Night Walk At MacRitchie Reservior's Lornie Trail (30 Apr 2013)

The weather was dry and I decided to give the Lornie Trail a try, even though the last trip there was not very fruitful.



The first beetle that appeared was a Chafer Beetle (Adoretus compressus). There were a number of them munching on leaves and to my surprise that they were pretty alert and would take to flight upon sensing camera flashes.



The next beetle that greeted me was this small Darkling Beetle, hiding in a tree crevice.



On another tree was this hyperactive tiny beetle (~3mm). It looked like a Fungus Beetle.



The trail was rather unproductive in terms of finding beetles as after almost 20 min of walking and I didn't find any beetle, not even the commonly seen Darkling Beetle or Fungus Beetle. Just when I was about to give up, I found this Forked Fungus Beetle which looked very much like a lump of mud on top of a dry brownish bracket fungus.

Another 10 min pases by without finding any beetle. Just when I was about to turn back, a few of this mating Click-Beetle (~3 mm) were seen crawling on a tree trunk.



Moving on, a small (~3 mm) beetle appeared on a dry tree stump. Interesting pattern. I think it is a Fungus Beetle.



On another tree was this lone beetle larvae beetle. No adult beetle was found on the tree.



After a while without finding any beetle, this rather common Fungus Beetle was a welcomed sight.



Persevering on, a small Darkling Beetle (~5 mm) was found at the base of a small tree. The interesting thing about the Lornie Trail is that the trees along the trail are huge and tall, unlike the other trails that I have been to.



Just before reaching the turn-back point, this tiny (~2 mm) interesting beetle appeared. It looked like the normal reddish brown Fungus Beetle but with frog-like hind legs. It hopped and flew off after a few shots.



The way back was relatively uneventful with only the spotting of this Chafer Beetle after a long distance.



Finally, the first Leaf Beetle for the night. This is an interesting beetle as it is rather hairy for a Leaf Beetle.



The finale for the trip was the spotting of this large (~40 mm) Long Horned Beetle (Batocera rubus) resting on a tall tree.

The trip was fruitful as I managed to photograph 7 beetles that I have not photographed before. Given the long distance that I have walked, I would think twice before I decide to go on the Lornie Trail again.

Night Walk At Old Upper Thomson Road (26 Apr 2013)

The day was wet and overcast so I decided to take a quick walk at the Old Upper Thomson Road, with little expectation that the trip will be fruitful.



The first beetle that came into view was this tiny (1 mm) beetle. Interestingly, after a few shots the beetle started to lean on one side and remained in that position until I finished with it.



This Darkling Beetle was on a tree trunk nearby.



On the same tree was this tiny (<2 mm) beetle.



Moving along the road, I noticed a slight movement on a tree trunk. Upon closer examination, I found this small (3 mm) Fungus Weevil.



Nearby was this tiny (2 mm) and alert Fungus Beetle. It flew away just after one photograph. Please pardon the poor quality.



Moving further was a dead tree and on it was this interesting looking beetle. At a short distance away, it looked like a Snout Weevil Beetle, but it turned out to be a Fungus Weevil. This is a rather large Fungus Weevil (~25 mm). I particularly like the subtle colour contrast of this beetle.



On the same tree was this ~20 mm Long Horned Beetle (Coptops annulipes). I read about this beetle online but have never got a chance to see it until now.



Crawling between the crevices of the tree bark was this ~3 mm Ground Beetle. It was pretty hard to photograph due to its small size and hyperactivity.



A further surprise awaited on the other side of the same tree, a ~20 mm Long Horned Beetle (Coptops leucostictica). What a pleasant surprise to find two different beetles on the same tree.



On a piece of damp fallen tree was this Darkling Beetle.



After encountering two Long Horned Beetles, coming across another Long Horned Beetle was not far down the road was a real bonus. This looked like the earlier Long Horned Beetle (Coptops annulipes) but the coloration on the elytra was slightly different. Not sure if it is a sexual difference or a different type all together.



Another Ground Beetle on the same tree trunk.



Not more action after the encounter with the third Long Horned Beetle and so I decided to turn back. On the return-path, this Fungus Weevil was having its dinner on a pile of dead wood. It blended in well with its background.



On the same log was this beetle larvae.



This was the last beetle that I come across on the way back. It is a Darkling Beetle but the body is roundish compared to the other Darkling Beetles that I usually come across.



Although the trip was expected to be not so fruitful, encountering three Long Horned Beetles in a row has made the trip worth the while.

Night Walk At Venus Drive (19 Apr 2013)

 The weather was perfect for a walk, and it was a decision between Venus Drive Trail or the Old Upper Thomson Road (which I have not tried before). In order not to risk finding nothing on a new trail, I decided to stick to the tried and tested Venus Drive Trail.

 The first beetle that greeted me was this relatively big (5mm) Darkling Beetle.



Near to the black Darkling Beetle was another Darkling Beetle of about the same size.



While examining a rather dry tree log, I was pleasantly surprised to find this Darkling Beetle (Cryphaeus gazelle) hiding in a crevice. This is a female specimen as the male has interesting horns on the top of its thorax.



Moving along some tall grass, I had a surprise find - a Leaf Beetle. This beetle is diurnal and this is the first time I come across in the night. Guessed that it is sleeping so I able to get some nice close-up shots.



Not far from the Leaf Beetle was a fallen tree where there were a dozen or more of this (12mm) Fungus Beetle.



Nearby was another different Fungus Beetle.



On the same log was the first Fungus Weevil for the night.



Further down on a rotten tree stump was this Rove Beetle. This is a difficult beetle to photograph due to its hyperactivity.



Next was a commonly encountered Fungus Beetle (Eumorphus assamensis subguttatus) on a leaf.



Near to the Fungus Beetle was this Chafer Beetle (Apogonia expeditionis). Although commonly seen in parks and gardens, I rarely come across them at Venus Drive Trail.



The highlight for the trip came early with the appearance of this small (3mm) beetle on a tree trunk. It was rather shy and refuse to move while I was photographing it.



A small (3mm) Fungus Beetle appeared while I was photographing the above beetle.



On a nearby log was this completely black Ground Beetle (Platynus assimilis).



A tiny (2mm) beetle with a subtle shiny green and red coloration.



Hanging on a tree trunk was this large (10mm) long legs Darkling Beetle.



Further into the trail, there was a tree log full of fungus on it and I found the male specimen of the Darkling Beetle (Cryphaeus gazelle). Notice the horns on the thorax of the beetle.



Weaving between the fungus on the tree log was this interesting looking beetle.



On the same log was this small (3mm) beetle which it was perfectly camouflaged until it decided to move.



Hanging onto a thin branch was this lovely Fungus Beetle. I simply love the contrasting colours of this beetle.



Surprisingly on the same log, there were a few of this Fungus Beetle. It was only recently that I come across this beetle. A lovely looking beetle.



Directly below the above mentioned Fungus Beetle was a colourful Ground Beetle (Pericalus tetrastigma).



On another rotting tree trunk were several of this beetle larvae.



Moving on, I came across a tiny beetle (<2 mm). Interesting colouration.



Another highlight for the night, a Fungus Weevil. This is the first time that I come across this beetle. Lovely patterns on the beetle.



Another Fungus Beetle that I have not come across previously.



Another Fungus Weevil.



Near to the Fungus Weevil was this pair tiny (1mm) of love birds.



Another Fungus Beetle (Eumorphus quadriguttatus).



Yet another lovely Fungus Beetle (Eumorphus diliatatus turritus).



Nearing the end of the trail was this Fungus Beetle, busily munching away fungus.



Near the place where I usually exit, a few Rove Beetle (3mm) were "dancing" around. This beetle is similar to the earlier mentioned Rove Beetle, except for the two faint white bands on it.


This was indeed an interesting trip where more photographs of beetles were added to my collection.