Had a quick walk to locate one of the trilobite beetles known to exist in Singapore. Popularly known as Trilobite Beetle Larvae, these critters have a superficial resemblance to the extinct trilobites. Some of us used to jokingly call it the Jurassic bug. (incorrect name but just for fun) 😛

If you are interested in other trilobite beetles, I have compiled a checklist in Platerodrilus Checklist: Trilobite Beetles. Note that Duliticola is an obsolete junior synonym of Platerodrilus according to Masek & Bocak, 2013.

Quick article here about Singapore’s trilobite beetles: A SINGAPORE TRILOBITE LARVA, DULITICOLA SPECIES

#1 Found the Trilobite larva (Platerodrilus sp.) wiggling around on rotten logs, we lifted it up on a dead leaf

#2 Very active and reflective!

#3 It ran about non-stop!

#4 Once in a while, it would pause and look around

#5 Close up of the head

#6 The antennae can sometimes be mistaken for the eyes!

#7 Close view of the suction cup at the tail

#8 Can’t get enough of the cute head

#9 Close up of the head from above

#10 To many, the body just speaks of bizarre~

#11 Peeping out at us

#12 Close up of the suction cup

#13 Another view of the suction cup. It actually tried to crawl on me… and it felt… icy!

#14 Doing some gymnastics

#15 More close ups

#16 Final headshot of the trilobite beetle!

#17 Another pair of trilobite beetles found in an earlier shoot. Probably Platerodrilus hoseini.

#18 Ideas for backlighting

#19 Found this Huntsman Spider (Sparassidae) peering out while upside down. It allowed us to have a view of the fangs!

#20 I adjusted the foliage around, and managed to get a better view of the Sparassid!

#21 One of the scorpions of the night. Count the eyes!

The complete album can be viewed here

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