Journal

Tawau Hills Day 2

on
8 March 2015

Tawau Hills 2015: [ Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 ]

After our first night in the wet trails, we couldn’t wait to explore the same trails in the day. The sun rose an hour earlier than in Singapore, and the morning dew provided a great opportunity for dew-ridden subjects. Unfortunately we couldn’t resist the late nights and only got into the trails when the dew had dried off. This day’s catch proved to be more than fruitful, with lantern bugs at eye level, weevils with window wiper antennae, amazingly beautiful shield bugs, blue ants and lots more! If you’re frothing at the mouth on seeing the bugs and can’t wait to photograph them, you should join the Borneo Bootcamp this coming June!

Lantern Bugging

Before breakfast, we were already up and checking on the trees where we saw some lantern bugs the night before. They were too high up to take decent pictures, but there was a chance that they would come to a lower height in the mornings. Now that we knew the host trees of some of them, it was much easier to locate them in our subsequent visits.

    Lantern bug (Pyrops sidereus) - DSC_3042
  1. Lantern bug (Pyrops sidereus)

    With a bit of luck, the 2 lantern bugs that we spotted the night before were nicely positioned at eye-level when we got to the trees!

  2. Lantern bug (Pyrops sidereus) - DSC_3045
  3. Lantern bug (Pyrops sidereus)

    The sun was coming down hard on us, and the lantern bugs were also busily moving about to keep themselves in the shade.

  4. Lantern bug (Pyrops sidereus) - DSC_3081
  5. Lantern bug (Pyrops sidereus)

    It wasn’t easy to find an angle with nice faraway backgrounds for creamy bokeh, but while they kept moving, there’s a chance!

  6. Lantern bug (Pyrops sidereus) - DSC_3088
  7. Lantern bug (Pyrops sidereus)

    And the chance finally came. To top if off, the yellow tip of the snout was lit by a bit of sunlight from behind.

  8. Lantern bug (Pyrops sidereus) - DSC_3107
  9. Lantern bug (Pyrops sidereus)

    Tried a little bit of wide angle photography to capture more of the environment.

  10. Lizard (Agamidae) - DSC_3123
  11. Lizard (Agamidae)

    While we took turns to shoot the lantern bugs, some agamids were spotted, but at a less friendly height.

  12. Botanical Gardens

    After the quick shoot, we proceeded to the canteen for breakfast where the staff told us that a Pyrops sultanus was spotted at eye level just that morning in the botanical gardens. We wasted no time in finishing our food to rush to the tree, but got distracted at the toilet… of all places!

    Katydid (Tettigoniidae) - DSC_3124
  13. Katydid (Tettigoniidae)

    A large katydid was spotted hiding within the little garden outside the toilet.

  14. Katydid (Tettigoniidae) - DSC_3125
  15. Katydid (Tettigoniidae)

    Probably about 4 inches long, as I had to remove the Raynox.

  16. Giant shield bug (Tessaratomidae) - DSC_3132
  17. Giant shield bug (Tessaratomidae)

    Also outside the toilet was this shield bug nymph. Absolutely stunning colours!

  18. Giant shield bug (Tessaratomidae) - DSC_3143
  19. Giant shield bug (Tessaratomidae)

    Unfortunately it kept walking about and I didn’t manage many nice shots of it.

  20. Plant bug (Miridae?) - DSC_3144
  21. Plant bug (Miridae?)

    Finally got ourselves into the garden and got distracted again.

  22. Giant shield bug (Tessaratomidae) - DSC_3148
  23. Giant shield bug (Tessaratomidae)

    Apparently, the lantern bug had already climbed high up and “unshootable”, but we were treated to a shield bug laying eggs just a few meters away!

  24. Giant shield bug (Tessaratomidae) - DSC_3153
  25. Giant shield bug (Tessaratomidae)

    The patient mother lays her eggs in a very neat pattern.

  26. Palm weevil (Cercidocerus sp.) - DSC_3156
  27. Palm weevil (Cercidocerus sp.)

    A black weevil got Dennis really excited near the gardens entrance, but it was this that got him going OMG OMG OMG OMG. I tend to imagine the antennae of this weevil to be window wipers! 🙂

  28. Palm weevil (Cercidocerus sp.) - DSC_3159
  29. Palm weevil (Cercidocerus sp.)

    Another view of the funky antennae.

  30. False click beetle (Eucnemidae) - DSC_3160
  31. False click beetle (Eucnemidae)

    There were several inconspicuous beetles.

  32. False click beetle (Eucnemidae) - DSC_3161
  33. False click beetle (Eucnemidae)

    But still cute!

  34. Jumping spider (Salticidae) - DSC_3166
  35. Jumping spider (Salticidae)

    Some of the jumping spiders were more colourful.

  36. Jumping spider (Salticidae) - DSC_3170
  37. Jumping spider (Salticidae)

    And gave me the innocent doe-eyed look.

  38. Giant shield bug (Tessaratomidae) - DSC_3176
  39. Giant shield bug (Tessaratomidae)

    Went back to check on the shield bug, and she was still busy with her eggs.

  40. Lizard beetle (Languriidae) - DSC_3184
  41. Lizard beetle (Languriidae)

    Saw a highly reflective lizard beetle.

  42. Lynx spider (Hamadruas sp.) - DSC_3194
  43. Lynx spider (Hamadruas sp.)

    The lynx spiders here really look more interesting!

  44. Lynx spider (Hamadruas sp.) - DSC_3212
  45. Lynx spider (Hamadruas sp.)

    Here’s a face shot of it while it was trying to balloon away.

  46. Giant shield bug (Tessaratomidae) - DSC_3224
  47. Giant shield bug (Tessaratomidae)

    While staring around, we found another shield bug nymph, like the one spotted outside the toilet!

  48. Giant shield bug (Tessaratomidae) - DSC_3229
  49. Giant shield bug (Tessaratomidae)

    Really flat, anterior view wasn’t that interesting.

  50. Crab spider (Epidius sp.) - DSC_3235
  51. Crab spider (Epidius sp.)

    The rest found this male crab spider, and mistook it for a huntsman spider earlier.

  52. Crab spider (Epidius sp.) - DSC_3257
  53. Crab spider (Epidius sp.)

    Close up on the eyes, and the exceptionally long pedipalps.

  54. Jumping spider (Simaetha sp.) - DSC_3259
  55. Jumping spider (Simaetha sp.)

    From afar, I saw a purplish little dot swinging a golden “mouth piece”.

  56. Jumping spider (Simaetha sp.) - DSC_3293
  57. Jumping spider (Simaetha sp.)

    Turned out to be one of the beautiful genera of jumping spiders that I had been looking for! The pictures don’t do it justice, you need to see the spider with your own eyes!

  58. Giant shield bug (Tessaratomidae) with cordyceps fungus - DSC_3316
  59. Giant shield bug (Tessaratomidae) with cordyceps fungus

    We also found MANY dead shield bugs infected by cordyceps fungus. Most had cordyceps fungus of different shapes growing out from the abdomen. This was unique as it had 3 sticking out.

  60. Giant shield bug (Tessaratomidae) with cordyceps fungus - DSC_3330
  61. Giant shield bug (Tessaratomidae) with cordyceps fungus

    This one was much thicker.

  62. Giant shield bug (Tessaratomidae) with cordyceps fungus - DSC_3336
  63. Giant shield bug (Tessaratomidae) with cordyceps fungus

    The shield bug’s wings appear to be gone, revealing the colourful abdomen.

  64. Giant shield bug (Tessaratomidae) with cordyceps fungus - DSC_3339
  65. Giant shield bug (Tessaratomidae) with cordyceps fungus

    Closer look on the blue-red stripes.

  66. Giant shield bug (Tessaratomidae) with cordyceps fungus - DSC_3347
  67. Giant shield bug (Tessaratomidae) with cordyceps fungus

    Took shots of almost every angle that I could think of.

  68. Huntsman spider (Heteropoda sp.) - DSC_3349
  69. Huntsman spider (Heteropoda sp.)

    There were many huntsman spiders on the tree trunks and even at the rest benches.

  70. Trashline orb web spider (Cyclosa sp.) - DSC_3350
  71. Trashline orb web spider (Cyclosa sp.)

    Spot the spider!

  72. Trashline orb web spider (Cyclosa sp.) - DSC_3352
  73. Trashline orb web spider (Cyclosa sp.)

    Closer look at the orb-weaver.

  74. Trashline orb web spider (Cyclosa sp.) - DSC_3355
  75. Trashline orb web spider (Cyclosa sp.)

    Possibly C. bifida but could be anything else.

  76. Ant (Formicidae) with cordyceps fungus - DSC_3358
  77. Ant (Formicidae) with cordyceps fungus

    The shield bugs were not the only ones infected with cordyceps fungus.

  78. Ant (Formicidae) with cordyceps fungus - DSC_3405
  79. Ant (Formicidae) with cordyceps fungus

    Adjusted the angle of the branch a little, and a brighter background was achieved.

  80. Wasp sharing a meal with ant - DSC_3413
  81. Wasp sharing a meal with ant

    Another scene that attracted our attention! Gathering of 3 different predators, but the poor orthopteran was at the bottom of this food chain.

  82. DSC_3421
  83. DSC_3421

    There were lots of these ants around and they were ignored initially, until I noticed a slower moving one that looked… blue!

  84. Golden blue ant (Polyrhachis sp.) - DSC_3429
  85. Golden blue ant (Polyrhachis sp.)

    True enough, the abdomen was blue with a golden head and thorax.

  86. Golden blue ant (Polyrhachis sp.) - DSC_3436
  87. Golden blue ant (Polyrhachis sp.)

    Dorsal view shows the spines.

  88. Katydid (Tettigoniidae) - DSC_3440
  89. Katydid (Tettigoniidae)

    There were some katydid nymphs.

  90. Assassin bug (Reduviidae) - DSC_3444
  91. Assassin bug (Reduviidae)

    We found this assassin bug devouring a winged ant on the bridge railings.

  92. Assassin bug (Reduviidae) - DSC_3450
  93. Assassin bug (Reduviidae)

    There were limited angles but managed to get a lateral view.

  94. Jumping spider (Simaetha sp.) - DSC_3454
  95. Jumping spider (Simaetha sp.)

    Found another Simaetha, this was slightly smaller!

  96. Shield bug? (Pentatomidae?) - DSC_3461
  97. Shield bug? (Pentatomidae?)

    Looked dead, with the discoloured eyes.

  98. Orb web spider (Neoscona sp.) - DSC_3465
  99. Orb web spider (Neoscona sp.)

    Many of the orb-weaving spiders were hiding in various dead leaves, coming out on their orb webs only at night.

  100. Fish hook ant (Polyrhachis ypsilon) - DSC_3471
  101. Fish hook ant (Polyrhachis ypsilon)

    Found several fish hook ants, but they were moving non-stop!

  102. Fish hook ant (Polyrhachis ypsilon) - DSC_3477
  103. Fish hook ant (Polyrhachis ypsilon)

    Traced one of them that paused for a while, long enough to take some record shots.

  104. Fish hook ant (Polyrhachis ypsilon) - DSC_3481
  105. Fish hook ant (Polyrhachis ypsilon)

    Dorsal view shows the petiole spines wider apart, compared to P. bihamata

  106. Froghopper (Cercopidae) - DSC_3484
  107. Froghopper (Cercopidae)

    Don’t see froghoppers much in Singapore, these were certainly more brightly coloured!

  108. Froghopper (Cercopidae) - DSC_3487
  109. Froghopper (Cercopidae)

    Better view of the wing venation.

  110. Huntsman spider in fungus (Heteropoda sp.) - DSC_3493
  111. Huntsman spider in fungus (Heteropoda sp.)

    As we left the botanic gardens, a large huntsman spider engulfed in fungus was found dangling from a tree.

  112. Huntsman spider in fungus (Heteropoda sp.) - DSC_3509
  113. Huntsman spider in fungus (Heteropoda sp.)

    Quite likely to be H. boiei.

  114. Huntsman spider in fungus (Heteropoda sp.) - DSC_3519
  115. Huntsman spider in fungus (Heteropoda sp.)

    Wide-angle attempt with fill flash. Need to try a non-fisheye next time to avoid the distortion.

  116. We rested in the late afternoon and went to town to restock our groceries and have our dinner. Had extra rice in order to have the energy to last the night! =D

    Night walk in the botanical gardens

    Made special arrangements to enter the gardens at night, and it was littered with many interesting finds! Jeff and another staff joined us for this walk.

    Leafhopper (Cicadellidae) - DSC_3521
  117. Leafhopper (Cicadellidae)

    This leafhopper looked similar to the ones in Singapore, except for the white patches on the anterior region.

  118. Leafhopper (Cicadellidae) - DSC_3525
  119. Leafhopper (Cicadellidae)

    Would always shoot the tibial spines. 🙂

  120. Derbid planthopper (Derbidae) - DSC_3529
  121. Derbid planthopper (Derbidae)

    This derbid planthopper was plain looking, but broader than most that I’ve seen before.

  122. Stick insect (Phasmatodea) - DSC_3534
  123. Stick insect (Phasmatodea)

    One of the many spiny stick insects.

  124. Stick insect (Phasmatodea) - DSC_3535
  125. Stick insect (Phasmatodea)

    This had a cute little heart shape.

  126. Stick insect (Phasmatodea) - DSC_3537
  127. Stick insect (Phasmatodea)

    Lateral view.

  128. Planthopper (Penthicodes sp.) - DSC_3540
  129. Planthopper (Penthicodes sp.)

    Found this fulgorid planthopper off the trail, looks close to the one we see in Singapore but this was much darker, possibly faded.

  130. Planthopper (Penthicodes sp.) - DSC_3542
  131. Planthopper (Penthicodes sp.)

    Dorsal view.

  132. Stick insects (Phasmatodea) - DSC_3549
  133. Stick insects (Phasmatodea)

    Found a lovely pair of mating stick insects!

  134. Lantern bug (Pyrops whiteheadi) - DSC_3551
  135. Lantern bug (Pyrops whiteheadi)

    This lantern bug was found way above eye level, but with live view, I was able to get a record shot.

  136. Beetle - DSC_3553
  137. Beetle

    Unidentified beetle.

  138. Stick insect (Phasmatodea) - DSC_3555
  139. Stick insect (Phasmatodea)

    Probably the same species of stick insect as the mating pair earlier.

  140. Stick insect (Phasmatodea) - DSC_3556
  141. Stick insect (Phasmatodea)

    Lateral view.

  142. Long-legged sac spider (Miturgidae) - DSC_3557
  143. Long-legged sac spider (Miturgidae)

    These spiders were commonly hiding under leaves.

  144. Long-legged sac spider (Miturgidae) - DSC_3559
  145. Long-legged sac spider (Miturgidae)

    Obviously a boy…

  146. Long-legged sac spider (Miturgidae) - DSC_3565
  147. Long-legged sac spider (Miturgidae)

    Closer look at the eye arrangement.

  148. Huntsman spider (Sparassidae) - DSC_3568
  149. Huntsman spider (Sparassidae)

    The huntsman spiders were out in action in the night.

  150. Katydid (Tettigoniidae) - DSC_3570
  151. Katydid (Tettigoniidae)

    Several katydids were spotted, and this one was huge!

  152. Katydid (Tettigoniidae) - DSC_3571
  153. Katydid (Tettigoniidae)

    Dorsal view. Not sure if the black spot meant anything.

  154. Lynx spider (Hamadruas sp.) - DSC_3572
  155. Lynx spider (Hamadruas sp.)

    Found the same lovely lynx spider that we saw in the day.

  156. Lynx spider (Hamadruas sp.) - DSC_3574
  157. Lynx spider (Hamadruas sp.)

    Generally quite cooperative to get a quick shot of the eyes.

  158. Cicada (Cicadidae) - DSC_3576
  159. Cicada (Cicadidae)

    Large cicada with greenish blue eyes. Couldn’t fit the frame even with Raynox 150.

  160. Cicada (Cicadidae) - DSC_3581
  161. Cicada (Cicadidae)

    Full view of the cicada.

  162. Cicada (Cicadidae) - DSC_3583
  163. Cicada (Cicadidae)

    And close up on the eyes!

  164. Tree trunk spider (Nephilengys sp.) - DSC_3587
  165. Tree trunk spider (Nephilengys sp.)

    This spider is typically found on tree trunk depressions.

  166. Moss mantis nymph (Haania sp.) - DSC_3590
  167. Moss mantis nymph (Haania sp.)

    A moss mantis nymph, the mossy patterns are not distinct yet.

  168. Moss mantis nymph (Haania sp.) - DSC_3607
  169. Moss mantis nymph (Haania sp.)

    Still a fascinating outline for a mantis!

  170. Big-jawed spiders (Tetragnathidae) - DSC_3609
  171. Big-jawed spiders (Tetragnathidae)

    Found this pair of tetragnathids mating under a leaf.

  172. Big-jawed spiders (Tetragnathidae) - DSC_3610
  173. Big-jawed spiders (Tetragnathidae)

    Lateral view shows the palpal organ inserted into the epigyne.

  174. Centipede (Scolopendra) - DSC_3616
  175. Centipede (Scolopendra)

    Didn’t see many centipedes around, this one was relatively quiet.

  176. Dwarf toad (Pelophryne sp.) - DSC_3617
  177. Dwarf toad (Pelophryne sp.)

    The usual sighting of frogs!

  178. Dwarf toad (Pelophryne sp.) - DSC_3618
  179. Dwarf toad (Pelophryne sp.)

    Not sure of ID for this one though.

  180. Orb web spider (Gibbaranea sp.) - DSC_3623
  181. Orb web spider (Gibbaranea sp.)

    Odd looking orb-weaver, first time seeing this genus.

  182. Orb web spider (Eriovixia sp.) - DSC_3637
  183. Orb web spider (Eriovixia sp.)

    One of the most common orb-weavers around! The males tend to be more colourful.

  184. Katydid (Tettigoniidae) - DSC_3638
  185. Katydid (Tettigoniidae)

    Saw this stunning katydid nymph, dorsal view does not do it justice.

  186. Katydid (Tettigoniidae) - DSC_3648
  187. Katydid (Tettigoniidae)

    The premature wings can be seen from the lateral view.

  188. Five bar swordtail (Graphium antiphates) - DSC_3654
  189. Five bar swordtail (Graphium antiphates)

    Also saw a sleeping five bar swordtail!

  190. Dead leaf grasshopper (Trigonopterygidae) - DSC_3664
  191. Dead leaf grasshopper (Trigonopterygidae)

    Dennis was particularly excited at spotting 4 different species of leaf-mimic grasshoppers. I only took photos of some as I was getting distracted by other creatures. 😛

  192. Dead leaf grasshopper (Trigonopterygidae) - DSC_3666
  193. Dead leaf grasshopper (Trigonopterygidae)

    Here’s the brown morph.

  194. Grasshopper (Caelifera) - DSC_3667
  195. Grasshopper (Caelifera)

    Interesting colour combination of yellow and black.

  196. Dead leaf mantis (Deroplatys sp.) - DSC_3669
  197. Dead leaf mantis (Deroplatys sp.)

    Looks very much like Deroplatys but I’m not sure. The rest excitedly mistook it for a flower mantis until we had a closer look. Nevertheless, a beautiful specimen!

  198. Dead leaf mantis (Deroplatys sp.) - DSC_3674
  199. Dead leaf mantis (Deroplatys sp.)

    View of its back with the abdomen flipped over.

  200. Dead leaf mantis (Deroplatys sp.) - DSC_3675
  201. Dead leaf mantis (Deroplatys sp.)

    It didn’t stop moving, but it also meant that there were many different poses to shoot!

  202. Dead leaf mantis (Deroplatys sp.) - DSC_3677
  203. Dead leaf mantis (Deroplatys sp.)

    Kept walking and walking…

  204. Dead leaf mantis (Deroplatys sp.) - DSC_3678
  205. Dead leaf mantis (Deroplatys sp.)

    Stopped for a brief moment, and I quickly snapped a portrait.

  206. Dead leaf mantis (Deroplatys sp.) - DSC_3682
  207. Dead leaf mantis (Deroplatys sp.)

    View from below…

  208. Dead leaf mantis (Deroplatys sp.) - DSC_3691
  209. Dead leaf mantis (Deroplatys sp.)

    Pushing my luck as I took another portrait before letting it go back into hiding.

  210. Orb web spider (Gibbaranea sp.) - DSC_3694
  211. Orb web spider (Gibbaranea sp.)

    Another sighting of this spider!

  212. Orange huntsman spider (Sparassidae) - DSC_3697
  213. Orange huntsman spider (Sparassidae)

    I was the last to shoot this orange huntsman spider, but missed it sharing a meal with a harvestman.

  214. Orange huntsman spider (Sparassidae) - DSC_3701
  215. Orange huntsman spider (Sparassidae)

    It disappeared into the forest litter, and took me very long to get it back out!

  216. Orange huntsman spider (Sparassidae) - DSC_3703
  217. Orange huntsman spider (Sparassidae)

    Really large and beautiful creature.

  218. Orange huntsman spider (Sparassidae) - DSC_3710
  219. Orange huntsman spider (Sparassidae)

    Close up on its eyes!

  220. Cuckoo wasp (Loboscelidia sp.) - DSC_3717
  221. Cuckoo wasp (Loboscelidia sp.)

    Shot one of this in Singapore recently, and lucky enough to see it again.

  222. Cuckoo wasp (Loboscelidia sp.) - DSC_3721
  223. Cuckoo wasp (Loboscelidia sp.)

    Lateral view.

  224. Stick insect (Phasmatodea) - DSC_3727
  225. Stick insect (Phasmatodea)

    Stick insect nymph, much cuter than the giant spiky stuff. 😛

  226. Green hawk moth (Daphnis sp.?) - DSC_3731
  227. Green hawk moth (Daphnis sp.?)

    Amber spotted this hawk moth at rest.

  228. Green hawk moth (Daphnis sp.?) - DSC_3732
  229. Green hawk moth (Daphnis sp.?)

    Just happily dangling away.

  230. Green hawk moth (Daphnis sp.?) - DSC_3737
  231. Green hawk moth (Daphnis sp.?)

    Catching a glimpse of the eyes from above.

  232. Earwig (Dermaptera) - DSC_3740
  233. Earwig (Dermaptera)

    Long “fork” spotted on this earwig.

  234. Huntsman spider (Sparassidae) - DSC_3745
  235. Huntsman spider (Sparassidae) or wall crab spider (Selenopidae)

    Still confused over the family of this spider…

  236. Giant shield bug (Tessaratomidae) - DSC_3749
  237. Giant shield bug (Tessaratomidae)

    Wrinkly looking shield bug. Wondering if the adults look very different.

  238. Beetle - DSC_3753
  239. Beetle

    Interesting looking beetle, yet to find out what this is. Reminds me of some cerambycids that I’ve seen before.

  240. Beetle - DSC_3755
  241. Beetle

    Lateral view.

  242. Planthopper (Fulgoromorpha) - DSC_3760
  243. Planthopper (Fulgoromorpha)

    Inconspicuous planthopper, but quite a pretty one!

  244. Katydid (Tettigoniidae) - DSC_3770
  245. Katydid (Tettigoniidae)

    Lovely katydid “unflattened” itself.

  246. Katydid (Tettigoniidae) - DSC_3773
  247. Katydid (Tettigoniidae)

    Placed my flash behind to shine through the wings.

  248. Planthopper nymph (Fulgoromorpha) - DSC_3779
  249. Planthopper nymph (Fulgoromorpha)

    Bushy tailed planthopper nymph.

  250. Planthopper nymph (Fulgoromorpha) - DSC_3786
  251. Planthopper nymph (Fulgoromorpha)

    Challenging to get shots of the face, but always rewarding.

  252. Orb web spider (Eriovixia sp.) - DSC_3788
  253. Orb web spider (Eriovixia sp.)

    Quite a few of these male orb-weavers.

  254. Beetles - DSC_3794
  255. Beetles

    Same beetle as above, but mating!

  256. Beetles - DSC_3795
  257. Beetles

    Lateral view.

  258. Darkling beetle (Tenebrionidae) - DSC_3802
  259. Darkling beetle (Tenebrionidae)

    The tiny pimple-sized beetles that nobody wanted to shoot.

  260. Darkling beetle (Tenebrionidae) - DSC_3807
  261. Darkling beetle (Tenebrionidae)

    The green on this tenebrionid is striking, unlike those we see in Singapore.

  262. Darkling beetle (Tenebrionidae) - DSC_3812
  263. Darkling beetle (Tenebrionidae)

    Close up on the eyes.

  264. Ground spider (Zodariidae) - DSC_3813
  265. Ground spider (Zodariidae)

    Saw a few ground spiders resting on low-lying leaves.

  266. Winged ant (Crematogaster sp.) - DSC_3816
  267. Winged ant (Crematogaster sp.)

    As we returned to the cabins, Amber and I stopped by the lamp posts to check out the bugs attracted to the light. This winged ant looked a little dead.

  268. Winged ant (Crematogaster sp.) - DSC_3818
  269. Winged ant (Crematogaster sp.)

    Kow tow…

  270. Mayfly (Ephemeroptera) - DSC_3820
  271. Mayfly (Ephemeroptera)

    There were MANY mayflies!

  272. Mayfly (Ephemeroptera) - DSC_3822
  273. Mayfly (Ephemeroptera)

    And quite a few variations too.

  274. Mayfly (Ephemeroptera) - DSC_3825
  275. Mayfly (Ephemeroptera)

    Just decided to take shots of a few of them.

  276. Nursery web spider (Pisauridae) - DSC_3828
  277. Nursery web spider (Pisauridae)

    Once in a while, a spider crept up.

  278. Nursery web spider (Pisauridae) - DSC_3831
  279. Nursery web spider (Pisauridae)

    Just going to shoot everything I see!

  280. Longhorn orb web spider (Macracantha arcuata) - DSC_3834
  281. Longhorn orb web spider (Macracantha arcuata)

    Amber found this longhorn orb-weaver just opposite the lamp post.

  282. Longhorn orb web spider (Macracantha arcuata) - DSC_3851
  283. Longhorn orb web spider (Macracantha arcuata)

    Flipped the leaves over and managed some decent shots of this bizarre spider.

  284. Longhorn orb web spider (Macracantha arcuata) - DSC_3862
  285. Longhorn orb web spider (Macracantha arcuata)

    Closer view of the abdomen.

  286. Derbid planthopper (Derbidae) - DSC_3868
  287. Derbid planthopper (Derbidae)

    The lamp post had all sorts of bugs, this particular derbid had blue and red markings on the wings!

  288. Mayfly (Ephemeroptera) - DSC_3871
  289. Mayfly (Ephemeroptera)

    One of the things we look for in mayflies are these “cupcake” eyes!

  290. Mayfly (Ephemeroptera) - DSC_3874
  291. Mayfly (Ephemeroptera)

    Some “cupcakes” are narrow and tall.

  292. Mayfly (Ephemeroptera) - DSC_3890
  293. Mayfly (Ephemeroptera)

    They just looked ridiculously cute~

  294. Mayfly (Ephemeroptera) - DSC_3880
  295. Mayfly (Ephemeroptera)

    Last mayfly shot of the night!

The mayflies kept me up til at least 2am while some of us crashed earlier. Hopefully I’d have enough energy to bug through the other 3 days!

The complete album for this day’s findings can be viewed on Flickr.

Remember to check out the other posts for this trip from the links below! If you are interested in the smaller wildlife of Borneo with the guide of an experienced macro photographer, check out the upcoming Borneo Bootcamp. It is not to be missed!

Tawau Hills 2015: [ Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 ]

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NICKY BAY
Singapore

Hi my name is Nicky Bay. I am a macro photographer, instructor and book author, travelling the world to document the vast micro biodiversity that nature has to offer. Follow my updates and discover with me the incredible beauty and science behind our planet's micro creatures!

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