Search

Spiderhunter stealing nectar from durian flowers

on 30th November 2011

Cave nectar bats (Eonycteris spelaea) are the main pollinating agent of the durian (Durio zibethinus) (Tomlinson, 1999). These bats are active at night and feed on the durian’s flowers. An earlier post LINK reports on the Common Red-bellied squirrel, also known as Plantain Squirrel (Callosciurus notatus), as another pollinating agent. Just like the bat, this squirrel also eats the flowers.

Recently, Tan Teo Seng, who owns a fruit farm in Kota Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia, mentioned that Prof. Cheong Loong Fah spotted a spiderhunter (Arachnothera sp.) through his binoculars feeding on the nectar of the durian. Loong Fah, an avid naturalist, confirmed this, adding that he could not recall the species of spiderhunter. “The only thing that I remember is that it is not a Little Spiderhunter (Arachnothera longirostra), and that it was “stealing” nectar from the side of the flower.”

Prof Cheong Loong Fah & Tan Teo Seng
Singapore
November 2011
Images by YC Wee: left durian flowers, right fruits.

Reference:
Tomlinson, P. B. (1999). The botany of mangroves. Cambridge University Press, UK.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

One Response

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories
Archives

Overall visits (since 2005)

Live visitors
623
8553
Visitors Today
51620508
Total
Visitors

Clustrmaps (since 2016)