Chien C. Lee

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  • Among the most cryptically camouflaged of all invertebrates, leaf insects (Phyllium spp.) are difficult to find in their natural habitat. Many new species have been described from Southeast Asia in recent years. This is a subadult female (P. arthurchungi) from the rainforest of northern 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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  • Tiger Leech (Haemadipsa sp. aff. picta). Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Wasp-mimicking moth (Atrijuglans hetaohei). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Lichen huntsman spider (Pandercetes cf. nigrogularis). South Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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  • Stag beetle (Prosopocoilus occipitalis), male. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • With over 60,000 currently recognized species (and perhaps double that still awaiting discovery), rove beetles (family Staphylinidae) are without a doubt the most diverse family of organisms on the planet. Most are relatively unnoticed because of their often diminutive size and secretive habits, but a few species such as this predatory one (Actinus imperialis) are larger and more colorful. Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Huntsman spider (Gnathopalystes sp.), male. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Huntsman spider (Chrosioderma sp.), female guarding eggs. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • The Bullet Ant (Paraponera clavata), a big reason why hikers in the Amazonian rainforest always proceed with trepidation when stepping off the trail into thick vegetation. One of the largest ants in the world, this species is infamous for its ferocious sting which some (unfortunate) individuals consider equivalent in pain to being shot. The ant's sting contains a neurotoxic venom and has been rated by biologists as the only perfect "4+" on the Schmidt Sting Pain Index, making it the most painful of all insect stings. Coca, Ecuador.
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  • A nocturnal Net-casting Spider (Asianopis sp.) lies in wait for an insect to venture beneath. Between its front legs it holds an expandable sticky white web which it will use to fling over its prey, ensnaring it.  These are sometimes referred to as 'Ogre-faced Spiders' because of the extremely large posterior median eyes which allow them to see in darkness. Sabah, 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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  • Mossy masquerade: a young Moss Mimic Katydid (Championica montana) doing what it does best. If you specialize in eating moss it’s a big plus if you look like it as well. In the damp cloud forests of Costa Rica, every surface is covered with dripping wet bryophytes, such as the leaf this katydid is perched on. Although abundant, it’s not the most energy rich food in the world, so these insects conserve their energy by moving slowly while they graze. Faced with a potential threat, they simply lay flat against the mossy substrate and disappear. Limón, Costa Rica.
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  • Giant silk moth (Grammopelta lineata). Canandé Reserve, Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • Bird Dropping Crab Spider (Phrynarachne sp.). 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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  • Huntsman spider (Heteropoda sp.). Kubah National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Crematogaster inflata, a conspicuous ant with aposematic coloration. The swollen orange metathorax can secrete a sticky substance as a defensive chemical when the ant is disturbed. Kubah National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Treehoppers (Alchisme inermis), adult with nymphs. Parque Natural Chicaque, Cundinamarca, Colombia.
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  • It’s always important to have a backup plan. The first line of defense for most stick insects is of course their excellent camouflage, but sometimes this just isn’t enough. If this giant Diesbachia sophiae is attacked, it suddenly transforms from a green stick into a startling display by raising its boldly checkered wings. This may be enough to make some predators think twice before going in for the kill, giving enough time for the insects to escape. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • This predaceous ground beetle (Lioptera plato) exhibits a distinctive warning color pattern which is commonly repeated among many different species of beetles (including a commonly associated fungus beetle Epicaustes) that all share a similar habitat niche. Because all species appear to share a distasteful chemical defense this may be a possible example of Mullerian mimicry. Danum Valley, Sabah, 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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  • Grasshopper (Helolampis coloniana). Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • Leaf beetle (Promechus whitei). West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Click beetle (Campsosternus templetoni). Horton Plains National Park, Sri Lanka.
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  • Amphidromus adamsi pictus or A. pictus concinnus. Gunung Gading National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Pompelon marginata. This beautifully colored day-flying moth is a member of the Burnet Moth Family (Zygaenidae). It is widespread in Southeast Asia where its caterpillars feed on the leaves of wild cinnamon. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Pleasing fungus beetle (Erotylus incomparabilis). Orellana, Ecuador.
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  • Tiger moth (Correbidia sp.) which mimics a toxic net-winged beetle (Lycidae). Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • Katydid (Eurymetopa obesa). Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • Longhorn beetle (Sphingnotus mirabilis). Waigeo Island, West Papua, Indonesia.
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  • Leaf-like pygmy grasshopper (Holoarcus belingae). Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Bornean Oakleaf (Kallima buxtoni), sleeping at night among dead foliage. Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Golden Forest Ant (Polyrhachis ypsilon). Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Tortoise beetles (Basiprionota decempustulata), mating. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Dung beetle (Paragymnopleurus sparsus), rolling scat of Sambar Deer. Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, 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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  • Death's-head Hawkmoth (Acherontia lachesis). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Bullet Ant (Paraponera clavata) killed by parasitoid fungi (Ophiocordyceps sp.). Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • Parastheneboea neglecta, a rare stick insect known from only a few specimens from the rainforest of western Borneo. Batang Ai, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • When approached by a potential predator, these amazingly camouflaged leaf grasshoppers (Chorotypus sp.) align their flattened bodies with the leaf they are perched on and remain completely still to accentuate their mimicry. Kubah National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Giant ant lion (Palpares amitinus). Amboasary, Madagascar.
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  • Earth-boring dung beetle (Blackburnium rhinoceros), male. This unusual dung beetle is a member of the family Geotrupidae, often referred to as the earth-boring dung beetles. They are known for laying their eggs in burrows which are sometimes provisioned with leaf litter or dung. Wasur National Park, Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Stick insect (Orthomeria superba), male showing parasitic mites. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Leaf katydid (Cratioma oculatum), female. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Epidares nolimetangere, male. With over 300 recognized species, Borneo is the richest area in the world for stick insects (order Phasmatodea). This species is endemic to Borneo and a number of color variations have been found throughout the island, such as this pure red form originating from central Sarawak.
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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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  • The highly specialized antennae of many beetles can reveal much about each species’ particular lifestyle. Here, a Malayan Giant Click Beetle (Oxynopterus audouini) shows off his impressive comb-like antennae, a feature only males possess and which are used to increase their ability to detect the faint pheromones of females in the dense vegetation of the rainforest. Reaching lengths of over 6cm, this is one of the world’s largest species of click beetles (family Elateridae), and is known for having larvae which predate on termites. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A master of camouflage, this praying mantis (Theopompa borneana) conceals itself against the bark of a tree. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Crab spiders of the genus Amyciaea are excellent mimics of Weaver Ants (Oecophylla), their preferred prey. In this manner they are able to both avoid predators and easily approach within striking distance of the ants. North Maluku, Indonesia.
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  • A predatory Toxorhynchites mosquito emerges from the liquid in a pitcher of Nepenthes ampullaria. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Large soliders with open mandibles defend an advancing column of Driver Ants (Dorylus nigricans) in the central African rainforest. Kabarole, Uganda.
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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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  • An undescribed species of moss-mimicking stick insect from the montane forest of Sulawesi. South Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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  • Velvet ant (Hoplomutilla xanthocerata). Limón, Costa Rica.
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  • Cave crab (Stygothelphusa cranbrooki), endemic to a single limestone cave in western Borneo. Like other cave-adapted crabs it has elongated legs and has lost most of its pigment. However, although living in complete darkness it has not yet lost function of its eyes. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Bee killed by entomopathogenic fungi (Ophiocordyceps sp.). Maliau Basin 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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  • Leaf katydid (Tympanophyllum arcufolium), female. Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Camouflaged fulgorid planthopper (Episcius sp.). Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • Wasp-mimicking moth (Xestocasis sp.). Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Slug moth caterpiller (Parasa sp.). Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • Longhorn beetle (Mallodon chevrolatii). Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • Looking like a cross between a dragonfly and a butterfly, owlflies (family Ascalaphidae) are in fact more closely related to ant lions and lacewings. These nocturnal predators feed on small insects that they catch on the wing. By day, they sleep concealed on twigs, or in this unusual case (Cordulecerus sp.), as a group together on a root hanging above a stream. Sleeping in an aggregation with their antennae held outstretched in a perimeter may help to better detect the approach of predators, keeping the group safer than sleeping alone. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • With over 700 described species, the ant diversity of Borneo is extraordinarily rich. Although many ants defend themselves with toxic compounds or painful stings, some such as this species (Meranoplus mucronatus) are protected by sharp spines to deter predators. This group of workers is attending to a herd of extremely small planthopper nymphs, from which they take secreted honeydew. Deramakot Forest Reserve, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Violin Beetle (Mormolyce matejmiciaki). Violin Beetles are found in forested habitats in tropical Southeast Asia. Their bizarre flattened wing-sheaths allow them to maneuver under tree bark and cracks where they hunt for other insects. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Lanternfly (Pyrops heringi), displaying its brightly colored hind wings when disturbed in an attempt to startle predators. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Warning colorations, such as those exhibited by these tiny fungus beetles (Corynomalus marginatus), which exude a foul chemical when disturbed, doesn’t always guarantee immunity from predators. To enhance their defense, many such insects often cluster in aggregations; not only is there greater safety in numbers but the combined colorations of all the individuals together results in an amplified warning signal that encourages even naive predators to get the message. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • Although perfectly camouflaged among lichens when at rest, if a threat is detected this stick insect (Pseudodiacantha chieni) raises its butterfly-like wings as a warning to predators, whilst simultaneously emitting a strong chemical odor. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Although cryptically disguised as a dead leaf when at rest, the Peacock Katydid (Pterochroza ocellata) packs a big surprise for its secondary defense. When disturbed, it raises its wings to expose strikingly colored eyespots, which can be enough to startle a potential predator away. This large katydid exhibits a great deal of intraspecific variation such that the wing patterns and camouflage of no two individuals are ever the same, and entomologists at one time had described over a dozen species that are now attributed to P. ocellata. These variations in coloration help to prevent any predator from learning a search pattern to recognize this species and its defense. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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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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  • A large male rhinoceros beetle (Beckius beccarii). This species is endemic to the forested regions of New Guinea. West Papua, Indonesia.
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  • An elegantly camouflaged katydid from the rainforests of Borneo: Despoina spinosa. This species feeds primarily on the foliage of figs (Ficus spp.) and can somehow get past the toxic white latex that protects these leaves from most other insects. Some 'sylvan katydids' (Pseudophyllinae) such as this are able to rotate and flatten their wings, enabling them to conceal their profile against the surface of a leaf when at rest. Mount Kinabalu, Sabah, 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 juvenile Broad-headed Bug (family Alydidae) showing mimicry of a small ant. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Leaf katydid (Eulophophyllum lobulatum), juvenile. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Darkling beetle (Tetraphyllus sp.). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Geometrid moth (Agathia deliciosa). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Leaf insect (Phyllium agnesagamaae) , male. Unlike their larger and more heavily bodied female counterparts, male Leaf Insects (family Phyllidae) have fully developed wings and are capable of flight. Danum Valley, Sabah, 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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  • Mantis (Mythomantis serrata). 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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  • 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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  • Perhaps one of the most beautiful of all damselflies, Neurobasis longipes is an inhabitant of clear rocky streams within lowland rainforest. The males (pictured here) utilize their metallic golden and green wings in courtship displays above swift flowing water. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Leaf-mining beetle (Botryonopa sp.). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Named in honor of singer-songwriter David Bowie, this large huntsman spider (Heteropoda davidbowie) occurs in rainforests from Thailand to Sumatra and Borneo.
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  • Bark Scorpion (Centruroides bicolor). Osa Peninsula, Puntarenas, Costa Rica.
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  • The size of your gun doesn’t matter when you’re outnumbered. Although in possession of one of the most powerful stings of all insects, this giant Bullet Ant (Paraponera clavata) is easily overcome by far smaller leafcutter ants (Atta cephalotes) after it inadvertently wandered too close to their nest. Leafcutters are not predatory, but their sharp mandibles, which are designed for slicing leaves, are so powerful that they make quick work of the intruder, dismembering it in a matter of minutes. Limón, Costa Rica.
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  • Katydid (Hapalophyllum vrazi), female. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Black Rose (Pachliopta antiphus), female freshly emerged from chrysalis before taking flight. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Touch-Me-Not Stick Insect (Epidares nolimetangere), male. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Ant-mimicking mantis (Acromantinae), nymph. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The bright colors on the hind wings of this tiger moth (Areas galactina, female) warn of its distasteful nature. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Tarantula (Pamphobeteus sp.), male. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • Hooktip moth caterpillar (family Drepanidae). Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo)
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  • Newly emerged cicada perched on its exuvia. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Katydid (Promeca sp.), female. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Elibia dolichus, caterpillar. Although large and seemingly intimidating, this sphinx moth caterpillar is completely harmless and relies entirely on camouflage and eyespots to deter predators. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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