Edward S. Ross field notes

but near the summit the plants seldom exceed bush size. Moss and orchid growth is especially extensive within the last 200 ft. elevation. The geology on the upper slopes of the peak is quite rocky and the soil cover is thin. Ground saturated.

STOP 267 - MALAYA: KEDAH PEAK, 350 FT., VI-29-62 500 specimens.

The lower slopes of Kedah Peak are biologically quite distinct from the upper slopes. From the plain for several hundred feet of elevation these is a belt of dense evergreen rainforest, extremely rich in wildlife and apparently untouched by man; the narrow mountain road and footpaths are the only penetrating scars and become excellent collecting lanes. The forest canopy perhaps averages 75 to 100 ft, though many enormous trees, 140 ft. or more, protrude above the surrounding

top story. One distinctive feature about the forest at this level is a dense middle story of palms, where leaves reach a height of perhaps 20 ft. Beneath their light screen the ground is practically bare and and understory of the herbs and shrubs flourishes only where the light breaks through, along trails and the road especially. The forest floor was moist though not as saturated as that of the summit area. Heavy rainfall average is exemplified, however, by rich epiphyte growth - stag's horn and bird's nest ferns, orchids, etc. - on the forest trees. Vines and creepers are common.

Roadbanks in such a forest offer excellent places for vespid nesting and several nests and associated wasps were collected. The wasps prefer the overhang nitches because they remain dry, protected from heavy rain. Thin roots hanging from the overhang ceiling or sticking from the banks are

utilized most of the time.

As usual for lowland areas, the low temperature came to about 80° F, high, during partially cloudy weather, about 85° F.

STOP 268 - THAILAND: 20 MI. W. PHATALUNG, 150 METERS, VII-1-62 200 specimens

Pinpouint data on this collecting area is as follows: PHATALUNG [Phatthalung] Province, PHATALUNG District - BANNA (village), near KHAO PHAP PHA mountain, on the eastern drainage of the Nakhon Range - at the 150 meter level, east side of the low pass [foot?] crossing the range.

The forest here consists of fairly large trees, medium trees, and an understory of small palms, vines, seedlings, and herbs forming a rather dense tangle. Some selective logging has been

NOTE- SPECIMEN LABELS READ "10 MI. W" - CHANGE TO 20 MI. W

done apparently, and the area showed signs of recent elephant trampling. Following one creek, in fact, we found a work elephant busily splashing mud about the creek-side herbage, ripping up the vegetation, and in general making a mess of the place. Nevertheless collecting was excellent. Being in a somewhat drier zone, thea east side of the range is not as moist as the west side, though the growth appears to be nearly as lush.

Short afternoon stop - sunny - 85°-90° F - humidity high.

STOP 269 - THAILAND: KRACHONG FOREST, NR. TRANG, 100 METERS, VII-2-62 3000 specimens

An extensive tract of forest on the lower western slopes of the Nakhon Range, southern Thailand, has been set aside

as reserve forest and is used by the Forestry Department for experimental forest studies. The area is reached by way of a small road leaving the main track just at the foot of the grade on the west side, east of TRANG some distance up a stream valley there is a rest house overlooking a large clearing and the rocky stream bed. The surrounding forest in this relatively flat area has been cleared for understory, leaving only two large trees. Grass and herbs grow in the filtered light. Some garden has been planted near the rest house - hybiscus, [cratime?], etc. The black light was situated near the rest house facing out across the stream to virgin forest on the other side, 150 distance, and backed by native forest 75 yards to the rear.

From the rest house the road roughly parallels the stream through the forest, gradually climbing the gently sloping valley,

and ends finally at the base of a high waterfall cascade. At this abrupt end of the valley the slopes rise steeply to the top of the ridge, which can be reached by way of trails.

Krachong Forest, being on the western side of the range, receives very heavy rainfall. Three days and 3 nights were spent in the area (the mean date, VII-2, was used), during which the sun shone brightly only periodically. Heavy rain fell frequently, usually in the afternoon or night, and the forest was continually wet and often dripping. Accessibility for collecting in the understory of herbs, club-moss, and small shrubs is excellent at Krachong for many trails are available. The stream itself is a good collecting path, passing through the filtered forest light as well as full sun in wide, more open areas.

The jungle is typical low altitute rain forest - tall trees draped with vines and

epiphytes. Some Pandanus grows near the waterfall and occasional palms join the middle story. A deep layer of rotting leaves and branches covers much of the forest floor and becomes and excellent medium for herb, fern, and club-moss growth.

Average diurnal temperature, 80° F; low recorded after night rain, and early morning - 70° F.

STOP 270 - THAILAND: TUNG SONG, 75 M., VII-4-62 500 specimens.

Tung Song, a major railroad junction in southern Thailand, is built on flat ground in open agricultural land marked by striking limestone bluffs, forested rocky crop jutting out of the rice paddy plain.

Specimens were taken within

the town. Collecting in the herbage and low bushes bordering town klongs and creeks was productive, and hymenoptera were abundant at blossoming garden vines. Weather - hot, humid, partially cloudy.

STOP 271 - THAILAND: 40 MI. S.E. PRACHUAB, 75 METERS, VII-5-62

Monsoon type forest of large trees, open foliage, some deciduous species. Understory of bamboo, thornbushes, shrubs, and some grass in the clearings. In general, a fairly tangled but open, languid, light, dry forest. Though the ground was slightly moist, rather dry conditions prevailed. Nearly clear evening, quarter moon shining through the trees. Black light located directly in the forest, in a narrow clearing, with no large flight lane to draw from. Insects were attracted from nearby foliage and from a restricted flight range. Diurnal material collected

late in the afternoon. Weather warm but less humid than usual because of the drier countryside.

100 specimens

STOP 272 - THAILAND: PRACHUAB [Prachuap], 2M, VII-6-62 200 speciemens

This pleasant seaside resort is situated in a dry area on the east coast of the peninsula, in the rain shadow created by a N-S range of hills on the wst. Much of the area is low and flat, though two points marking off shallow bay consist of rugged limestone hills, covered with a mixed evergreen and deciduous, dry forest. Euphorbias grow here and there on the rocky slopes. North of Prachuab low hills support a bamboo and thornbush flora. Dry mud flats just inland from the town have peculiar grass and scrub brush flora.

These specimens were taken on a partially cloudy, windy morning, in open fields just behind the beach, between sand and the foot of one limestone hill. Butterflies were especially common in the bushes at the foot of the rugged slopes, and many were collected on small [composite?] flowers, in fields behind beach cottages. Sweeping grass and blossoming beachside crawlers was productive for bees and small insects. Apparently no rain had fallen for a long period; many of the shrubs were rather wilted and the soil was parched. 85° F.

STOP 273 - THAILAND: 10 MI. N. SARABURI, 100 METERS, VII-11-62 1000 specimens

Situated in gently rolling countryside, at the

northern fringe of the Bangkok rice bowl, the PUKAE BOTANICAL GARDEN and surrounding Royal Forest Department experimental areas are excellent spots for insect collecting. Many large native and planted trees grow in the botanical garden. The natural tangled understory has been cleared and a thick carpet of herbs and grass, 6'' to 3' deep, covers the dead leaves on the ground. Most specimens were taken in this herbage in filtered light or complete shade, though collecting in deep grass and taller bushes in the full sunlight of clearings was also productive. Ponds and a small stream, bordered by grass, were good spots for odarata and Orthoptera.

Black light, set up on a hilltop near the rest house, attracted small aquatics and a few moths, but collecting was spectacular. Heavy rain fell late in the afternoon

and early in the evening, and the sky remained cloudy, with sporadic rainfall during light collecting. The vegetation on surrounding hills is entirely disturbed; small trees (some planted teak) and secondary growth, everywhere in full leaf and lush growth of the rainy season, comprise the main flora.

Diurnal temperature - 85° F, weather very humid, partially cloudy.

STOP 274 - THAILAND: YAN HEE DAM [Bhumibol Dam], 250 METERS, VII-13-62 100 specimens

This very large hydroelectric project, under construction by a Utah company, is situated in rocky hills west of the main N-S. Bangkok-Lampang road. The life zone is geared to a monsoon climate - rainy season beginning in July,

long dry season during a cooler winter. Most of the trees are deciduous, among them teak. The hills support an open forest of Shorea sp. primarily, averaging 20-30 ft. in height, with an understory of bamboo, (5 ft high), grass (2 ft.), and scattered broad-leafed herbs and woody bushes. Stratified schists, containing a large amount of mica, have crumbled and stream the slopes with loose stones. The soil is soft and loose but heavily beaten by rain. The flora displayed the full lush growth of the rainy season but showed definite signs of fire during the dry season.

Some of the specimens, largely hymenoptera, were collected at hybiscus and other flowering bushes in the community not far from the dam. Grasshoppers and other groups were taken in the grass and bamboo understory of the light, open forest on the slopes above the dam.

Weather - overcast, sporadic →

STOP 275, THAILAND: MAE CHIANG HAI, 200 METERS, VII-13-62 100 specimens

A short morning stop in a flat forest laregely of Shorea about 30 ft. tall. Open, light forest with an understory of low, scattered bushes, occasional palms 5 ft. high, and many cycads 2 ft. high. Ground grey, loose and somewhat sandy, heavily beaten by rain, and nearly bare of vegetative cover.

All specimens in alcohol - taken primarily under rotting logs on the forest floor.

Ground wet, slightly drier under larger logs. Weather overcast, periodic showers. 80° F.

light rainfall. Temperature, average 80° F.

STOP 276 - THAILAND: 10 MI. S.E. LEE, 600 METERS, VII-13-62 50 specimens.

Mostly nocturnal material from a hilly zone on the road to Chieng Mai, 20 miles from the junction with the main N-S road. Light, open forest of mixed deciduous and evergreen trees, some with very broad leaves. All vegetation in full growth of the monsoon season.

Camp located in the spaceous clearing of a P.W.D. work camps and bungalow, surrounded by forest. Weather - cloudy, sporadically rainy - 75° F.

Also included in this stop are several large black Cerambycids collected along the road between 10 and 15 miles S.E. of Lee and from 500 to 600 meters altitude in the forest hills. These large - mandibled beetles were flying low through the forest and across the road during a

heavy rain shortly before dusk. One additional specimen was brough in by a native early in the morning.

STOP 277 - THAILAND: 20 MI. N.W. LEE, 380 METERS, VII-14-62

Short morning stop in gently rolling, forested countryside. Open, light mixed deciduous and evergreen forest, with probable emphasis on the broad-leaved deciduous species. Trees 20 to 40 ft high, in full rainy-season leaf. The understory of young trees, small bamboo, grass, and leafy herbs was productive for insects in spite of cloudy weather and periodic light showers. The forest was thoroughly soaked. Cut logs along the roadside had some beetles beneath their bark.

Fire had burned through most of the ground cover during the dry season. Small fires are built by

the local tribes for the cremation of their dead, small cremation clearings, with offerings of various kinds, were scattered here and there in the forest. This might explain the excellent condition of the plot and the presence of very large trees, whereas the forest on the opposite side of the road had been cut over for timber. 200 specimens

STOP 278 - THAILAND: CHIENG MAI, 300 METERS, VII-14-62 800 spec.

Chieng Mai is located in a long, broad valley bordered on the east and west by low ranges of hills. Much of the valley is planted in rice during the wet season.

These specimens were collected in 3 areas. One open, grassy field near the railroad station was productive; Hymenoptera and Diptera were taken ona knot-weed like flower growing in flooded

parts of the field. Anotehr recently cleared field in a residential district on the W. side of the river proved good because of a few blossoming bushes. A dense tangle of vines, bushes, and other secondary growth blanketed much of the field. The zoological Park, at the autskirts of town right at the base of Doi Sutep, has cultivated areas as well as natural deciduous forest. a few specimens were collected on the garden plants.

Weather - partially cloudy, warm, humid - vegetation wet from periodic rains.

Tortoise shell beetle - feeding on a bush morning glory planted in the Zoological Park.

800 specimens.

DOI SUTEP

Doi Sutep, the closest mountain to Chieng Mai, has been made easily accessible by a road recently constructed to its summit. Three noticeably distinct life zones offer an excellent practice of northern Thailand vegetation. Typical moss forest, found on a few of Thailand's peaks at higher elevation in wetter zones, is lacking on the summit of Doi Sutep, a bit over 4500 ft in elevation. Collecting stops were made at various levels in the three major zones. The weather left no doubt of the presence of the rainy season; at no time was the sky clear and seldom did the sun shine for more than a few minutes.

The vegetation is obviously adapted for a distinct dry season, however, though during this month, with the monsoon nearby in full swing, all

the life zones displayed rich leaf growth.

STOP 279 - THAILAND: E. SLOPE, DOI SUTEP, 560 METERS VII-15-62 800 species

The lowest life zone on Doi Sutep is a deciduous woodland typical of low northern Thailand hills. Oaks, teak, Shorea, or Shorea-like species, and other broad-leafed trees partially or fully deciduous, together with large bamboo clumps on some exposures, comprise the flora between 20 and 40 ft. in height. The trees are not close together, the foliage is rather loose and open, allowing full sun to hit much of the slope. During the rains the ground is covered with herbs, grass clumps, small bamboo, and small tree seedlings & bushes; on the more exposed slopes grass is not common, grows in clumps spaced farther apart, leaving exposed patches of ground.