Why enjoy life on one island, if you can do so on two? That's what John Lee, a self-taught entomologist specialising in bees and wasps has been doing since his teens. In this interview, posted in two parts, John shares how he got hooked on hymenopterans (click here for a quick introduction to these insects), the hazards of the hive and the discoveries that keep him coming back for more, in both Hong Kong and Singapore.
You’d expect the prospect of getting stung and other jungle hazards to be part of the package for one who studies bees and wasps. But who would have thought that the pursuit of new hymenopterans could involve getting chased by angry villagers unused to snooping strangers?
That’s what John Lee, a young Singaporean based in Hong Kong, has to deal with at times as he explores the northern New Territories. These rural parts are some of the most productive places to observe wasps, with high concentrations of rare species. “But the villagers are often highly suspicious, close-minded and can get violent,” he notes. Other risks in the field include unpredictable weather, particularly sudden thunderstorms in Singapore, and dogs. “I have learnt how to stand my ground and force them to retreat,” John remarks.
