Trekking through Kubah National Park with family in tow is a completely different experience than a solo, hyper-focused macro expedition. When you have a 4-year-old setting the pace from the Palmetum headquarters up toward the Beccari Rattan Valley and Selang trails, you don’t get the luxury of waiting out hidden creatures for hours. Add in strong ridge winds sweeping across the trail junctions and realizing your primary memory card was sitting back home, and the day becomes an exercise in field adaptability.
Armed with my backup Canon EOS 60D body, the key to finding macro subjects under breezy conditions was scanning the undersides and sheltered surfaces of broad forest leaves. Right near a trail loop, this exquisite Cyana lichen moth (Erebidae: Arctiinae) was resting in complete shelter, offering a masterclass in warning colorations.
Candy-Striped Warning Colors
While many moths rely on subtle bark tones to melt into the tree trunks, lichen moths in the genus Cyana wear bold, high-contrast visual signals known as aposematism.
- The Geometric Forewings: The wing pattern looks almost hand-painted. The pristine white base is crossed by vivid orange-red transverse bands, finely edged with sharp black borders. These colors advertise to forest birds and lizards that the moth sequestered toxic compounds during its caterpillar stage.
- Banded Details: Pushing the macro lens face-to-face reveals that the visual pattern doesn’t stop at the wings. Its legs are meticulously segmented with alternating rings of orange, white, and dark brown, while its thorax features plush, velvety tufts of orange and white scales.
- Compound Precision: Even on a secondary camera body, the flash diffusion brings out the texture of its smooth gray compound eyes and slender antennae tucked cleanly alongside its body.
Adaptability over Perfection
It’s easy to get frustrated when a hike doesn’t go according to the master plan—like missing the iconic Frog Pond loop or dealing with equipment hiccups. But taking a step back and enjoying a casual family trail run reminds you why macro photography in Borneo is so rewarding. Even a quick scan of roadside leaves along a windy trail can reveal a living piece of geometric art like this Cyana moth.
Field Notes:
- Location: Kubah National Park (Palmetum to Selang Trail loop)
- Subject: Cyana Lichen Moth (Cyana sp.)
- Camera setup: Canon EOS 60D (Backup run)
- Trail Lesson: Shelter from the ridge winds yields the best leaf-dwelling subjects!
