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Saturday 26 May 2018

Night Walk At A Secret Place (25 May 2018)

The weather was surprisingly dry today so my friend HW and I decided to fo for our night macro session at a place that we seldom visit. I am keeping the location secret so as to protect the interesting flora that we encountered during this trip.

This is what prompted me to keep the location secret - a super interesting plant with white leaf. This is the first time that I come across a plant with entirely white leaves. I guessed that this probably is a sapling of a normal tree with green leaves, but nevertheless I am keeping the location secret just in case that it is a special plant. It is interesting to note that I only found 2 of such plant in the area that we visited.


The same area also have another increasingly rare plant in Singapore - Pitcher Plant. Here's a photograph of a more common pitcher plant (Nepenthes gracilis).


Near to the Nepenthes gracilis was several of this not so common Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes rafflesiana). Sadly we didn't see any of them having any pitchers even though the leaves are relatively large.


The first beetle for the trip was a commonly encountered Chafer Beetle (Apogonia expeditionis).


Near to the Chafer Beetle was a lovely 3 mm Darkling Beetle which has a purplish tint to it.


A few trees away was another 3 mm Darkling Beetle.


After a short while of walking, we came to a wood pile where several of this 10 mm Darkling Beetle (Ceropria induta) were found on  a rotten log.


On the same log was this cool looking Ground Beetle (Catascopus dalbertisi).


On another rotting log in the wood pile was this 10 mm Darkling Beetle (Eucyrtus anthracinus).


Still at the wood pile, another Darkling Beetle (Eumporphus assamensis) was munching away on a crop of fungus growth.


On the same log was a well camouflaged Fungus Weevil (Eucorynus crassicornis).


On another log near by was this lone beetle larva.


A few meters away, HW found this 10 mm Fungus Weevil on a small tree.


Coming to a patch of Singapore Rhododendron (Melastoma malabathricum) plant, there were many of this commonly encountered Chafer Beetle (Adoretus compressus).


Near to the Adoretus compressus Chafer Beetle was a not so commonly encountered Chafer Beetle (Maladera castanea).


Pressing on, this 8 mm Leaf Beetle was found on a leaf near by from the Maladera castanea Chafer Beetle.


Walking further, we were glad to be able to find another fallen log where this Fungus Beetle was hiding.


On a nearby tree was this small beetle larva.


On the same tree was this hyperactive Fungus Beetle which at first glance looked like a Eumporphus assamensis Fungus Beetle. Upon closer examination of the photograph at home, it actually has 6 spots instead of 4, which means it is a different beetle.


Searching among the low bushes, this 20 mm Pleasing Fungus Beetle (Triplatoma gestroi) was found resting on a dead tree branch.


Near by was a 8 mm  commonly encountered Darkling Beetle.


Moving deeper into the trail, I was glad to be able to find a beetle larva on a small tree.


On the same tree was a beetle pupa, which is the next stage of the beetle larva.


On the same tree was this 3 mm Darkling Beetle.


The last beetle for the trip was this roundish Darkling Beetle.


I am glad that the weather turned out good and I am able to go to this "secret" place and found a good number of beetles. I will surely go back to the location again given the interesting flora and fauna encountered at the place.

Saturday 5 May 2018

Night Walk At Lower Peirce Reservior (04 May 2018)

It was forecasted that it will rain in the evening but the weather remained pretty clear, and so I decided to go for my night macro session at the Lower Peirce Reservoir. When I reached the place, rain clouds started to gather and there were rumblings of thunders in the distance. Not deterred, I continued to head towards the part of the Lower Peirce Reservoir that I seldom frequent. From the look of things, it would be a short trip for the night.

Here's a photograph of an interesting spider found on a leaf.


The first beetle was a 10 mm Darkling Beetle, commonly found on rotting logs.


Near to the Darkling Beetle were several of this 10 mm Fungus Beetle.


Centimeters from the Fungus Beetle was a 4 mm Fungus Beetle, badly infested with mites.


Running about the fallen log was this metallic colored Ground Beetle (Catascopus dalbertisi). This is also one of my favorite beetles.


On the far end of the same fallen log was this 5 mm Fungus Weevil (Eucorynus crassicornis).


Nearby on the same log was another Fungus Beetle (Eumorphus assamensis).


Next to the Fungus Beetle were two Darkling Beetle (Ceropria induta).


Moving on, there were a number of tall Singapore Rhododendron plant (Melastoma malabathricum) along the way but only one particular plant that have these Chafer Beetles munching on its leaves.


A different Chafer Beetle (Adoretus compressus) near to the above Chafer Beetle.


On the same plant was another commonly encountered Chafer Beetle (Apogonia expeditionis).


Further down the trail was a small tree where this 5 mm Darkling Beetle (Strongylium sp.) was found munching on its bark.


On the same tree was this 3 mm Darkling Beetle.


No other beetle was found until this 1 mm Darkling Beetle turned up on a small tree next to the trail.


The last beetle for the trip was a Ground Beetle found high up a small tree, out of the reach of my 60 mm macro-lens. Right about now, the rumbling of thunders were right above head and the sky has turned smokey pink, a sure sign that it was about to rain. As such I decided to call it a day and picked up my paces and made my way towards the exit of the trail.


Although the trip was shorter than expected, there was still a good number of beetles encountered. Hopefully the next trip to the place will be much better.