If you see a beetle with spots on its back but much larger in size than the typical ladybird and having a slightly more elongated body, it may be a fungus beetle. Fungus beetles, as the name implies, are affiliated with fungus. However, you may not always see them on fungus as they do fly around and land on some other surfaces. Based on scientific classification, they are grouped under the family called Endomychidae, commonly interpreted as the Handsome Fungus Beetles.
So far, I have come across 3 types of fungus beetles. The one shown on the right was not found on a fungus but on a palm leaf along the Tree-Top Walk Trail in February 2010. This was a lone beetle having black alytra (hardened forewings) with 4 yellow spots. It is likely to a Eumorphus species [See reference image].
Another black beetle (left) was sighted on a tree trunk at Lower Pierce Reservoir area in July 2008. There were a few more of the beetles on the same tree trunk and I did see a few small and aged fungus fruiting bodies around. This beetle may not be the same species as the one above since the top 2 yellow spots on the alytra were nearer to its head region.
The third beetle (right) can be seen often at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (BTNR). When I saw it for the first time in February 2008, a large group was congregating under some large bracket fungi that grown on a decaying log in the forest. These fungi should have been around for years. This particular fungus beetle had a dark-brown alytra with 4 yellow spots.
Unfortunately, this group of large bracket fungi were in dismay condition when I last visited them in May 2010. As the log where the fungi attached was located by the side of the walking trail, some human species may have intentionally stepped on the fungi and broke some of the hardened fruiting bodies.
The picture on the left was the state of the bracket fungi (dark brown portion) in May 2010. The surrounding was wet due to a shower in the early morning. The picture on the right was the state of the fungi when I first saw them in February 2008. A few large fruiting bodies can be seen. By May 2010, majority of the fruiting bodies on the right side of the log had disappeared.
These photos show a flourishing ecology around the bracket fungi, especially the under surface, back in February 2008. There were many fungus beetles and other tiny creatures. This is history now. From left to right: (1) a lone beetle, (2) 3 of the beetles, (3) a colony of baby beetles, and (4) a group of unknown tiny flies that share the habitat. The brown background was the surface of the fungus.
Some useful resources on Handsome Fungus Beetles - Endomychidae: [1] [2] [3]
Fungus is more than just mushrooms --- it includes other micro-organisms such as yeast. What I am showing below are mushrooms, which are the fruiting bodies of fungi that I have seen. For the science of mushroom, you can easily find the details from other websites.
Year 2008:
Year 2009:
Last updated: 23 May 2010