Hong Kong Biodiversity Museum
Explore the ecology and biodiversity
Research • Education • Preservation
- Most marine gastropod shells are dextral. Using specialized teeth at the base of the pincer, the crab spirals into the shell from the opening, efficiently breaking it apart to access the soft animal inside.
- When the weather gets warmer, if you want to come across these beetles. Try and look for these flowers 𝘓𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘮 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦, 𝘝𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘶𝘮 𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘶𝘮, 𝘓𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘢 sp., and 𝘡𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘹𝘺𝘭𝘶𝘮 𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘢𝘦 in your next outing.
- Research suggests that this unusual cooperation among males gives them a significant advantage when hunting larger prey. By working together, they can take down animals much larger than themselves, including deer and monkeys !
- Bee Flies are active during warm, sunny days in mild weather. They are typically found in mountainous and open areas where flowering plants are abundant. Adults primarily act as pollinators as they feed on nectar from local flowers such as those in the Asteraceae and Apiaceae families.
- Termite colonies may survive for up to five decades, but the mounds tend to outlive the colonies. One mound may house more than one species of termites after the previous colony has perished, with other insects and animals like aardvarks and warthogs also living in and on the mounds.
- The HKBM was recently honored to receive a specimen donation of 11 dry lichen and algae specimens collected decades ago. Often hiding in plain sight, these organisms serve a significant role in monitoring the environment.
- Brown is the new black! This week’s neighbor is 𝘌𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘹 𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘺𝘮𝘢 (Hampson, 1892), also commonly known as the Lappet Moth, is a moth that elegantly masters the different tones of brown. It is a member of the Lasiocampidae family, and a fairly common native species in Hong Kong.
- An myth surrounding Black Muntjac that they are “Vampire Deer” due to their long, dagger-like upper canines, which can grow up to 6 centimeters in males—the longest among deer species. 🧛♂️🗡️ The length of their canines often determines dominance in fights, longer canines will have stronger competition.
- Unlike most caterpillars, these larvae lack typical prolegs. Instead, they have a flattened, adhesive underside and move with an undulating motion similar to a slug, often using a lubricant of liquefied silk to glide across surfaces.
- While Long‑spine Porcupinefish is typically less toxic than the more famous pufferfish, the poison was at such low levels that laboratory equipment could not detect it in any part of the fish. Another study proved that even when the meat appears safe, toxin can still be found in the ovaries.
- This week’s metallic emerald green neighbor is the Oriental Flower Beetle, 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘢 𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴 (Linneus 1758). These beetles, from the Scarabaeidae family, are widely distributed across the countryside and outlying islands of Hong Kong, such as Lantau and Sai Kung.
- This sticky feat is made possible by barnacle cement that barnacles secrete from glands on their heads. It’s a complex cocktail of proteins that solidifies into a tough bond🧪, a natural adhesive works underwater, withstands salt and pressure, and remains effective for years⏳
- Hopping into the new year is our neighbor, the carinate locust, also known as 𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢. These locusts get their name from the prominent ridges, or carinae, on their pronotum, which is the plate covering the thorax. This gives our neighbor a robust and armored appearance.
- Crucially, if environmental conditions become too harsh or resources too scarce, the viviparous lizard can halt or even reabsorb the development of her embryos, preserving her own health and increasing her chances of future reproduction. This behaviour illustrates the “selfish mother hypothesis”.
- Our neighbor for this week is 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘹𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢, commonly known as the six-spotted zigzag ladybird (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). A highly common and ecologically beneficial beetle, it is found across the city's gardens, agricultural fields, and urban parks.
- Arctic fox use a special technique to hunt lemmings, known as ‘snow dive’ or ‘mousing’. With their acute sense of hearing👂🏼, they could locate the lemmings moving beneath the thick snow and capture them by leaping into the air and diving into the snow.
- Males gather in special trees called leks, where they can display themselves to the females. To make sure he stands out, a male will clear the leaves from his chosen branch, so he can be easily seen. Sometimes, up to 12 males will display in the same tree.
- This vibrant and iridescent critter with a shield-like back is 𝘏𝘺𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘶𝘴, also known as the Shield Bug.Scutelleridae bugs are predominantly phytophagous, meaning that they are plant-feeding insects. They use their enlarged, beak-like mouthparts to extract juices from plants
- If the mother has another fertilized egg in her uterus when there is already a joey inside the marsupial pouch, something astonishing happens. The mother can pause the development of the embryo, known as embryonic diapause.The reason behind this ability is to prevent competition between offsprings.
- Beyond their intriguing life cycle, these beetles play a vital ecological role. Their diligent burrowing helps aerate the soil and contributes to essential nutrient cycling by breaking down organic material.
- One special feature of 𝘊. 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘳𝘢 is its ability to handle toxins. It possesses a unique protein in its hemolymph that grabs onto poisons like saxitoxin. The protein safely holds the toxin, protecting the crab from getting sick and possibly scaring off predators like fish or bigger crabs.
- 𝘈𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘴 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘦𝘴 are brightly colored, typically red and black. The specimen shown on the picture is a nymph, meaning that it is the immature stage of insects that undergo incomplete metamorphosis. Unlike larvae, nymphs generally look like smaller wingless versions of the adult insect.
- Unlike other fish that can breathe air using a modified swim bladder, organ used for buoyancy, 𝘗. 𝘣𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘳 lungs have a different origin, arising from a pouch on the lower belly. As adults, they surface to draw air through two spiracles on top of their heads, filling their paired lungs with oxygen.
- Keep an eye out for the striking Yellow Oriental Paper Wasp (𝘗𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘶𝘴), a slender, reddish yellow insect often found buzzing nearby. Highly adaptable, these narrow waisted wasps thrive in urban areas, forests, and various other environments.
- These bees were found to differentiate between odd and even quantities, a task once believed to be exclusive to higher vertebrates. Cognitive skills such as distinguishing between different quantities may enhance 𝘈. 𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘢’s efficiency in foraging, navigation, and hive management.
- The HKBM was recently honored to receive a specimen donation of 96 cockroaches🪳. The order Blattodea encompasses both cockroaches and termites, representing one of the most ancient and diverse groups of insects on Earth, with over 4,500 known species of cockroaches in nature.
- This species is 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘦𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘴 𝘣𝘪𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴, a type of leaf-footed bug within the Coreidae family. These insects get their common name from the distinct, flattened, leaf-like enlargements often found on their hind legs. They feed on the sap of plants using their piercing-sucking mouthparts.
- 𝘚𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘢 moths are a fascinating and diverse group of small to medium-sized moths in the family Geometridae. As you can see from the image, 𝘚𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘢 species show off beautiful wavy patterns on their wings, which are usually dark brown or reddish.
- One particularly striking behavior is the “stink fight”. When two male lemurs square off, they each rub their tails with secretions from their scent glands, then waft the smell toward each other by waving the tail in the air. This action often settles disputes without the need for physical combat💥.
- Caddisflies closely resemble moths but their wings are covered with fine hairs instead of scales. They are good ecological indicators as they are only found in high-quality, clean streams and lakes as the majority of the Trichoptera larvae are aquatic.
- Visualize a Chinese Sturgeon leaping from the Yangtze River, breaking the surface with a resounding splash! These leaps serve critical purposes: the sound helps sturgeons communicate during migrations, maintaining group cohesion.
- Near grasslands, you may come across the Dirt-colored Seed Bug, also known as 𝘕𝘦𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘦𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴. They might be found on the ground or on its host plants. As their name suggests, they feed on the seeds of various plants. They use a piercing-sucking mouthpart, which is called a proboscis.
- The legs of 𝘙. 𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘢 are all phyllopodous. This allows for efficient digging which the species performs very often. Strangely, despite all legs being used for digging, only the second and third pair of legs are used for walking 🚶, with the fourth and fifth pairs being lifted up.
- When you think of crickets🦗, you will likely think of them chirping. 🗣️Interestingly, the male tree crickets of the genus Aphonoides do not have a stridulatory apparatus, so they do not chirp. 🔇This is why the specimen is named the Slender Silent Bush Cricket, also known as 𝘈𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘶𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴.
- A reference to the milky, white mucus secreted when they are aggravated or stressed, and which release a pungent odor and smells like Japanese peppers, a reason why 𝘈. 𝘫𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘴 have been given a common name in Japan that translates to “big pepper fish”.
- Interestingly, some rove beetle species can live alongside ants and termites in their nests. These beetles produce fluids that the ants consume. Also, do not worry if you find these little insects in your backyard or garden because they help get rid of fleas and various garden pests.
- Their sharp spicules defence mechanism protects the sea fans from general feeders like flamingo tongue snails but is insufficient against specialist predators. Hence the sea fans evolved a chemical defense through the secretion of ‘julieannafuran’ to deter sea slugs and other predators.
- On your next weekly hike, you might be lucky enough to meet a species of Cerambycidae🪲, the longhorn beetles, such as 𝘡𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘮 (Gressitt, 1942)! You can't miss its pair of long antennae that it uses like satellite dishes 📡 to sniff out pheromones and read environmental cues.
- There are 19 species of sengis in the world. Among them, the golden-rumped sengi 𝘙𝘩𝘺𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘤𝘺𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘺𝘴𝘰𝘱𝘺𝘨𝘶𝘴 (Günther, 1881) is notable for its distinctive gold-colored patch on its rump and grizzled gold fur on its forehead. The golden flash of their fur can deflect a predator’s attention.
- Buzzing around from flower to flower is a tiny pollinator powerhouse called Hewitt’s Reed Bee, 𝘉𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪 (Cameron, 1908) 🐝🌼. These bees are polylectic, which means they visit a wide range of plants and forage throughout a plant’s entire blooming period.
- With their striking beauty and hidden danger, species of lionfish (𝘗𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘪𝘴 spp., Oken, 1817) have venomous spines surrounded by sheaths that, when punctured, release venom into the victim’s body. The venom contains neurotoxic peptides and other bioactive substances.
- Keep an eye out for 𝘊𝘰𝘴𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘢 𝘢𝘣𝘥𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴 (Donovan, 1798), also known as the froghopper in your garden! They get their fun name from their incredible jumping power 🆙. Believe it or not, they can launch themselves up to 70 cm in the air, or 50 times their own length 🦘!
- Researchers found that the hue and iridescence of a peacock’s blue-green eye-like markings significantly impact mating success; when stickers were placed over a male's iridescent eyespots, his mating success dropped to nearly zero.
- Seek out the shining leaf beetle, 𝘓𝘦𝘮𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘦𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢 (Fabricius 1792), in sunlit clearings along the edges of woods and fields. If you approach too closely, do not be fooled by its sudden, dramatic act. It will drop and play dead in a clever defensive trick, a behaviour known as thanatosis.
- For Hong Kong South Sea Crabs, the larval development occurs entirely in the eggs before they were hatched, and they directly spawn as free-living juvenile crabs. These juvenile crabs would eventually develop into adult Hong Kong South Sea Crabs following a series of molts.🦀
- Despite being a bee, this black and blue ⚫🐝🔵 species lacks corbicula (pollen baskets) on its hind legs. Instead of harvesting pollen, it practices kleptoparasitism - true to its name, it stealthily lays eggs in the unguarded nests of other bees 😎🪺.
- The Surinam cockroach primarily inhabits leaf litter, humus interstices, and areas beneath stones, thriving in moist, organic-rich soils. Males are darker in coloration, often display a deep brown hue, and may have longer antennae, while females tend to be larger with a more rounded abdomen.
- 𝘞𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘢 𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢, recognizable for the striking eye-like markings on their abdomen whose females are wingless and thus resemble ants. This solitary wasp looks for other solitary bees or wasps nests on the ground, laying an egg that will hatch into a larva that consumes the host’s provisions 🥚🍽️.
- Reabsorption occurs in response to unfavorable environments, such as changes in temperature, water quality, light intensity, and nutrient availability. By reabsorbing oocytes, the coral conserves energy and resources, ensuring survival until conditions improve for future reproduction.
- 𝘛𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘦𝘴 is a small stink bug from the Pentatomidae family 😷💥. They pursue a shield-shaped body 🛡️ in earthy greens and browns and the family's signature defense: a pungent chemical spray when threatened 🤢👃.
