Wow! An insect that looks like a man’s face

A STOMPer spotted this strange looking insect at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and says the back of the insect looks like a man's face.

In an email to STOMP today (Feb 28), the STOMPer says:

"The other day when I was visiting the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve I came across this strange insect on the branch of a mangrove tree.

"It has a pair of antennae and six orange legs.

"The back of the insect looks like a man's face with two eyes and a long beard protruding from the chin.

"Could someone please tell me what insect this is?"

Related posts: Does anyone know what this strange insect is? (30th December 2009)
Strange insect with face on its back (21st October 2009)

As far as I know, this appears to be a species of shield bug (Pentatomoidea), although my knowledge of insect taxonomy does not allow me to make a more definite identification.

Water at Jurong Port canal turns blue because of pollution

Two STOMPers have separately reported the strange blue water at this canal near the Jurong Port Road exit of the Ayer Rajah Expressway.

STOMPer Steve66rs saw this yesterday afternoon and he thinks that industrial leakage may have caused this.

In an email sent to STOMP today (Feb 26), STOMPer said:

"Does NEA check these canals in the industrial areas?

"I was surprised to see that the water in the canal beside the petrol kiosk had turned blue.

"I think an industrial leakage may have led to this."

Yesterday (Feb 25), STOMPer Haojie reported:

"Saw this at about 1 pm today while walking back from lunch today at Corporation Place.

"Looks like some kind of chemical."

Related post: Check out the blue water in this canal! (25th February 2010)

Check out the blue water in this canal!

According to STOMPer Haojie, there was blue water flowing down this canal near Corporation Place.

In an email to STOMP today (Feb 25), the STOMPer says:

"Saw this at about 1 pm today while walking back from lunch today at Corporation Place.

"Looks like some kind of chemical."

The canal at Corporation Place drains into Sungei Bajau Kanan, which then flows right into the sea at Jurong Port.

Monday Morgue: 22nd February 2010

Bubble snail? (Bulla sp.?)
Pulau Hantu, 12th April 2009

Gladys Archerd Shell Collection at Washington State University Tri-Cities Natural History Museum

207 -- number of mozzies we killed over the weekend!

STOMPer Janice and her husband have killed 207 mosquitoes over the weekend at their Bedok Central home.

Said the STOMPer:

"207...this is the number of mosquitoes that my husband and I killed over the weekend while at home!

"Looking at them makes you itchy.

"The authorities seriously need to do something about the mosquito breeding in the area."

Bush fire rages at Expo area

Bush fire rages at Expo area

STOMPer Daniel spotted this bushfire at the Expo area and sent in this picture at 2:58pm today (Feb 19).

STOMP contacted SCDF and a spokesman confirmed that it received a call at 2.55pm regarding a vegetation fire in the area.

STOMP is contacting the STOMPer for more details.

Related articles: February's a dry, hot season in Singapore (19th February 2010) (Mirror)
Smoke in the air due to bush fires (18th February 2010) (Mirror)
Smoke in the air due to bush fires (18th February 2010) (Mirror)

No wonder the skies have seemed slightly hazy over the past few days.

Go here for a list of relevant articles and posts on STOMP about the many bush fires that occurred in Singapore at this time last year.

Monday Morgue: 15th February 2010

Tiger (Panthera tigris)
Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, 5th February 2010

IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group - Cat Species Information
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
World Wide Fund For Nature
WildAid: Endangered & Trafficked Species Guide

Wild animals found at police post: Someone must have kept them illegally

Sickly trees at cemetery in danger if left untreated

It is sad to see this old tree fall, says STOMPer Kevin. Other trees in the cemetery are also in danger of dying as they are parasite-infested, he says.

He hopes something can be done to treat these sickly trees instead of waiting for them to fall.

STOMPer Kevin says in an email dated February 9:

"I couldn't control my tears when I saw this big grand lady (a Ficus benghalensis), once standing tall, fallen to the grave in Avatar fashion.

"This happened two days after NEA personnel went round the cemetery supposedly to identify and clear up diseased/dead trees and branches for the CNY visitors.

"Please get NParks to take care of the trees/vegetations in BB Garden cemetery. There are many more grand old ladies with parasites waiting to fall soon."

Monday Morgue: 8th February 2010

Vitate conch (Doxander vittatus)
Pulau Hantu, 12th April 2009

Project Semakau

Monday Morgue: 1st February 2010

Bonnet snail (F. Cassidae)
Tanah Merah, 7th June 2009

Wild Fact Sheets
CONCHOLOGY - The Art and Science of Nature
The Seashells of New South Wales