Malaysian Sceneries.

Dawn, Cameron Highlands.

Malaysia been a lush green country has many nice sceneries if we take the trouble to seek them out. Sad to say, some of the places are now gone as development have encroached over them. The collection here are some of the sites that I have visited. They are mostly found in my home state, Perak. I hope to add more from other states if I have the time.

LIFE CYCLE OF THE BLACK AND SCARLET CICADA (HUECHYS SANGUINEA)

The black and scarlet cicada belongs to the subfamily cicadettinae. Its distribution is mainly confined to South and S.E.Asia.

As the name suggested, it is bright red (scarlet) with a smattering of black color. The sound it produces is a melodious chee, chee, chee, which I believe is used to attract its mate.

During the month of April, and the beginning of the raining season, they begin to emerge from the ground as small red larva to moult on low vegetations. Before the wide use of pesticides, they can be found in abundance where the pucuk manis or the shu chai choy (sauropus androgyrus) is cultivated. now vegetable farmers considered them as pests as they tend to weaken the stems of the plants where they lay their eggs on.

In certain parts of China the discarded exuviae are use as prescription for migraine and ear infection. In many parts of Southern China the cicadas are collected and sun-dried to be use as treatment for amenorrhoea, rabies and scrofula. It is also reputed to have potential anti cancer activities.

Whatever its uses (good or bad), this beautiful cicada should be treasured as part of our biodiversity and ecosystem as they too are God's creation.

Ref: (Records of huechys sanguinae in Singapore), Ali Bin Ibrahim and T.M.Leong.

a) A small hole made by the
 cicada larva when it
emerges from the ground.

b) After emerging from the ground,
the larva moves around
 looking for a plant or a
 twig to climb on.

c) When it finally gets
a good grip on the twig,
the skin will harden.

d) Squeezing and
wriggling will help to
split open the skin
 at the head section.

e) The head and the
 front portion of the body
will emerge slowly.

f) Slowly leaning backward.

g) Breaking the tracheal
 thread connections.

h) After about 10
minutes,and until the
legs are harden,
 it will flip up and hold
the exuvia.

i) Pulling out its lower
abdomen,

 the cicada will slowly

expand its wings.

j) Hanging there for
sometime to allow its
wings to expand

 and harden.

k) When fully extended,
 the wings will change
to a smoky grey color.

l) From smoky grey
the wings turn black.
The cicada has to expel
 some liquid before
it can move off.

m) Chirping away, they finally attract
 their mate for reproduction.

n) After the eggs have
been fertilized, the female

 will deposit them under

the bark of the host tree
 with a powerful tube.

o) These are the stems of the
 sauropus androgyrus

plants after the cicada had laid its eggs.

Black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus).

This bird was flapping its wings vigorously

Sometimes they move in pairs.

Dragging its beak from right
to left. I think it is scrapping
 the bottom for food.

              They are very fond of
standing on one leg.

This bird is submerging its head
 to look for food.

Small snails are part of
their food chain.

These birds are normally found at marshy areas, mud flats and ponds. The sound they make is a sharp kik, kik, kik. They are migrants as well as residents in Malaysia.

Little Egret (egretta garzetta).

I noticed this little egret walking along a shallow canal looking for food. It pushes its foot forward disturbing the muddy bottom. When the tiny fish or other creatures moves the bird just pick them up.

The little egrets are considered as pests by the fish farmers around Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. Some of them are being shot at. Some farmers stringed wire cables across the surface of their fish ponds to prevent the birds from feeding on their fish stocks. I think the smart birds found a way to overcome these obstacles.

Just picked up a
 small prawn.

Wires strung across the
ponds are not a problem
 for this egret.

I am rather curios, why
 this monitor lizard did
 not attack the bird.

It sure has a good sense aof balance.

Just pick up another
 morsel.

A flock of Little egrets.

LIFE CYCLE OF THE LADYBIRD

Ladybirds are a type of beetles. Most would feed on aphids (that are considered as garden pests) while some would prefer plants and mildews.

The brightly coloured exosekeleton of this insect serves as a warning to would be predators. Add on the reflex blood, a strong smelling toxin, the ladybird has a strong defence system. The problem is, they are often being eaten at the larval stage by parasites.

1). These are the  eggs laid in rows.

2). The lava of the ladybird.
It feeds on aphids.

3). After attaching itself to

a leaf, the ladybird will slowly

emerge from its pupa shell.

4). Continuing the process.

5). Almost out.

6). After emerging, the
ladybird reverses
its position.

7). The wings begin to
descend from the body.

8). Slowly the wings are

harden.

9). After drying the wings

are retractedand the

ladybird is ready to fly.