While walking along the canal toward the destination, I spotted a bee hive hidden within the trunk of a fig tree (Ficus microcarpa). The position of the hive was quite high on the tree and I could only get a long shot (picture left). Coincidently, I saw another hive later at the Seletar forest. This one was more exciting but dangerous as it was a hornet nest hidden in the leaf litters on the damp forest ground. The few hornets hovering around the area had given away the location of the nest (picture right). I did not dare to get too close and had to move away quickly when one of them seemed to sense my presence. This should be the Greater Banded Hornet (Vespa tropica).

Another interesting finding was this hawk moth caterpillar (Eupanacra elegantulus) seen on a Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia seguine). This was the second time that I saw this rare caterpillar that feed on plants from the Arum family (Araceae). The previous one was seen at Admiralty Park in December 2010.

The two spots on its head region are not its eyes. They are fake eye-liked features intended to scare away its prey and thus serve as a form of protection for the caterpillar. At the other end of the elongated body is a short tail.

A number of other creatures had been spotted (from left to right): Damselfly, Dragonfly (male Treehugger, Tyriobapta torrida), Curved Spiny Spider (Gasteracantha arcuata), Caterpillar and Butterfly (Common Posy, Drupadia ravindra moorei).

The following were two unknown plants, a climber and a tree, to be identified. The climber was likely to be a Piper species. The tree was fruiting with hard berry-like fruits littering the ground. [Update: Piper caninum and Baccaurea bracteata]

The forested area around the Upper Seletar Reservoir is always a facinating place to explore for both plants and animals. However, with a hornet on the ground, one probably have to be extra careful on where you place your foot. It is probably safer to keep to the track.