Here's a photograph of a Mantidfly that we encountered during the trip. This is the second time that I came across this interesting insect.
The first beetle for the trip was a Ant-like Flower Beetle (Anthelephila cyanea) found under a large Elephant Ear Plant.
A stone's throw away was a small 3 mm Weevil Beetle. This beetle looks very much like an elephant and often reminded me of Sesame Street Big Bird's imaginary friend of named Snuffleupagus.
Further down the trail was a lovely Ladybird Beetle (Epilachna admirabilis). I am glad that the new DIY flash diffuser works well with this beetle.
It was only a short while that I reached the third "snow tree" and found this small 5 mm Fungus Weevil on it.
Not sure what to make of it but the place has been taken over by Air Potato Plants. The plants have made many of the areas less accessible as compared to a few years back when I started photographing beetles at Venus Drive. Nevertheless, flying among the Air Potato Plants were several of this Tumbling Flower Beetle (Glipa malaccana).
Coming to a patch of tall bushes, there were several of this white Ladybird Beetle hiding under the leaves. Unlike other Ladybird Beetles, this species of Ladybird Beetle is highly sensitive and would promptly fly off upon detection of movements, making it a challenge to photograph them.
Near to the white Ladybird Beetle was a small patch of Singapore Rhododendron plant where several of this roundish Leaf Beetle (Argopus brevis) were found. The Singapore Rhododendron seemed to be the favorite food plant for this beetle.
Just when I was wondering why I didn't see the usual diurnal Leaf Beetles like the Lema diversa and Lema rufotestacea Leaf Beetle, this Leaf Beetle (Hoplosaenidea singaporensis) turned up.
Near to the Hoplosaenidea singaporensis Leaf Beetle was a Fungus Beetle (Eumorphus quadriguttatus quadriguttatus) resting on a rubber tree leaf.
On a fallen log near by was another Fungus Beetle resting on a Bracket Fungus Mushroom.
While I was photographing the Fungus Beetle, Cameron called out to me that they found something that I would be interested. Indeed I am thrilled to see this mating pair of Long Horned Beetle (Thranius bimaculatus) as it answered a question that I had a while ago - is the smaller size beetle a different species (because of the orange-brown legs) compared to the bigger specimens. This confirmed my suspicion that the smaller specimen is the male of the species.
Hiding under a dried-up vine on a tree nearby was a pair of Fungus Beetle (Eumorphus mirus).
The highlight of the trip was the encounter with this lovely Leaf Beetle (Trichochrysea hirta) found under a leaf. I have been wanting to get a good photograph of this beetle for a while and this came as a pleasant surprise.
Not too far from the Trichochrysea hirta Leaf Beetle was a Tiger Beetle (Neocollyris celebensis) . Sadly, it was rather active and I was not able to get a good photograph of it.
Moving ahead, I found this small 10 mm Darkling Beetle (Strongylium tenuipes) on the side of a small tree.
It has been a while that I encountered this Leaf Beetle (Galerosastra sumatrana) and I promptly chased after it when I saw it flying into the bushes.
On the side of dying tree was this Checkered Beetle. It has been a long while I last encountered any Checkered Beetle and this was a treat for the trip.
On the same tree was this small 4 mm Ground Beetle.
Another highlight for the trip, a beautiful Jewel Beetle (Belionota prasina) foraging on a dying tree.
The last beetle for the trip was this small 3 mm Shiny Fungus Beetle hiding among a multi-layer Bracket Fungus Mushroom.
This is an enjoyable and fruitful trip with more than 20 different beetles encountered, with some escaping the camera because of their hyper-activeness. The trip was made even more enjoyable by the quips from Cameron. Thank you bro for the wonderful time!
The pleasure is mine bro:)
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