The sky was overcast for the entire day so I decided to go to the Windsor Nature Park for my night macro photography to have a higher chance of finding beetles. We are in the Inter-monsoon season in Singapore which sees us experiencing morning and afternoon thunder storms (and at time severely) in many days in the week. Having an overcast weather for the entire day is considered good during this period. The weather will get worse when the North-East Monsoon starts in December.
Here's an exceptionally long terrestrial flatworm (about 10 cm long) found on a rotten log at the place.
The first beetle for the trip was this 3 mm Darkling Beetle found on a small tree that lined the car park at the park.
There were a number of low bushes just next to the car park and so I decided to check them out. Here's a commonly encountered Chafer Beetle (Apogonia expeditionis) found feeding on one of the leaves.
Near to the Apogonia expeditionis Chafer Beetle was another commonly encountered Chafer Beetle.
I was surprised to find a patch of Bamboo Orchid near to the car park. Happily, I found several of this lovely Orchid Leaf Beetle (Lema pectoralis). This is one of my favorite beetles.
Near to the Orchid Leaf Beetle was one of its larvae.
Moving on, there were several of this 5 mm Darkling Beetle on the trees near to the car park.
On the trees were also many of this 1 mm beetle larvae. I believed these are the larvae of the 3 mm Darkling Beetle encountered earlier.
While walking towards the Venus Loop entrance, I was pleasantly surprised to find this lone Tiger Beetle (Cicindela aurulenta) on a blade of grass.
Passing by the "resident" patch of Elephant Ear Plants, I will never miss looking out for the 4 mm Ant-like Flower Beetle (Anthelephila cyanea) usually found under the gigantic leaves.
Not to far after entering the Venus Loop trail, I am pleased to find this Fungus Beetle (Amblyopus vittatus) resting on a broad leaf.
On a tree nearby was a beetle larva. I am glad to be able to find several of them as this is a sure indication that the beetle population at the place is still healthy.
On another nearby tree, was this 5 mm roundish Darkling Beetle.
On the same tree were several of this 1 mm Darkling Beetle.
Coming to a large tree stump, I was surprised to find a few of this Martinezostes sp. beetles. Sadly, all of them were curled up like a ball.
Further down the trail was a large rotten log (about 5 meters in length) were many of this 5 mm fast moving Rove Beetle running about the log. This type of beetle is pretty sensitive to light and would quickly scatter away into crevices on the log.
On another part of the rotten log were a few tens of this Darkling Beetle (Ceropria superba).
While photographing the Ceropria superba Darkling Beetle, I noticed at the corner of my eye this 1 mm hairy beetle moving quickly from my torch's light.
On another part of the log were several of this Fungus Beetle (Episcapha xanthopustulata).
Moving to another rotten tree, I was surprise to find this Fungus Beetle (Eumorphus assamensis) on a leaf, as it is more frequently found on rotten wood than on leaves.
On the underside of the rotten wood was a pair of this Ground Beetle (Catascopus dalbertisi),
While photographing the Ground Beetle, I noticed a dark patch on the wood and decided to check it out. To my surprise, it was a long-time didn't encounter Darkling Beetle (Cryphaeus gazelle). This is a female as it lacks the pair of horns on its pronotum.
Just centimeters away was this 1 mm Fungus Beetle.
On the underside of the log were a dozen of this beetle larvae.
Along side the beetle larvae was this smaller larva which looked pretty different from its older brother.
Next to the log was a small bush where this Chafer Beetle was found. At a cursory glance it looked like the Apogonia expeditionis but differs in its broader body.
On another part of the tree was this commonly encountered 10 mm Darkling Beetle.
Near to the Darkling Beetle were many of this 4 mm Fungus Beetles.
Munching on some black fungus on the same log was this interesting looking beetle larva.
Near to the beetle larva was a small leaf where these two 0.5 mm critters were found. I am not sure what it is but its shiny elytra make them look like beetles. They could possibly be mites or spiders.
On the further end of the log was this 20 mm Pleasing Fungus Beetle. Notice the tiny spherical critters near to the beetle, which looked like a tiny beetle when zoomed in (see above photograph).
Several centimeters away was another 20 mm Fungus Pleasing Beetle. This was also the last beetle for the trip before I decided to call it a day.
Comparing with last week's washed out session, this week's session was exceptionally fruitful. As the raining season approaches, it is likely that I will come back to Windsor Nature Park more frequently.
Here's an exceptionally long terrestrial flatworm (about 10 cm long) found on a rotten log at the place.
The first beetle for the trip was this 3 mm Darkling Beetle found on a small tree that lined the car park at the park.
There were a number of low bushes just next to the car park and so I decided to check them out. Here's a commonly encountered Chafer Beetle (Apogonia expeditionis) found feeding on one of the leaves.
Near to the Apogonia expeditionis Chafer Beetle was another commonly encountered Chafer Beetle.
I was surprised to find a patch of Bamboo Orchid near to the car park. Happily, I found several of this lovely Orchid Leaf Beetle (Lema pectoralis). This is one of my favorite beetles.
Near to the Orchid Leaf Beetle was one of its larvae.
Moving on, there were several of this 5 mm Darkling Beetle on the trees near to the car park.
On the trees were also many of this 1 mm beetle larvae. I believed these are the larvae of the 3 mm Darkling Beetle encountered earlier.
While walking towards the Venus Loop entrance, I was pleasantly surprised to find this lone Tiger Beetle (Cicindela aurulenta) on a blade of grass.
Passing by the "resident" patch of Elephant Ear Plants, I will never miss looking out for the 4 mm Ant-like Flower Beetle (Anthelephila cyanea) usually found under the gigantic leaves.
Not to far after entering the Venus Loop trail, I am pleased to find this Fungus Beetle (Amblyopus vittatus) resting on a broad leaf.
On a tree nearby was a beetle larva. I am glad to be able to find several of them as this is a sure indication that the beetle population at the place is still healthy.
On another nearby tree, was this 5 mm roundish Darkling Beetle.
On the same tree were several of this 1 mm Darkling Beetle.
Coming to a large tree stump, I was surprised to find a few of this Martinezostes sp. beetles. Sadly, all of them were curled up like a ball.
Further down the trail was a large rotten log (about 5 meters in length) were many of this 5 mm fast moving Rove Beetle running about the log. This type of beetle is pretty sensitive to light and would quickly scatter away into crevices on the log.
On another part of the rotten log were a few tens of this Darkling Beetle (Ceropria superba).
While photographing the Ceropria superba Darkling Beetle, I noticed at the corner of my eye this 1 mm hairy beetle moving quickly from my torch's light.
On another part of the log were several of this Fungus Beetle (Episcapha xanthopustulata).
Moving to another rotten tree, I was surprise to find this Fungus Beetle (Eumorphus assamensis) on a leaf, as it is more frequently found on rotten wood than on leaves.
On the underside of the rotten wood was a pair of this Ground Beetle (Catascopus dalbertisi),
While photographing the Ground Beetle, I noticed a dark patch on the wood and decided to check it out. To my surprise, it was a long-time didn't encounter Darkling Beetle (Cryphaeus gazelle). This is a female as it lacks the pair of horns on its pronotum.
Just centimeters away was this 1 mm Fungus Beetle.
On the underside of the log were a dozen of this beetle larvae.
Along side the beetle larvae was this smaller larva which looked pretty different from its older brother.
Next to the log was a small bush where this Chafer Beetle was found. At a cursory glance it looked like the Apogonia expeditionis but differs in its broader body.
On another part of the tree was this commonly encountered 10 mm Darkling Beetle.
Near to the Darkling Beetle were many of this 4 mm Fungus Beetles.
Munching on some black fungus on the same log was this interesting looking beetle larva.
Near to the beetle larva was a small leaf where these two 0.5 mm critters were found. I am not sure what it is but its shiny elytra make them look like beetles. They could possibly be mites or spiders.
On the further end of the log was this 20 mm Pleasing Fungus Beetle. Notice the tiny spherical critters near to the beetle, which looked like a tiny beetle when zoomed in (see above photograph).
Several centimeters away was another 20 mm Fungus Pleasing Beetle. This was also the last beetle for the trip before I decided to call it a day.
Comparing with last week's washed out session, this week's session was exceptionally fruitful. As the raining season approaches, it is likely that I will come back to Windsor Nature Park more frequently.
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