Blow Fly / Bluebottle, likely Chrysomya sp., 金蠅 [Calliphoridae, Chrysomyinae] 麗蠅科 Body length ~12mm; resting on a leaf. (and blowing a bubble, though not shown here) A closely-related genus is Lucilia, which also has a prominent presence in HK. 18 Jun 2013, HK island east
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Blow Fly / Bluebottle, likely Chrysomya sp., 金蠅 [Calliphoridae, Chrysomyinae] 麗蠅科 Body length ~12mm; resting on a leaf. (and blowing a bubble, though not shown here) A closely-related genus is Lucilia, which also has a prominent presence in HK. 18 Jun 2013, HK island east
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Blow Fly / Bluebottle, likely Chrysomya sp., 金蠅 [Calliphoridae, Chrysomyinae] 麗蠅科 Body length ~12mm; resting on a leaf. (and blowing a bubble, though not shown here) A closely-related genus is Lucilia, which also has a prominent presence in HK. 18 Jun 2013, HK island east
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Blow Fly / Bluebottle, likely Chrysomya sp., 金蠅

[Calliphoridae, Chrysomyinae] 麗蠅科

Body length ~12mm; resting on a leaf. (and blowing a bubble, though not shown here)

A closely-related genus is Lucilia, which also has a prominent presence in HK.

18 Jun 2013, HK island east

Fungal attack on Black Cicada, 10 Jun 2013, HK island east. This invidiual died from an entomopathogenic fungus belonging to the genus Nomuraea, At least two species from this genus is known to target cicadas, the large black ones of the genus Crytotympana, which are common in HK and Taiwan. (link) Some species of Nomuraea are also known to be anamorphs of Cordyceps. (link 1) (link 2) Interesting fact: the dull orange colour of the eyes in these photos is a symptom induced by the infection. The normal eye colour would be black/dark brown.
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Fungal attack on Black Cicada, 10 Jun 2013, HK island east. This invidiual died from an entomopathogenic fungus belonging to the genus Nomuraea, At least two species from this genus is known to target cicadas, the large black ones of the genus Crytotympana, which are common in HK and Taiwan. (link) Some species of Nomuraea are also known to be anamorphs of Cordyceps. (link 1) (link 2) Interesting fact: the dull orange colour of the eyes in these photos is a symptom induced by the infection. The normal eye colour would be black/dark brown.
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Fungal attack on Black Cicada, 10 Jun 2013, HK island east. This invidiual died from an entomopathogenic fungus belonging to the genus Nomuraea, At least two species from this genus is known to target cicadas, the large black ones of the genus Crytotympana, which are common in HK and Taiwan. (link) Some species of Nomuraea are also known to be anamorphs of Cordyceps. (link 1) (link 2) Interesting fact: the dull orange colour of the eyes in these photos is a symptom induced by the infection. The normal eye colour would be black/dark brown.
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Fungal attack on Black Cicada, 10 Jun 2013, HK island east. This invidiual died from an entomopathogenic fungus belonging to the genus Nomuraea, At least two species from this genus is known to target cicadas, the large black ones of the genus Crytotympana, which are common in HK and Taiwan. (link) Some species of Nomuraea are also known to be anamorphs of Cordyceps. (link 1) (link 2) Interesting fact: the dull orange colour of the eyes in these photos is a symptom induced by the infection. The normal eye colour would be black/dark brown.
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Fungal attack on Black Cicada, 10 Jun 2013, HK island east.

This invidiual died from an entomopathogenic fungus belonging to the genus Nomuraea, At least two species from this genus is known to target cicadas, the large black ones of the genus Crytotympana, which are common in HK and Taiwan. (link)

Some species of Nomuraea are also known to be anamorphs of Cordyceps. (link 1) (link 2)

Interesting fact: the dull orange colour of the eyes in these photos is a symptom induced by the infection. The normal eye colour would be black/dark brown.

Grainy photos of Rusty Millipedes locked in passionate embrace, on a rainy dusky day. Trigoniulus corallinus 磚紅厚甲馬陸  [Trigoniulidae] Native to SE Asia; extremely widespread in HK. Body length ~5 cm 17 Jun 2013, HK Island east.
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Grainy photos of Rusty Millipedes locked in passionate embrace, on a rainy dusky day. Trigoniulus corallinus 磚紅厚甲馬陸  [Trigoniulidae] Native to SE Asia; extremely widespread in HK. Body length ~5 cm 17 Jun 2013, HK Island east.
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Grainy photos of Rusty Millipedes locked in passionate embrace, on a rainy dusky day.

Trigoniulus corallinus 磚紅厚甲馬陸  [Trigoniulidae]

Native to SE Asia; extremely widespread in HK.

Body length ~5 cm

17 Jun 2013, HK Island east.

Leopard Lily / Blackberry Lily 射干 Iris domestica (syn. Belamcanda chinensis) Family IRIDACEAE Perennial herb, native to SE China, often cultivated in gardens. The seeds cluster superficially resemble a blackberry, hence the English common name. 4 Jun 2013, HK Island east.
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Leopard Lily / Blackberry Lily 射干 Iris domestica (syn. Belamcanda chinensis) Family IRIDACEAE Perennial herb, native to SE China, often cultivated in gardens. The seeds cluster superficially resemble a blackberry, hence the English common name. 4 Jun 2013, HK Island east.
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Leopard Lily / Blackberry Lily 射干

Iris domestica (syn. Belamcanda chinensis)

Family IRIDACEAE

Perennial herb, native to SE China, often cultivated in gardens. The seeds cluster superficially resemble a blackberry, hence the English common name.

4 Jun 2013, HK Island east.

Flowering Acronychia pedunculata 山油柑 / 降真香 [Rutaceae] Leaves have a citrus-like fragrance when crushed and the flowers are also strongly aromatic. Used in Chinese traditional herbal medicine for curing sores and wound infections (and a ton more properties - similar to how citrus plants are used, I think). Native to HK and plentiful in the countryside. Distributed in South and SE Asia from India to China & Taiwan and Papua New Guinea. Apparently the fruit is edible and sweet-acidic, but I’ve never heard of locals eating them in HK. They’re a bit too small to worth eating? No more than 1cm across in diameter. 1 Jun 2013, HK Island east.
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Flowering Acronychia pedunculata 山油柑 / 降真香 [Rutaceae] Leaves have a citrus-like fragrance when crushed and the flowers are also strongly aromatic. Used in Chinese traditional herbal medicine for curing sores and wound infections (and a ton more properties - similar to how citrus plants are used, I think). Native to HK and plentiful in the countryside. Distributed in South and SE Asia from India to China & Taiwan and Papua New Guinea. Apparently the fruit is edible and sweet-acidic, but I’ve never heard of locals eating them in HK. They’re a bit too small to worth eating? No more than 1cm across in diameter. 1 Jun 2013, HK Island east.
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Flowering Acronychia pedunculata 山油柑 / 降真香

[Rutaceae]

Leaves have a citrus-like fragrance when crushed and the flowers are also strongly aromatic. Used in Chinese traditional herbal medicine for curing sores and wound infections (and a ton more properties - similar to how citrus plants are used, I think).

Native to HK and plentiful in the countryside. Distributed in South and SE Asia from India to China & Taiwan and Papua New Guinea.

Apparently the fruit is edible and sweet-acidic, but I’ve never heard of locals eating them in HK. They’re a bit too small to worth eating? No more than 1cm across in diameter.

1 Jun 2013, HK Island east.

maybe my olfactory senses are blunter than average or something… but I like pungent-smelling flowers.

most people say Magnolia x alba (the white magnolia cultivar) smells way better than the yellow (Magnolia champaca). Both trees are harvested for their flowers. During flowering season small tradesmen in HK would sell them on the streets in little packets. Old ladies like to put them up in rooms as air-fresheners.

Apparently most people prefer the alba because it has a ‘cleaner’ odour. That’s the kind you usually get in local florist shops. I always like the yellow ones better. I like how it hits you in the face with that drunken giddy sweetness. It’s an instant sensation of a smell. It’s insistent and cloying. I think that’s actually precisely my reasons for liking it so much.

#btw I love the smell of durians too