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Singapore is home to a number of bioluminescent fungi. Out of over 148000 known species of fungi across the world, over 70 of them are known to exhibit bioluminescence. All known luminescent species are white-rot fungi, which means that it breaks down lignin in wood. Lignin is responsible for…
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Cross orb weaver spiders from the genus Argiope Audouin, 1826 have some of the most common names tagged to them, namely Cross Spiders, Zig-Zag Spiders, Signature Spiders, Silver-Faced Spiders, St. Andrew’s Cross Spiders, etc. There were always exceptions to the common name within the genus, so I settled for…
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Comb-footed spiders from the family Theridiidae Sundevall, 1833 are small spiders, but it is one of the largest family of spiders living in tree canopies. The “comb”, or serrated bristles on tarsi IV gives the spiders in this family its common name. While some theridiids construct three-dimensional webs or…
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Spiders of the family Archaeidae are also known as pelican spiders or assassin spiders. They really don’t look like any typical spider, and should be really high on any spider enthusiast’s must-see list. The Pelican Pelican spiders have a grotesquely elongated and tubular carapace that is slightly swollen at the apex,…
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2020 is not a normal year by any measure. With varying degrees of lockdowns happening across the globe due to COVID-19, way fewer field trips were made and we saw photographers spending more time exploring their gardens and the microfauna around their homes. Were there fewer finds? Yes, but…
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Sulawesi shrimps are small, tropical shrimps endemic to the ancient lake systems in Sulawesi, one of the 4 Greater Sunda Islands, also the 11th largest island in the world. They are immensely popular in the shrimp-keeping hobby due to their vibrant colours and ability to thrive in warm temperatures….
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Leafhoppers from the family Cicadellidae are little plant feeders with modified hind legs for jumping. One of the most distinctive traits of this family would be the row of tibial spines on the hind legs. Many species of Cicadellidae can be quite colourful with overtly loud patterns, making some…
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Huntsman spiders from the family Sparassidae Bertkau, 1872 are nocturnal hunters. They don’t weave webs nor wait in ambush, but actively move about to hunt down their prey. Due to their size and laterigrade (directed to the side) legs, they are also called giant crab spiders in some regions….
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Jumping spiders from the family Salticidae Blackwall, 1841 are active hunting predators. Based on the World Spider Catalog, Salticidae has over 600 described genera and 6000 described species (and still counting), making it the largest family of spiders in the world based on number of described species. One of the…
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Over the past few months, pre-production copies of the new Laowa 50mm 2:1 F/2.8 Super Macro Lens for Micro Four Thirds (MFT or M4/3) had been going around among some M4/3 macro photographers. With COVID-19 lock-downs happening across the globe, there weren’t any photos taken in the field with…
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Daddy-long-legs spiders or cellar spiders from the family Pholcidae C. L. Koch, 1850 are very often confused with other invertebrates with the same common name, such as harvestmen (Opiliones) and crane flies (Tipulidae). Checklist This page consists of a personal checklist of all Daddy-Long-Legs Spiders (Pholcidae) that I’ve encountered over the…
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Ants are fascinating, eusocial insects belonging to the family Formicidae and have captured the imagination of humans for centuries. With over 12,000 species known to science, these tiny insects have been recorded on every continent on Earth except Antarctica. Ants thrive so well in most environments that they may…
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Froghoppers from the superfamily Cercopoidea are also known as spittlebugs. They are best known for encasing themselves with a foam fortress during their nymphal stages, presumably for defense. Despite the name spittlebug, the foam is not created by spittle, but by its urine. Yes, they smother themselves with their…
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Orb weaver spiders from the family Araneidae Clerck, 1757 belong to the most morphologically diverse group of spiders. Almost all spiders from the family Araneidae build vertical orb webs. There are some exceptions with modified orb webs, inclined orb webs, or just radically different webs. Despite the variations, they…
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Lantern bugs or lanternflies are some of the most colourful and enigmatic subjects in the realm of macro photography. They belong to the Fulgoridae family, with the most distinct ones in Southeast Asia belonging to the genus Pyrops. Despite the common name, it is a myth that lantern bugs…
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Crab spiders from the family Thomisidae Sundevall,1833 are ambush predators and do not weave webs. The first two pairs of legs are typically longer and stronger, often armed with spines for grappling prey. Checklist This page consists of a personal checklist of all Crab Spiders (Thomisidae) that I’ve encountered over the…
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!
