Wong Kais observed an Asian glossy starling (Aplonis panayensis) feeding on salam fruits (Syzygium polyanthum) on 22 October 2015. The salam tree has profuse fruits at different stages of ripening around the month of October each year. Different kinds of … Continued
A lone Asian honey bee (Apis cerana) was observed flitting in between fresh blooms of pigeon orchid (Dendrobium crumenatum) flowers on 19 December 2021. A very short video of the bee in action is captured in the video below. … Continued
I have often seen this tree but not appreciated its value to birds. I have not been able to identify it and appreciate any ideas/support. It is a tree that grows as part of secondary forest and prefers good sun. … Continued
Gold-whiskered Barbet eating the fruit. The Malayan Teak (Vitex pinnata) or local name ‘Leban’ is a native tree of South-East Asia. It is slow growing, can grow up to 25 metres tall and prefers good sunlight. It is an important bird … Continued
The Bottle Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) belongs to the cucumber family Cucurbitaceae. It is a strong climber with large heart-shaped leaves (above). The plant bears male and female flowers on slender stalks. The female flowers are differentiated from the male by … Continued
“The weaver ant (Oecophylla smaragdina) is probably the most common species of arboreal ant in tropical Asia and Australia. In Kerala, India, nests of these ants are found in almost all broad leaved-trees especially during the post monsoon and summer … Continued
The Bottle Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) leaves attract aphids (Superfamily: Aphidoidea) that gather on the undersurface to feed on the plant sap (video below). As these tiny insects suck up the plant sap, excess sap is excreted from the anus as … Continued
The Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia) is a slender climber (above). Like other members of the cucumber family (Cucurbitaceae), the flowers are unisexual (below). Male and female flowers of the Bitter Gourd are found on the same plant. As implied by … Continued
I have always been observing bees visiting my Bush Grape (Cayratia mollissima) plants in the evenings. What I observed was that the Dwarf Honey Bees (Apis andreniformis) were busy collecting nectar from the flowers. Their proboscis was always probing the … Continued
Kimosabe commented in an earlier post that he fondly remembers the delicious dish of Katuday flowers and leaves that he sampled years ago in Malaysia. The dish was spicy and lemak, cooked with curry powder and coconut milk. Thanks to … Continued
