Chien C. Lee

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  • This large female katydid (Eumacroxiphus brachyurus) carries a spermatophore pack near the tip of her abdomen from a recent mating. The formidable-appearing ovipositor will allow her to place her eggs deep in the substrate of her choice. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Leaf katydid (Cratioma oculatum), female. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Leaf katydid (Tympanophyllum arcufolium), female. Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A giant leaf katydid (Pseudophyllus hercules), one of the world's largest, rests in the rainforest understory. Active only at night, they use their superb camouflage to remain undetected by predators during the day. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A damselfly (Coenagrionidae) feeding on a pygmy grasshopper (Tetrigidae) which it has caught during flight. Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Katydid (Promeca sp.), female. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • This unusual male katydid (Tympanophyllum atroterminatum) conceals itself by flattening its wings against the surface of a leaf. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Katydid (Lacipoda immunda), male. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Dragon-headed Katydid (Lesina blanchardi), juvenile. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Bark katydid (Olcinia dentata), male. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Katydid (Despoina spinosa), female. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Leaf katydid (Sathrophylliopsis longepilosa), female. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Dragon Head Katydid (Lesina blanchardi), male. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Once their camouflage has failed, many insects resort to an alternative strategy - trying to make themselves appear as large and intimidating as possible. This harmless leaf katydid (Tympanophyllum arcufolium) from the Borneo rainforest is attempting to do just that by standing on its head and spreading its translucent wings. Male Tympanophyllum katydids are renowned for the loud and eerie violin-like calls they make, which adds to the magical abience of the Bornean rainforest at night. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Katydid (Lacipoda immunda), female. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Flower mantis (Theopropus elegans), female. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Ant-hunting spider (Mallinella sp.) predating a Giant Forest Ant (Dinomyrmex gigas ssp. borneensis), which it also mimics. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Dead leaf mantis (Deroplatys moultoni). Mount Kinabalu National Park, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Asian Ant Mantis (Odontomantis sp.). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Tree Frog (Litoria rubella). Wasur National Park, Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Marauder Ants (Carebara affinis) attacking a beetle grub. The minor workers are assisted by their larger sisters, the majors and super-majors, which use their powerful mandibles to cut the grub into smaller pieces. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Camouflaged fulgorid planthopper (Episcius sp.). Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • Leaf beetle (Promechus whitei). West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Tortoise beetles (Basiprionota decempustulata), mating. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • With forests full of keen-eyed predatory birds, many of Madagascar’s smaller creatures have evolved incredibly cryptic appearances to evade detection. In the case of this Ghost Mantis (Phyllocrania paradoxa), the remarkable leaf like mimicry serves also to conceal it from potential prey, which will be seized and eaten alive if they venture too close. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • Mantis (Mythomantis serrata). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Mountain Treeshrew (Tupaia montana) feeding at Nepenthes rajah.  Recent research has shown the the world's largest pitcher plant Nepenthes rajah is not exclusively carnivorous. Like the related N. lowii, this species attracts treeshrews by secreting nectar on the undersurface of the lid. These animals frequently leave their droppings in the pitcher, which serves as a valuable nitrogen source in their impoverished mountain habitat. Mount Kinabalu National Park, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Fruit-piercing moth (Eudocima phalonia) using its stout proboscis to feed on the sweet juice of wild figs (Ficus fistulosa). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Tiny, ubiquitous, and comprising many thousands of species, parasitoid wasps extract a heavy toll on their hosts, with many species responsible for keeping other insect populations in check. Here, a female wasp (Anastus sp.), just a few millimeters in length, drills her ovipositer into the eggshell of an Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas), the world's largest moth. Her developing larvae will consume the contents of the egg and pupate therein before emerging as adults. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Borneo Necklaced Partridge (Tropicoperdix graydoni), considered by some to be a subspecies of Chestnut-necklaced Partridge (Tropicoperdix charltonii) from mainland Southeast Asia. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Few things exemplify the incredible complexity of rainforest ecosystems more than that of mutualisms between species. Here, a group of Giant Forest Ants (Dinomyrmex gigas) tend to a pair of lanternflies (Pyrops cultellatus), a relationship that has a net benefit for both species. The lanternflies, feeding directly from the phloem of the tree with their piercing straw-like mouthparts, harvest much more sugar-rich fluid than they actually need; the excess being excreted intermittently as a squirt of honeydew droplets from their abdomen. The ants position themselves directly behind and below the lanternflies and intercept these droplets with their heads, then consume the fluid and share it with their nestmates. In return, the ants guard the lanternflies and will ferociously attack any potential threat. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The complex ecosystem of the rainforest is filled with such a plethora of tiny hungry creatures that many predators may themselves become victims to something larger. Here, in the humid jungles of southern New Guinea, an unfortunate tree frog is being devoured by a large huntsman spider (family Sparassidae). With leg spans sometimes exceeding 15cm, these spiders spin no webs and instead rely on speed to catch their prey. Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Scarcely larger than your thumb, the Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot (Micropsitta pusio) is the world’s smallest parrot. Here, a mated pair peer out from their nest hole that they have excavated in an arboreal termite mound within the lowland rainforest of western New Guinea. Papua, Indonesia.
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  • Stick insect (Orthomeria superba), male showing parasitic mites. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • You might think that an animal with an excessively long neck would be predisposed to unfortunate injuries, but such eccentricities in body form can become justified in the competitive arena of sexual selection. This tiny Bornean weevil (Cycnotrachelus satelles), closely related to the famous Giraffe Weevil of Madagascar, uses his lengthy neck in wrestling matches to dislodge rival males off their food plants during mating season. Having intimidating physical attributes can sometimes mean combat is not even necessary: males have been observed facing off, nodding their heads (the necks are hinged in the middle) before one makes a retreat. The females, which are not thus pressured by competition, have much shorter necks. Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A Red-bearded Bee-eater (Nyctyornis amictus) living up to its name: here with a large black carpenter bee (Xylocopa sp.) it has caught in mid-air. While most bee-eaters prefer open woodlands and forest edges, this species is unusual in that it is typically found deep within rainforest. Flashy colors in birds are often possessed only by the males and typically function as a means of advertising for a mate. However, in this species both males and females sport a bright red face, which suggests that the coloration may serve a different purpose. One theory is that this may serve to attract flower-feeding insects to venture closer for a look - a convenient way for the bird to catch an easy meal. Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A Giant Forest Ant (Dinomyrmex gigas) receives a droplet of sweet honeydew from the abdomen of a juvenile leaf-footed bug (Notobitus sp.). The bugs, which obtain more sugar than they need from the plant juices they feed on, are fiercely guarded by the ants in return. Mutually beneficial trophobiotic relationships such as this are very advantageous in the competitive ecosystem of the rainforest. Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • An unidentified hylid tree frog from the montane mossy forests of New Guinea. Papua, Indonesia.
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  • Magnetic termite mounds (Amitermes laurensis), aligned to avoid the intense heat of the summer sun. Queensland, Australia.
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  • Australian Green Tree Frog (Ranoidea caerulea). Queensland, Australia.
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  • Rufous Mouse Lemur (Microcebus rufus), feeding on katydid. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • A small female praying mantis (Leptomantella sp.) standing guard over multiple ootheca she has laid on the underside of a leaf. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • This female Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher (Corythornis madagascariensis) has just been gifted a small lizard (Madascincus melanopleura) by her mate as part of a courtship ritual. Despite their name, these birds are not dependent on water, and typically hunt for insects and small vertebrates on the forest floor. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Huntsman spider preying on camel cricket, with parasitic midge. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Large-headed Shrub Lizard (Pelturagonia cephalum). Kinabalu National Park, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Lynx spider (Hamadruas superba) preying on plant bug (Alydidae). Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A dead leaf mantis (Deroplatys cf. lobata) standing guard over her egg sac. Such behavior might enable her to deter parasitoid wasps from destroying her brood, a common threat for mantises. Maliau Basin Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • With its unique patterns and remarkably long front legs, the Harlequin Beetle (Acrocinus longimanus) is one of the most impressive and distinctive insects of the Neotropics. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • Black-lipped Shrub Lizard (Pelturagonia nigrilabris). Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • In the insect world, even having a vicious sting isn’t enough to always save you from some larger predators. Here, in the dry spiny forest of southern Madagascar, a wasp has fallen prey to a giant robber fly (Microstylum sp.). With fast wings, excellent eyesight, and piercing mouthparts, robber flies catch other insects in mid flight and suck out their insides like a juice pack. Berenty Private Reserve, Amboasary, Madagascar.
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  • Leaf beetle (Callicolaspis heros). Napo, Ecuador.
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  • A fly-mimicking weevil (Hoplocopturus sp.) from the Ecuadorian rainforest. Most cases of insect mimicry involve the imitation of a toxic or distasteful species as a model, so the reason for this beetle to appear like an entirely edible fly is not immediately apparent. However, entomologists studying these insects suggest that because flies are so agile and quick, most visually-oriented predators (particularly birds) probably learn to avoid wasting their time pursuing them, hence the incentive for this “evasive mimicry”. Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park, Napo, Ecuador.
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  • Giraffe Weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa), male. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • Katydid (Scambophyllum sp.), juvenile female. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A Giant Palm Weevil (Macrochirus praetor), one of the world's largest weevils, from the forests of Taman Negara (Malaysia).
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  • A Harlequin Gliding Frog (Rhacophorus pardalis) struggles futilely as it is being slowly swallowed alive by a Black-Headed Cat Snake (Boiga nigriceps). Stagnant pools of water in the Borneo rainforest serve as important breeding grounds for many tree frogs which gather around in great numbers, a fact that some predators wisely take advantage of. Kubah National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • After several months of feeding on Aristolochia leaves, the mature caterpillar of this large birdwing butterfly (Troides andromache) prepares for its final moult into the pupal stage when metamorphosis will transform it into an adult. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus) is an ambush predator.  Utilizing its superb camouflage it waits for unsuspecting insect prey to come withing striking distance.  Pictured here is a juvenile specimen. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Primarily restricted to New Guinea, helmeted katydids (subfamily Phyllophorinae) are readily distinguished from others by the large shield-like process which extends over the front part of their body and is frequently armed on the sides with sharp spines. Also, in a family of insects which are famous for their ubiquitous calls, these katydids stand apart for the inability to sing. Lacking the typical sound-producing apparati of most katydids, the method by which females and males of these species are able to find each other at night in the tangled rainforest understory remains a mystery. Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Tiger beetle (Therates sp.). Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Stilt-legged weevil (Talanthia phalangium). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Leaf-mining beetle (Botryonopa sp.). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Flat-nosed Pitviper (Craspedocephalus puniceus). West Java, Indonesia.
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  • An infrared camera trap reveals a secretive nocturnal visitor to the giant pitchers of Nepenthes rajah. The Kinabalu Rat (Rattus baluensis) is known only from the upper slopes of Mount Kinabalu in northern Borneo. New research has confirmed that this rodent shares a similar mutualistic relationship with these pitcher plants as the Mountain Treeshrew (Tupaia montana), by obtaining sweet nectar in exchange for their nitrogen-rich droppings. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Red-thighed Bromeliad Spider (Cupiennius coccineus), with prey. Limón, Costa Rica.
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  • Hooktip moth caterpillar (family Drepanidae). Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo)
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  • Tiger beetle (Therates sp.). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Weevil (Episomus sp.). Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Marauder Ants (Carebara affinis) attacking a beetle grub. The minor workers are assisted by their larger sisters, the majors and super-majors, which use their powerful mandibles to cut the grub into smaller pieces. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Tortoise beetle (Basiprionota decempustulata). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Kayan Loris (Nycticebus kayan), juvenile. Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Glitter Weevil (Compsus sp.). Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park, Napo, Ecuador.
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  • Peruvian Shield Mantis (Choeradodis rhombicollis). Mashpi Amagusa Reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador.
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  • Sap-feeding bugs such as this lanternfly (Pyrops whiteheadi) ingest large quantities of the nutrient-poor fluid, excreting the excess in the form of honeydew. Here a gecko (Gehyra mutilata) waits below the insect for an opportunistic meal of the sweet fluid. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Weevil (Rhinoscapha cf. humboldtiana). Papua, Indoensia (New Guinea).
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  • Grasshopper (Euthymia sp.). Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Weevil (Cholus ellipsifer) on palm inflorescence. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • Ants (Crematogaster sp.) tending to a butterfly caterpillar (Spindasis sp.). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Although widespread in and eastern Australia, White’s Tree Frog (Ranoidea caerulea) is uncommon in New Guinea, being found only in the savannahs and subtropics of the extreme southern coast. This large frog, sometimes affectionately referred to as the Dumpy Tree Frog, has become popular in the pet trade due to its docile behavior. This “tameness” is likely due to the frog’s natural defenses: it can secrete a toxic compound from its skin when disturbed. While not dangerous to humans, this substance has been proven fatal to some insects and may be effective at protecting the frog from biting flies as well as larger predators. Wasur National Park, Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • With highly toxic chemical defenses ranging from benzoquinones to cyanide compounds, millipedes are generally avoided by most predators. However, in nature no matter how well protected you are, everyone has their Achilles' heel. In this case we have the Ectrichodiinid bugs, better known as ' Millipede Assassins'. These specialized hunters feed exclusively on millipedes, stabbing them with a stout proboscis, immobilizing them with venom, and are undeterred by their prey's thick armor and toxins. It is suspected that some species may actually be able to sequester the chemicals of the millipede to incorporate into their own defenses, but this remains to be studied. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Four-clawed Gecko (Gehyra mutilata) attending a lanternfly (Pyrops whiteheadi) for secreted honeydew. Host tree is Pometia pinnata. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Picture-winged fly (Cleitamia sp., family Platystomatidae) with spider-like patterns on its wings to deter predation from spiders. Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Katydid (Panoploscelis specularis). Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • Triangle Keelback (Xenochrophis trianguligerus). Maliau Basin Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Weevil (Cratosomus sp.). Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park, Ecuador.
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  • Giant helmeted katydid (Siliquofera grandis), one of the world's largest katydids. Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Longhorn beetle (Pericycos teragramus), pair mating. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Lichen Huntsman Spider (Heteropoda boiei) with parasitic biting midges (Ceratopogonidae). Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A female pompilid wasp (Eragenia congrua) hauls a paralyzed spider (Corinna sp.) towards her nest, after having neatly amputated its legs to make the transport of her victim easier. This will not be food for her, but for her offspring. Her nest consists of a hole in the soft bark of a tree, and once depositing the spider inside she will lay a single egg, which upon hatching into a larva will consume the still-living host. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • “Parasitoids” are defined as different from “parasites” in that they ultimately kill their host, and among the most nefarious of these are those that are able to manipulate the behavior of their host, keeping them alive only until they no longer need them. This unfortunate katydid is in the process of having a horsehair worm (Nematomorpha) vacate its body. Although the katydid is still alive, the worm has slowly devoured most of its internal organs while growing inside to many times the length of its host’s body. Even when fully developed, the worm keeps from killing the insect because it uses it for transport – somehow compelling the katydid to seek out a source of water where the worm can finally complete its life cycle. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • An uncommon species in Sarawak, the Sunda Free-tailed Bat (Mops mops) often forages at night high above forest clearings for insects. It often roosts in hollow trees. Batang Ai National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Miniature hitchhiker: a tiny pseudoscorpion catches a ride on the leg of a mite (itself only a few millimeters in size). Distant relatives of scorpions, pseudoscorpions lack a stinging tail, instead some are capable of delivering poison through their oversized pincers. They prey on even tinier invertebrates and are often found among decaying leaf litter or rotten wood. Many species utilize other creatures for rapid transport (phoresis): some ride beetles or flies and even one species has been found hitchhiking on bats. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A huntsman spider preying on a damselfly (Vestalis sp.). Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • With the color blue being so rare in nature, it’s an obvious choice if you want to really stand out from the crowd. The incredible coloration of this Eupholus weevil from the rainforests of New Guinea probably warns of its toxicity to predators, but in fact it actually possesses no blue pigment at all. Tiny scales which cover the beetle’s shell contain three-dimensional photonic crystal structures that refract light in a similar fashion to that of an opal stone. Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • With a fleshy protuberance on its snout that can hang flaccid or stand stiffly straight, New Guinea’s long-nosed frogs are as bizarre in appearance as they are rare. The exact function of its elaborate rostral spike isn’t yet known, but being only found in the males it likely has something to do with mate selection. Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • With a fleshy protuberance on its snout that can hang flaccid or stand stiffly straight, New Guinea’s long-nosed frogs are as bizarre in appearance as they are rare. The exact function of its elaborate rostral spike isn’t yet known, but being only found in the males it likely has something to do with mate selection. Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Fruit piercing moths (Eudocima phalonia) converge on a cluster of ripe figs (Ficus fistulosa) to feed on the sweet juice. Many moths in this family have similar feeding habits and can be damaging to commercial fruit crops. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Hispine leaf beetle (Alurnus dallieri). Mashpi Amagusa Reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador
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  • Spiny katydid (Panacanthus varius), female. Pichincha, Ecuador.
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  • Mantis (Enicophlebia hilara). Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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