot Grass Yellow (Eurema blanda) and Ceylon Blue Glassy Tiger (Ideopsis similis). This part of the road is open and abounds with sunshine. You can see lots of sun-loving butterflies here. For example, Metalmarks, Swallowtails and Nymphs.

At last, you arrive at the Butterfly Garden! This is divided into an upper part and a lower part. Many nectar plants for butterflies such as Lantana, Vitex negundo and Golden Dewdrops have been cultivated. You can find a wide variety species of butterflies here in the different seasons here. In spring, you may find Yellow Orange Tip (Ixias pyrene) and Large Faun (Faunis eumeus). In summer, you may find Common Mapwing (Cyrestis thyodamas) and Paris Peacock (Papilio paris); and in autumn there may be Common Tiger (Danaus genutia) and Transparent 6-line Blue (Nacaduba kurava). In winter, you may find the Common Black Jezebel (Delias pasithoe) and Blue-spotted Crow (Euploea midamus). So, butterflies are around throughout the year.

With a careful search of the grassy areas alongside the road, you may find surprises. These areas are hotspots for Common Five-ring (Ypthima baldus) and Dark Brand Bush Brown (Mycalesis mineus). They are small and prefer hiding away. Be patient if you would like to find them!

The Butterfly Garden here houses two butterfly treasures: Prickly Ash and Retuse-leaved Crotalaria. The former flowers in late summer, attracting many butterflies like Rustic (Cupha erymanthis), Long-banded Silverline (Spindasis lohita) and Chestnut Angle (Odontoptilum angulatum) to compete for nectar. The sap of the latter can help the males of Danaids to produce hormones for attracting females. Therefore, the males avidly suck the sap. You will find yourself surrounded by butterflies once you are in the garden.