【🎨Art X HKBM✨】This August at the Hong Kong Biodiversity Museum, the arts are making a splash 🌊! ‼️Register quickly as spots are limited! You may scan the QR code to access the registration forms or use the link here (linktr.ee/artxhkbm) or in our bio (artxhkbm).

While most tiger moths are strictly nocturnal, the Marbled White Moth breaks the mold by flying actively during the day. The bright colors on its body and wings are warning colors known as aposematism, warning predators like birds that the moth contains toxic chemicals and is highly unpalatable.

𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 invites families to explore, create, and learn together at the Hong Kong Biodiversity Museum. Parents and children can discover fascinating facts about museum specimens, observe them up close and sketch them in an engaging, hands-on learning experience.

Unlike most sea cucumbers that are cylindrical, the thorny sea cucumber 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘶𝘴 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘴 (Troschel, 1846) is rectangular in shape, which comes from four longitudinal ridges that run along the body. As a benthic organism that lives on the seafloor, this shape provides a great stability🧘🏻.

The queen ant of 𝘖𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘢, also known as the Asian weaver ant spends her life safely sequestered inside the most secure leaf-woven nest, laying hundreds of eggs daily to support a vast, rapidly growing society that can reach up to half a million workers spread across multiple trees.

And this is 5️⃣ reasons why YOU 🫵 should visit the HKBM! Book your visit using the QR code at the end of the carousel or using the following link: www.hkbiodiversitymuseum.org/visits . We can’t wait to see you here! 🤩

The climbing perch (𝘈𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘶𝘴) owes its survival in low‑oxygen waters to a special breathing organ called the labyrinth organ. It is a specialized breathing structure that develops from the first gill arch, and is made up of layered folded bony plates forming a complex, maze-like structure.

The Antlered Crane Fly 𝘗𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘦𝘵𝘢 (Fabricius, 1794) is renowned for its remarkable Batesian mimicry, this defenseless cranefly mimics the striking warning coloration of wasps, gaining protection without wasting biological energy on developing actual venom and tricking its predators.

When extreme weather like sudden heavy rain occurs in the desert, dormant plant seeds germinate and form temporary "oasis". Desert locusts then gather around these newly concentrated food sources and reproduce, leading to a massive boost in the local population.

Only a few spots remaining for ART JAM @HKBM! Join our first ART JAM 🎨 on July 17-19 & July 24-25 and enjoy our extensive biological specimen collection where you can draw ✏️, paint 🖌️, and create art! ‼️ Register now using the QR code or the following link: forms.gle/zW4qWAXjMGSP...

The Oriental Carpenter Bee, 𝘟𝘺𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘢 𝘯𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴 specializes in Hong Kong's abundant bamboo groves. Females use powerful mandibles to chew perfectly circular holes into dead, hollow bamboo stalks. Inside, they build linear nurseries partitioned with a mixture of scraped wood fiber and saliva.

And this is 5️⃣ reasons why YOU 🫵 should visit the HKBM! Book your visit using the QR code at the end of the carousel or using the following link: www.hkbiodiversitymuseum.org/visits . We can’t wait to see you here! 🤩

This is the Southern Greater Glider 𝘗𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘴 (Kerr, 1792), Australia's largest gliding marsupial! Their patagium, or gliding membrane, extends from elbows to ankles. When deployed, it acts like a gliding cloak, allowing them to glide gracefully between trees exceeding 100 meters apart!

The Spotted Black Cicada 𝘎𝘢𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢 (Drury, 1773), are known for their loud, high-pitched calls. A single male can generate significant noise, while swarms can reach sound levels up to 120 decibels which is comparable to a chainsaw or the threshold of pain for human hearing!

🌼One of the most unusual facts about 𝘓𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘢 𝘢𝘭𝘱𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘴 is that it is the only species in the entire 𝘓𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘢 genus that grows in a tight, ground‑hugging rosette with an extremely short stem.

Only a few spots remaining for ART JAM @HKBM! Join our first ART JAM 🎨 on July 17-19 & July 24-25 and enjoy our extensive biological specimen collection where you can draw ✏️, paint 🖌️, and create art! ‼️ Register now using the QR code or the following link: forms.gle/zW4qWAXjMGSP...

The Taiwan Six-spotted Longhorn Beetle 𝘖𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘶𝘴 𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘴 is a subspecies of the longhorn beetle 𝘖𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘶𝘴 𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘶𝘴. Records date back to the mid-20th century, with its presence noted in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Hainan etc., highlighting the biogeographical links between these areas.

The HKBM invites you to join our first ART JAM 🎨 on July 17-19 & July 24-25! ✨ Enjoy our extensive biological specimen collection through drawing ✏️, painting 🖌️, and making art 🧑‍🎨! ‼️ Register using the QR code or the following link: forms.gle/zW4qWAXjMGSP... (Limited spots available!)

HKBM received a donation of 83 specimens from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) this year, confiscated from illegal wildlife trade. These include the pelts of multiple large mammal species, all top predators whose loss has dire implications for their ecosystems.

🦀Unlike most crabs that scuttle sideways, 𝘗𝘺𝘳𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘶𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘢 is one of the few species that walks straight forward, looking like a little ball gliding along. That’s why it is described as the “rebel walker” of the crab world.

The HKBM invites you to join our first ART JAM 🎨 on July 17-19 & July 24-25! ✨ Enjoy our extensive biological specimen collection through drawing ✏️, painting 🖌️, and making art 🧑‍🎨! ‼️ Register using the QR code or the following link: forms.gle/zW4qWAXjMGSP... (Limited spots available!)

A gentle reminder😉 The booking sessions in June will be released at 12:00pm HKT on 9 June! Set your alarm⏰ and book for visiting our museum! www.hkbiodiversitymuseum.org/visits We release new sessions every 2 weeks. If you don’t grab your space yet don't worry! There'll be more in the near future😉

This week’s neighbour is 𝘓𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘴 (Lepeletier, 1845) also known as the Yellow-headed Spider-hunting Wasp. The female wasp paralyzes spiders, such as large huntsman spiders (𝘏𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘢 sp.), where it is served as a living food source for the wasp's developing larva.

𝘕𝘦𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘬𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘴 van der Weele, 1909, also known as the fishfly, was named 𝘬𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘴 due to a museum labelling error that mistakenly linked the specimen to Seoul, Korea. Ironically, modern surveys show this insect is actually native to South China and Hong Kong and does not exist in Korea.

This fascinating creature is a member the Heterodontidae family, also known as the Zebra Bullhead Shark, 𝘏𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘴 𝘻𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢 (Gray, 1831). It is specialized in crushing hard-shelled prey using its large, ridged posterior teeth, mainly feeding on spiny sea urchins.

To celebrate the 5th anniversary of HKBM, we are officially launching our limited edition poster, showcasing the nuts and acorns of 23 Fagaceae plant species found in Hong Kong! 🌰 Email hkbiodiversitymuseum@gmail.com to get a free digital copy! Physical copies can be obtained at the museum.

The 𝘊𝘳𝘦𝘰𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴 Saussure, 1869, also known as the Jeweled Flower Mantis, is native to Hong Kong. They have a vibrant green body adorned with jewel-like patterns in white, yellow, and other hues that mimic flowers, blending perfectly into flowering plants where they ambush their prey.

Did you know we post highlights of our wildlife 🐆 camera traps 📸 onto our YouTube channel? Here's a compilation of the small predators we caught on the camera this March! It's surprising what you can find in the forests of Hong Kong 🤯 www.youtube.com/shorts/jCHyY...

【香港的小型掠食者 The Small Predators of Hong Kong 🎥】#predator #wildlife #hongkong

YouTube video by HKBM 香港生物多樣性博物館 Hong Kong Biodiversity Museum

youtube.com

A gentle reminder😉 The booking sessions in June will be released at 12:00pm HKT on 9 June! Set your alarm⏰ and book for visiting our museum! www.hkbiodiversitymuseum.org/visits We release new sessions every 2 weeks. If you don’t grab your space yet don't worry! There'll be more in the near future😉

The Malayan giant millipede, or 𝘛𝘩𝘺𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘺𝘨𝘶𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘺𝘶𝘳𝘶𝘴 Pocock, 1894 has the length of about 20 cm, making it one of the largest millipedes in Southeast Asia. Their cylindrical body is composed of dozens of segments, each bearing two pairs of legs, totalling an astonishing 200 to 300 legs.