The most western part of sarawak river basin

[kuching]

West of Bau area is the waterhead of some tributaries of Sungai Sarawak. That area is less than 3km (estimate) from the waterhead of Batang Kayan basin. My initial plan was to survey & compare the fishes from the streams of waterhead of Sungai Sarawak & Batang Kayan. However, I need to cut the trip short after ascending to the summit of a hill which separate these two river basin. I was almost dehydrated when I reached the summit of that hot & dry hill as I forgot to bring my water container. It was a worst deforested site that only small trees, shrubs & ferns growing along the abandoned logging road.



more on this link:



http://www.ibanorum.netfirms.com/undanmenu.htm

[kuching]

This river is one of the tributaries of Sungai Sarawak located in the most western part of the basin.





The water is crystal clear and the main substrate is sand. Water PH is 6.5 and water temperature is 26 degree Celsius.




Rasbora sarawakensis. This species is named after Sarawak state of Malaysia.






Rasbora caudimaculata

[kuching]

Puntius everetti. Common name is Clown barb.






Puntius kuchingensis. This species of barb named after Kuching, capital city of Sarawak.





There are more than 30 species of pitcher plant (Nepenthes spp.) in Borneo. New species is described by scientist/researcher almost every one or two year !!! Borneo is the center of bio-diversity for pitcher plant of the genus called Nepenthes.






In this hill (see picture below) is a disturbed Kerangas (/health) forest. In the past, forests were cleared for logging and agriculture purpose. The soil is poor in nutrient. Not many species of flora manage to grow in this dry land except pitcher plant. Pitcher plant is found abundantly here in this hot & dry land !!!

[kuching]

The act of irresponsible people. Human is really good in destroying mother earth. All the trees in this area were gone since long time ago except some in the summit area.






Nepenthes albomarginata.





Nepenthes ampullaria.






Inflorescence of Nepenthes ampullaria. An ant is looking for nectar of the male flowers.

[kuching]

Nepenthes gracilis.






Nepenthes hirsuta. (Found at summit area, about 1000 feet from sea level)







Nepenthes mirabilis.







Nepenthes rafflesiana. In order to show the sense of scale, my hand is holding the giant pitcher of Nepenthes rafflesiana. This lower pitcher of Nepenthes rafflesiana is at least 20cm tall !!!!

[kuching]

Nepenthes x kuchingensis. (natural hybrid between Nepenthes ampullaria and Nepenthes mirabilis)






Terrestrial orchid, Bromheadia finlaysoniana. This species is more common above 500 feet. Bamboo orchid, Arundina graminifolia is found abundantly below 500 feet.







A patch of terrestrial orchid, Bromheadia finlaysoniana. The mountain on the background is Gunung Undan

[kuching]

Water spider at the water edge. (Probably Pirata sp. ) It preys on water insect, tadpole & crustacean







Weevil. (family name=Curculionidae)

[hwchoy]

will you also post over at the gardening kopitiam or you want me to do it for you? note they have moved again, read the sticky.

[kuching]

will you also post over at the gardening kopitiam or you want me to do it for you? note they have moved again, read the sticky.

u posted for me lah.

[kuching]

New species of Ariod, Schismatoglottis jipomii. This species growing abundantly on the rocky surface near the water edge of the mountain stream.

[hwchoy]

u posted for me lah.

OK loh. when are you opening your Ulu Hutan Tour Agency, that forum sure a lot of customer for you

[kuching]

OK loh. when are you opening your Ulu Hutan Tour Agency, that forum sure a lot of customer for you

ha!ha!

[ranmasatome]

That is one nice curculionid!!

[kuching]

That is one nice curculionid!!

yup....too bad it died before i reached home....

i got problem to open its legs wide (shrink??)....should I inject hot water into its body in order to open the legs??? (to make preserved specimen)

[Simon]

very nice series you got there michael, really nice to see that there is someone like yourself who likes every bit of nature

[kuching]

very nice series you got there michael, really nice to see that there is someone like yourself who likes every bit of nature

Thanks for viewing my pictures.

[ranmasatome]

yup....too bad it died before i reached home....

i got problem to open its legs wide (shrink??)....should I inject hot water into its body in order to open the legs??? (to make preserved specimen)

Nope there is no need to do that.. how did it die? if its a fresh death you can just open the legs even though there is some resistance... dont worry insects are rather resilient you'll find. As long as the specimen has not been left in that position for too long such that it starts to dry up, you should have some give in how much you can shfit it around.
Usually i freeze my specimens to death then work on them... after the de-thaw... you have a lot of time to move them around and position them in the way you want.

[hwchoy]

you guys are so macabre

[MrTree]

wahhh..pitcher heaven!!!

[kuching]

Nope there is no need to do that.. how did it die? if its a fresh death you can just open the legs even though there is some resistance... dont worry insects are rather resilient you'll find. As long as the specimen has not been left in that position for too long such that it starts to dry up, you should have some give in how much you can shfit it around.
Usually i freeze my specimens to death then work on them... after the de-thaw... you have a lot of time to move them around and position them in the way you want.

Failed to move the legs ....no matter how I try.