Oct 25, 2010

Chilasa clytia butterfly

Chilasa clytia, a common tropical butterfly found in Borneo. If not for the gloomy weather, the photo shoot would be perfect. The Chilasa clytia was just perching still on a flower and the air was still. A steady shot but lighting was a let down.

Chilasa clytia common tropical butterfly
About a foot away in normal macro mode (not zero macro).

Chilasa clytia common tropical butterfly
I think the photo above is about 5x lens zoom.

Chilasa clytia common tropical butterfly
A normal shot.

See my Flickr gallery as well for more tropical butterflies.

Oct 22, 2010

Dead Huntsman Spider

Photo of a dead Huntsman spider.

Dead Huntsman Spider

Recommended reading:
* Wasp spider of Borneo - Argiope bruennichi

Oct 20, 2010

Borneo Red Ants

Red ants or fire ants from Borneo.

Borneo Red Ants

Borneo Red Ants

The bodies of fire ants, like all insects' bodies, are broken up into three sections: the head, the thorax, and the abdomen, with three pairs of legs and a pair of antennae. Fire ants can be distinguished from other ants by their copper brown head and body with a darker abdomen. The worker ants are blackish to reddish, and their size varies from 2mm to 6 mm (0.12 in to 0.24 in). These different sizes of the ants can all exist in the same nest.

Recommended photos:
* Macro photos of red fire ants

Oct 14, 2010

Setora fletcheri slug caterpillar

Photo of a maroon spiky Setora fletcheri slug caterpillar. The slug caterpillar's decoration is not just for show. At any sign of danger, each cluster of spines blooms into a bristly sphere. Glands at the base of the spines produce venom rich in histamines--liquid peril for any would-be attacker.

Setora fletcheri slug caterpillar

Setora fletcheri showing warning coloration and spines loaded with toxins that erect when the slug is disturbed.

Photo shot at JP Jaban farm, 14th Mile Kuching Serian Road.

Oct 12, 2010

Baccaurea angulata - Belimbing Merah

Baccaurea angulata is a tropical wild fruit indigenous to Borneo. Baccaurea angulata is also known locally as Belimbing Merah, Belimbing Bukit, Gerumin Bereh (Bidayuh), Tampoi Merah, Uchong (Iban) or Belimbing hutan.

Baccaurea angulata - Belimbing Merah

Elsewhere, this fruit is also called as Embaling (Sabah), Embaling bobou (Brunei) and Asem ketiak, pidau (Kalimantan).

Baccaurea angulata - Belimbing Merah

Baccaurea angulata is also close relative of the Starfruit (Averrhoa carambola). Some may called it Red Angle Starfruit.

Baccaurea angulata - Belimbing Merah

The Baccaurea angulata fruits have a tangy taste, both the aril and the skin. A seasonal fruit which is often seen from November to January, sold by roadside sellers and in native fruit and vege markets.

Baccaurea angulata - Belimbing Merah

Ripen Baccaurea angulata are either in red or pinkish.

Baccaurea angulata - Belimbing Merah

And when the season come, Baccaurea angulata is very generous with its fruits. The fruits are borne from the trunk and branches. Plentiful of them.

Baccaurea angulata - Belimbing Merah

Baccaurea angulata may reach 8 m tall, profusely branched. Flowers (yellow) and fruits (red) colourful so may be planted as an ornamental. Fruits are angular and inside is white, juicy, sourish-sweet edible pulp.

Oct 6, 2010

Yellow Black Polka Dot Caterpillar

A photo of tiny yellow caterpillar will black dots.

Yellow Black Polka Dot Caterpillar
Note: Photo was cropped.

Recommended reading:
* Photo collection of Tropical caterpillars

Oct 4, 2010

Macadamia Integrifolia Nuts

I get to hold a box of Macadamia Integrifolia Nuts, freshly flown from Hawaii. Would you believe it? Macadamia Integrifolia Nuts in Malaysia. And no, the nuts will not be roasted but destined to a nursery. Hawaii is the largest producer of Macadamia nuts.

Macadamia Integrifolia Nuts Malaysia

Macadamia nuts (Macadamia integrifolia) are dry drupes containing a very hard seed-bearing endocarp. According to most botanical references, the outer husk represents part of the ovary wall or pericarp.

Macadamia Integrifolia Nuts Malaysia

They are small to large evergreen trees growing to 2–12 m tall. The leaves are arranged in whorls of three to six, lanceolate to obovate or elliptical in shape, 6–30 cm long and 2–13 cm broad, with an entire or spiny-serrated margin. The flowers are produced in a long slender simple raceme 5–30 cm long, the individual flowers 10–15 mm long, white to pink or purple, with four tepals. The fruit is a very hard woody globose follicle with a pointed apex, containing one or two seeds.

Macadamia Integrifolia Nuts Malaysia

The nuts are a valuable food crop. Only two of the species, Macadamia integrifolia and Macadamia tetraphylla, are of commercial importance. The remainder of the genus possess poisonous and/or inedible nuts, such as M. whelanii and M. ternifolia; the toxicity is due to the presence of cyanogenic glycosides.

Macadamia Integrifolia Nuts Malaysia

Macadamia tree cultivation and processing

The macadamia tree is usually propagated by grafting, and does not begin to produce commercial quantities of nuts until it is 7–10 years old, but once established, may continue bearing for over 100 years. The macadamia nut has an extremely hard shell, but can be cracked using a blunt instrument, such as a hammer or rock applied with some force to the nut sitting in a concave surface, or a custom made macadamia nutcracker can be used.

Macadamia Nuts in the Diet Lower Cholesterol

How many times have you said, "nuts to the diet." Well now perhaps it should be "nuts in the diet." It seems that macadamia nuts may be a good addition to the daily diet, particularly if you want to reduce blood cholesterol levels. Macadamia nuts like all non-animal foods contain no cholesterol. But they are remarkable in the fact that their fat contains over 86% monounsaturated fatty acids. The average macadamia nut will also add about 18 calories to your diet. Oil from the macadamia nut is used in the cosmetic industry because of similarities between the nut oil and human skin.

Recommended link:
* Fruits Called Nuts
* HAWAII MACADAMIA NUT ASSOCIATION

Oct 2, 2010

Agarwood Aquilaria Crassna Saplings

Young Agarwood saplings between 3 to 4 inches in height and about one month old. The Agarwood species is of Aquilaria crassna, a resinous heartwood, used for perfume and incense. The resin is produced by the tree in response to infection by a parasitic ascomycetous mould, Phaeoacremonium parasitica, a dematiaceous (dark-walled) fungus.



When the Agarwood saplings reach the height of 3 to 4 inches, it can be transplanted into bags.



Photo taken at a nursery at 13th Mile Kuching-Serian road, just after the rain.

Agarwood is also locally known as Gaharu.

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