1.    Moth, Cyclodes omma

A locally uncommon moth, Cyclodes omma, spotted during the night safari programme on 10 October 2015. This is the 4th record (two sightings from Tai Po Kau in April 1993, then at KFBG in June and October this year) of this species in Hong Kong.
The moth belongs to the Noctuidae family and is found in Asia, including Hong Kong, and Taiwan.  It has a wingspan of about 55mm and a pair of eyespots is visible on the top of the wings, which help it to confuse potential predators into thinking that the wings are the face of a bigger animal.


 

2.    Common Blue Jewel (Rhinocypha perforata perforata)

Several Common Blue Jewels were spotted flying over the stream near the Streamlife Display. This species is usually found in clean and fast-flowing streams. Males are territorial and usually hover in their territories to display their colourful wings to females. A special feature which makes it different from other damselflies is that in this species their stout abdomens are shorter than their wings.


 

3.    Tonkin Pit Viper (Ovophis tonkinensis)

A Tonkin Pit Viper was encountered by the Security Team on 3 November 2015 at the Butterfly Garden. The Tonkin Pit Viper is a venomous snake which is generally not aggressive. It is a nocturnal species, but can also be seen during day time crossing paths or hiding under objects. Documentation suggests that this species mainly inhabits high altitude areas. Interestingly, more recent records have shown that this snake also occupies lower altitudes (Butterfly Garden around 350m).