A rainy night adventure into Mandai, and we chanced upon one of the largest longhorn beetles I’ve ever seen! The Long-Horned Beetle (Batocera rubus) is a pest to many hardwood trees by chewing into them. The females can deposit up to 200 eggs on tree barks, and it may take 12 to 18 months for the young to emerge as adult beetles. The beetle can grow up to 40mm in length, much larger than many other longhorn beetles.

1. First encounter of the Long-Horned Beetle (Batocera rubus) under a leaf, with an ant staring up at it’s face. View more photos of longhorn beetles here.


2. View of it’s head from above


3. Wider view, the “horns” or feelers are typically as long as it’s body


4. Closeup on the face. This beetle’s left wing was badly damaged and could no longer fly.


5. Fungus weevil (Anthribidae). A “horse-faced” weevil found on a tree bark. View more photos of fungus weevils.


6. Freshly molted cicada (the molt just dropped) drying it’s wings before taking flight.


7. Another night creature, the Tailless Whip Scorpion (or Whip Spider) found on a tree bark


8. Low angled close up on it’s face


9. Handsome fungus beetle (Eumorphus sp. View more photos of handsome fungus beetles.


10. A Tiger Beetle (Cicindela aurulenta) resting on a leaf, probably sleeping. View more photos of tiger beetles.


11. Low angled side profile, it was raining when I shot this


12. Close up on the beetle’s head

The complete album can be viewed here.

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