March 2017 – Orangutan Foundation International

Surveying the Land: by foot, by boat, and by air

A large part of OFI’s work to save orangutans from extinction involves protecting the forests of Borneo. Orangutans must have a place to live. Protecting the land is a big task, and it takes many forms. OFI works with the forestry department and police to coordinate patrolling efforts in Tanjung Puting National Park against poachers,… Continue reading Surveying the Land: by foot, by boat, and by air

Orangutan of the Month for August 2017: Berman

Berman is a beautiful orangutan with plentiful bright orange hair. A tiara of darker orange hair frames the front crest of her head. While manoeuvring through the matrix of branches and trees, Berman is followed by a shadow of orange as her hair flows behind her. Her symmetrical facial features are accented with light… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month for August 2017: Berman

Insects of the Bornean Rainforest Part 1: Caterpillars

If you spend ten minutes in the forests of Borneo, you might not see the thousands of insects that surround you, but you will hear them. Life bursts from every inch of this biologically rich environment, from the branches that provide highways for ants, to the sheltering cracks and crevices in the trees, to the… Continue reading Insects of the Bornean Rainforest Part 1: Caterpillars

WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 20151 [post_author] => 14605 [post_date] => 2017-03-31 07:40:57 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-03-31 14:40:57 [post_content] =>

If you spend ten minutes in the forests of Borneo, you might not see the thousands of insects that surround you, but you will hear them. Life bursts from every inch of this biologically rich environment, from the branches that provide highways for ants, to the sheltering cracks and crevices in the trees, to the shady undersides of leaves.

[caption id="10" align="alignleft" width="214"]

Howard clings to OFI caregiver, Ibu Evi.[/caption] Ibu Evi, the coordinator of Pondok Dua, one of our nursery facilities, is a compassionate caregiver and a comfort for many of the young orangutans here at the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ) in Pasir Panjang, Kalimantan Tengah (Central Indonesian Borneo). She also is an exceptional photographer of some of the smaller, mesmerizing creatures she comes into contact with during daily releases with the orangutans. For a number of years, while following orangutans as they explore and learn, she has captured detailed photos of the insects of Borneo.

Spotting species takes time, experience, and an intuitive understanding of forest botany. In the tropical rainforest, it is even possible to encounter a species not yet fully identified or scientifically named. Only with patience and attention to detail can one capture glimpses of an insect in the forest. With miniscule contact or breath of wind, the insect will scurry or fly away. Discover this elusive world through Ibu Evi’s eyes, as we feature her exceptional photographs of the weird and wonderful insect fauna hidden in the forest.

Part 1: Caterpillars

Caterpillars are what Ibu Evi discovers most frequently in the forest. They are eating machines and slow to move as they concentrate on eating. Leaves perforated like giant honeycombs are the souvenirs of their slow travels through the forest. The sheer mystery of their future transformation is captivating. In many traditions across the globe, this metamorphosis is seen as an icon of hope. Their winged adult forms are vibrant and patterned, but caterpillars themselves are far from dull. The variety of size and appearance is fascinating. Because they are a rich source of protein to many animals, caterpillars have developed an extensive range of defence mechanisms. Some mechanisms include: cryptic coloration to make the caterpillar look like a fallen leaf or bird droppings, illusions to make caterpillars appear larger, venom production, or toxic breath in the case of the tobacco hornworm. Caterpillars are impressively built, putting vertebrates to shame. Caterpillars may have as many as 4,000 muscles in their bodies. Their heads alone are comprised of around 250 muscles. In this essay, we are fortunate to share Ibu Evi’s vision of caterpillars in the Bornean rainforest.

Color Sergeant Butterfly Caterpillar

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insect Order: Lepidoptera Family: Nymphalidae Genus: Athyma Common Name: Color Sergeant Butterfly Caterpillar

[spacer height="20px"]

Striped Blue Crow Butterfly Caterpillar

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insect Order: Lepidoptera Family: Nymphalidae Genus: Euploea Common Name: Striped Blue Crow Butterfly Caterpillar

[spacer height="20px"]

Maplet Butterfly Caterpillar

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insect Order: Lepidoptera Family: Nymphalidae Genus: Chersonesia Common Name: Maplet Butterfly Caterpillar

[spacer height="20px"]

Banded Swallowtail Butterfly Caterpillar

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insect Order: Lepidoptera Family: Papilionidae Genus: Papilio Common Name: Banded Swallowtail Butterfly Caterpillar

[spacer height="20px"]

Orange Owlet Moth Caterpillar

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insect Order: Lepidoptera Family: Hesperiidae Genus: Burara Common Name: Orange Owlet Moth Caterpillar

[spacer height="20px"]

Common Mime Butterfly Caterpillar

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insect Order: Lepidoptera Family: Papilionidae Genus: Chilasa Common Name: Common Mime Butterfly Caterpillar

[post_title] => Insects of the Bornean Rainforest Part 1: Caterpillars [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => rainforest-insects-caterpillars [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2019-06-13 04:53:21 [post_modified_gmt] => 2019-06-13 11:53:21 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://orangutan.org/?p=20151 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 4 [filter] => raw )