Tropical Rain Forest

What a beautiful tropical rain forest of Malaysia....

Burmagomphus divaricatus

I spotted a newly emerged Burmagomphus divaricatus by a forest stream. It is a male.

Poor Little Thing

This female Orthetrum testaceum has to succumb to a spider web. What a poor little thing.

Cephalaeschna laidlawi

Cephalaeschna laidlawi or some other workers calling it as Periaschna laidlawi is a rare montane dragonfly species in Peninsular Malaysia. Before my encounter on this species, only a few specimens have been collected by other workers (Forster 1908; Laidlaw 1931; Kawashima and Sasamoto 2006). Forster (1908) and Laidlaw (1931) collected one male and two female adults. On the other hand, Kawashima and Sasamoto (2006) collected three larvae (two males and one female - all successfully bred to emergence).

My first time to encounter this species was in 2007 - a few larvae were collected from a forest stream and successfully bred to emergence. My second time to encounter it was in 2011 - a few beautiful male adults were collected in the wild. It means that I am the second person to encounter male adult (not from emergence) in the wild after Forster (1908). How lucky I was.....

I supposed many might not have seen the real full colour of this species (newly emerged adult might not have yet to develop full colour). Here you go....

Archibasis rebeccae

Archibasis rebeccae was described from Batu Malim, Pahang. It is no longer endemic to Peninsular Malaysia as it has been recorded in Singapore (Ngaim 2009). Archibasis rebeccae is definitely not a common damselfly species though I have seen it from the north to the south of Peninsular Malaysia. Surprisingly, it is quite comfortable living in oil palm plantation.

Reference:
Ngiam, R.W.J. 2009. The record of Archibasis rebeccae Kemp, 1989 in Singapore (Odonata: Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae). Nature in Singapore 2:449-452.

Begoniaceae - Begonia alpina

This is Begonia alpina.....

Goodeniaceae - Scaevola taccada

Scaevaloa taccada is a coastal plant with unique beautiful flower.

Lowiaceae - Orchidantha

Orchidantha siamensis (Lowiaceae) is found in Peninsular Malaysia!

Weedy Flower

This weedy plant has tiny flowers look like hibiscus.... It is Urena lobata.

Aroid Plant

This is an aroid plant Cyrtosperma merkusii found at forested swamp.

Morning Glory

This is the first time I saw morning glory with yellow flowers....

Nepogomphus walli

Pergau Lake Scientific Expendition

I participated in Pergau Lake Scientific Expedition organized by the Kelantan Forestry Department.

Camp site

Sungai Long

Tasik Pergau

Gunung Reng

Zygonyx ida

Gomphidictinus perakensis

Sea Hibiscus

Aciagrion hisopa

Aciagrion hisopa is an uncommon damselfly species.

Melastoma malabathricum

1-Odonata

This is the spirit of 1-Odonata..... Cratilla lineata is on the left and Cratilla metallica is on the right.

Why?

Why? Why? Tell me why.....

Pseudagrion williamsoni

Pseudagrion williamsoni shows sex dimorphism.

Coeliccia erici

Coeliccia erici is very similar to C. kimurai on the thoracic marking. Only close inspection on anal appendages can distinguish both the species.

Euphaea tricolor

Euphaea tricolor is endemic to Borneo. It is always confused with E. subcostalis and E. subnodalis. Euphaea tricolor can be distinguished by having white spot on the uppersides of pseudoauricles.

Coeliccia arcuata

Coeliccia arcuata is endemic to Borneo.

Pseudagrion pilidorsum

Pseudagrion pilidorsum is definitely an attractive damselfly species. It is not found in Peninsular Malaysia.

Coeliccia cyaneothorax

Coeliccia cyaneothorax is definitely a rare and local damselfly species in Borneo.

Chalybeothemis fluviatilis

Chalybeothemis fluviatilis is a swamp and peat swamp species. The genus Chalybeothemis contains three species - C. fluviatilis, C. chini and C. pruinosa. The former two species can be found in Peninsular Malaysia while the last one is confined to Borneo.

Archibasis viola

Archibasis viola is easily recognized by its purplish blue marking.

Nannophya pygmaea in Wheel

Finally, I've managed to photograph Nannophya pygmaea in wheel....

Risiophlebia dohrni

Risiophlebia dohrni is a gorgeous species found at swampy forest.

Odonata Checklist for Terengganu

A total of 107 Odonata species in 13 families have been recorded for Terengganu. The Odonata full checklist for Terengganu can be found in the below article:

Choong, C.Y., Dow, R.A. and Ng, Y.F. 2012. Odonata (Insecta) from three forests of central Terengganu, Malaysia. Malayan Nature Journal 64(2): 95-104.

Protosticta curiosa is a new record for Malaysia, and it is so far found in Terengganu.

Protosticta curiosa (male)

Prodasineura verticalis

Prodasineura verticalis is common in Borneo. It is not found in Peninsular Malaysia.

Prodasineura hosei

Prodasineura hosei is endemic to Borneo....

Prodasineura peramoena

Prodasineura peramoena is endemic to Borneo....

Orthetrum borneense

Orthetrum borneense is a montane species endemic to Borneo....

Tyriobapta kuekenthali

Tyriobapta kuekenthali is scarce in Peninsula Malaysia, and it is not common in Borneo. I have not yet spotted T. kuekenthali in Peninsular Malaysia....

Amphicnemis remiger

Amphicnemis remiger is endemic to Borneo.

Macromia euterpe

Macromia euterpe is a montane species, and it is endemic to Borneo.

Rhinocypha cucullata

Rhinocypha cucullata is endemic to Borneo......

Indolestes dajakanus

Indolestes dajakanus was known from a single specimen collected 80 years ago from Sarawak. However, the exact collecting location of the specimen is unknown. So, it is endemic to Borneo. I guess I am so lucky to have the photograph of I. dajakanus in live.....

Stinkhorn Mushroom

I bumped into a beautiful stinkhorn mushroom....

Nepenthes bicalcarata

Fanged pitcher Nepenthes bicalcarata is endemic to Borneo. The pitcher has a pair of of fangs under the lid pointing downward.

Telosticta dayak

Telosticta dayak is a recently described new species of platystid from Borneo.

An Adventurous Journey to Mulu National Park

I was away to Mulu National Park, Sarawak, joining a scientific expedition organised by Sarawak Forestry Department. The journey to the Mulu Park was adventurous, and we spent 10 days in the deep forest to study the biodiversity of the northern Mulu Park.

Located at the northern Mulu Park is Mentawai River, of which it could be easily accessed by long boat through Mendalam River. Nevertheless, Mentawai River is rather sallow, particularly in dry season.

upstream of Mentawai River; water level is low at upstream

In order to reach Ulu Mentawai sub camp (upstream of Mentawai River), boat push-pull was needed throughout the 6km waterway. I lost count how many times we needed to get off the boat for boat push-pull along the 6km journey.

boat push-pull to get through shallow water along Mentawai River

At certain parts of the river, we might need to remove small stones from the river bed to create a deeper passage so that the boat push-pull became easier.

we line up in the river to remove stones and create deeper passage for long boat

Fourteen of us (including four boatmen and two cooks) stayed at the Ulu Mentawai sub camp for five days and four nights. Our little hostel in the sub camp was cosy enough to keep us warm and safe throughout the stay.

the Ulu Mentawai sub camp

We had a nice little table at the sub camp for dinning, and the very same table was also used for sorting out our daily hunts.

chatting and working at the dinning table had become our routine during the stay at the sub camp