Tropical rainforest of Sentosa has good and bad side

Although the lovely waterfall left a great impression in STOMPer Adventurer's heart, he wasn't very glad with the steep trail, which he felt would be dangerous to the elderly.

Says this STOMPer:

"These pictures were taken at the forest near the cable car station at Sentosa. As I was walking through the forest I noticed this waterfall with water cascading down the rocky slopes. This is a source of water for the macaques which spend much of their time on the trees looking for food.

"Part of the jungle trail suddenly becomes the head of a monster with black and red eyes.

"Part of the trail is too steep and is dangerous to the elderly. This should be replaced with steps with metallic railings.

"The Imbiah boardwalk winds its way through the forests and you get to see spiders and butterflies.

"As I came to this rainshelter I was overjoyed as I wanted to rest my tired legs. But when I saw the snakes coiling around the pillars I beat a hasty retreat as I am ophidiophobic. The green snake sent a chill down my spine. I wish SDC will build simple rainshelters without the snakes to frighten the young and the old."

I've visited the Sentosa Nature Discovery and Nature Walk a couple of times before, and while it doesn't quite compare to the trails in many of our wilder areas, I have to say that it does a very good job in showing visitors a very different side of Sentosa, nicely tucked in amongst the huge showy tourist attractions.

The 'monster' with the black and red eyes is a feature of the Dragon Trail, which connects to the Nature Walk.

I have to take issue with the person's statement that part of the trail is "too steep and is dangerous to the elderly". I mean, seriously? It's a nice wide concrete path. It's not a dirt track littered with rocks and tree roots. Yes, some people might have problems navigating even a concrete path like this, but if I may be a little insensitive and politically incorrect, you wouldn't expect people with such severe mobility problems to be using these trails, do you?

For crying out loud, the trails are a breeze, compared to the trails in many of our nature areas. You could push a stroller up and down these paths and give your infant a headstart in appreciating the value of these forests.

And as for the last bit, oh give me a break. I'll admit that I find it hard to empathise with people who have phobias of animals, but I am not convinced that the mere sight off a bunch of snake sculptures (and not very realistic ones at that) could strike such fear and terror. Besides, I fail to see what's so frightening about snakes. Yes, they are meant to be respected, and you should never get too close to a snake, especially if you're not sure if it's dangerous or not, but calling for the removal of these sculptures just because you're afraid that children and old folks will be frightened is simply ridiculous.

I guess you can't please everyone. In any case, I hope Sentosa Development Corporation understands just how ludicrous these requests are.

TC: Beehive in Bedok has been exterminated

East Coast Town Council says they have activated a pest control contractor to exterminate the beehive in front of Geylang United Football Club.

In an earlier post dated Aug 3, STOMPer wrote in to warn passers-by to beware of a huge beehive that was hanging precariously from a tree at Bedok North Avenue 3.

In an email to STOMP today, a spokesperson from East Coast Town Council says:

"Following the feedback via Stomp posted on Aug 3, 2009, the Town Council activated the pest control contractor and they have exterminated the beehive found on the tree in front of Geylang United Football Club on the same day."

Related article:
Beware of the big beehive at Bedok North Ave 3!

Related posts: Bee invasion in Tampines Avenue 1 (3rd August 2009)
Beware of the big beehive at Bedok North Ave 3! (3rd August 2009)
"It only took 12 hours for these bees to infest my house toilet" (24th April 2009)
Bees, bees and more bees at Clementi! (6th April 2009)
Several beehives in overhead bridge leading to SGH (16th February 2009)

Monkey in East Coast tries to attack students

A STOMPer was in East Coast F2 car park yesterday (Aug 3) when he witnessed this monkey attempting to bite students.

Michael says:

"The monkey was running around near the toilets.

"It's very unusual to see a monkey in East Coast, it almost bit some students as they were exploring."

Here's a very interesting record of the long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis). I've never heard of macaques inhabiting the East Coast Park area, although I would not discount the possibility of wandering individuals dispersing from other forested areas. There's also the possibility that this is a former captive that has been released or escaped.

In a park that is so heavily used, I'm sure the macaque will start scavenging for leftovers left by visitors, or rummaging through garbage bins for tidbits. I certainly hope no one starts feeding it, which will only make things worse; it will surely then start to harass and intimidate people and steal their belongings. This will definitely create a conflict that the monkey is bound to lose.

The person who submitted this post to STOMP could have provided further details about the alleged attack. Was it being cornered or chased by the students? Were they feeding it? Was the macaque rushing at them because it was being threatened? I've been chased by an angry macaque before, but that was only because I was taking photos of it from behind, and it definitely also did not appreciate the attention from all the people converging on its position.

Interestingly enough, there seem to be quite a few recent records of lone macaques popping up in the eastern part of Singapore, which traditionally hasn't been a stronghold for the species. There were sightings of a single macaque in Pasir Ris in April, while in May, I found another lone macaque at Changi Village.


This was the very same macaque that charged at me when I was taking photos of its back.

What could possibly account for all these sightings and records? Are wandering macaques using our park connectors and the trees along our roads and pavements as corridors, dispersing out from their usual haunts in search of food and new territory?

Whatever happens, now that it has been accused of posing a threat to public safety, I have a feeling that this particular macaque's days are numbered.

Beware of the big beehive at Bedok North Ave 3!

STOMPer Sim warns passers-by to beware of this huge beehive that is hanging precariously from a tree at Bedok North Avenue 3.

He says:

"A big beehive was found on a tree in front of Geylang United Football Club at Bedok North Ave 3.

"The beehive looks as if it is going to fall any moment.

"It is situated near the pedestrian walkway and that is quite dangerous.

"So passers-by, please beware of this beehive."

Related posts: "It only took 12 hours for these bees to infest my house toilet" (24th April 2009)
Bees, bees and more bees at Clementi! (6th April 2009)
Several beehives in overhead bridge leading to SGH (16th February 2009)

As mentioned in an older post about the bees and wasps of Singapore:

Singapore is home to 3 species of honeybee; the smallest and least aggressive species is the black dwarf honeybee (Apis andreniformis). The Asiatic honeybee (Apis cerana) is a close relative of the western honeybee (Apis mellifera) that forms the bulk of the global beekeeping industry. The third species, the giant honeybee (Apis dorsata), is the largest and most aggressive of our local honeybees.

The 3 honeybee species found in Singapore.
Left: Black dwarf honeybee (Apis andreniformis);
Middle: Asiatic honeybee(Apis cerana);
Right: Giant honeybee (Apis dorsata);
(Photo of Asiatic honeybee by budak, photos of black dwarf honeybee and giant honeybee are taken from vespa-bicolor.net)

Looking again at the photo in the original submission, I believe that the beehive in the photo might be a nest of the giant honeybee. This is one of the largest honeybees in the world, with workers measuring on average close to 20 millimetres in length.


Punggol;
(Photo by federickho)

The giant honeybee is particularly interesting in terms of its ecology and behaviour. This is a very aggressive species that has never been domesticated, but nonetheless has been exploited for centuries for its honey. There are tribes and societies in some countries that still have a tradition of harvesting honey from the hives of this species, often at great risk of injury or death; not only are these bees highly aggressive and willing to sting, but they tend to build their nests at great heights.


Gathering honey from hive of giant honeybee in Sunderbans, Bangladesh;
(Photo by jeromejin)

Unlike other honeybee species, which build their nests in holes and crevices, the giant honeybee nests in the open; hives usually consist of a single large honeycomb attached to a tree branch or under a cliff overhang, or sometimes on the ceiling or wall of a building.


Thailand;
(Photo by Sean Hoyland)


Malaysia;
(Photo by Stephen L. Buchmann and Gary P. Nabhan)


India;
(Photo by Bruce G. Marcot)

The nest is typically covered by a dense mass of bees.


India;
(Photo by Bksimonb)

The giant honeybee has a very interesting defense mechanism to ward off predators. Of course, it is always possible for the bees to defend their nests by swarming all over intruders and stinging them, but it is best used as a last resort; honeybee stingers have barbs, which prevent the bee from withdrawing its stinger properly. After stinging, the stinger and the associated venom gland are literally torn out of the bee's abdomen as it flies or crawls away. And so, honeybees are able to sting only once, and die shortly after. Instead of sacrificing precious workers unnecessarily each time an animal approaches the nest, the giant honeybee has evolved a unique display to warn intruders away.

Here's the legendary Sir David Attenborough to tell you more.



This shimmering behaviour (often endearingly compared to the Mexican waves seen at football matches) has been shown to be effective at deterring predatory wasps. Individual bees being pursued by wasps will head straight for the safety of the nest, triggering a wave of shimmering as the predator approaches. Confronted by a mass of shimmering bees, the wasp beats a hasty retreat. This certainly is an interesting study in self-organisation and group intelligence.

Kastberger, G., Schmelzer, E. & Kranner, I. 2008. Social Waves in Giant Honeybees Repel Hornets. PLoS ONE, 3(9), 1-16.

Here are a couple of videos about this particular study:

Bee invasion in Tampines Avenue 1

A shocked STOMPer saw this huge swarm of bees buzzing outside his apartment in Tampines two weeks ago.

According to the STOMPer, there were thousands of bees flying and hitting themselves against the windows in Tropica Condominium.

After contacting the pest control, Malcolm was told that there was a bee hive on the rooftop of the condominium.

He told STOMP via email today (Aug 3):

"Picture was taken from my room window.

"Looks just like in the 'Movies'.

"After that, it rained and the bees flew off.

"At the end of the day, dead bees were on the road outside the compound, they were basically everywhere.

"My neighbours and I were giving each other hand gestures to faster close the windows."

Related posts: Beware of the big beehive at Bedok North Ave 3! (3rd August 2009)
"It only took 12 hours for these bees to infest my house toilet" (24th April 2009)
Bees, bees and more bees at Clementi! (6th April 2009)
Several beehives in overhead bridge leading to SGH (16th February 2009)

Once again, it's almost impossible to identify the bee species involved without photos of the individual bees. An interesting fact is that between the months of June and September, large swarms of giant honeybee (Apis dorsata) suddenly gather in urban areas and then die, leaving their little carcasses everywhere. I have seen such an occurrence from time to time, although I cannot recall any further details besides encountering dead giant honeybees everywhere. It is currently not known why the bees do this, however.

Appreciating nature relieves stress, says STOMPer

STOMPer Astronomer shares these sights of nature that he says bring him inner peace.

Says the STOMPer:

"These two pictures were taken at 6.30pm at Corporation Road near the Jurong Stadium.

"I saw an orange sky where the sun was setting and also the dark silhouette of trees and the tall tower of floodlights.

"The day was coming to an end and the birds were flying back to their nests.

"I was passing Bukit Batok St 25 at 7.00pm on the same day and I saw the blue sky and the white moon appearing above the trees.

"I have learnt to appreciate the beauty of nature and my life has become more peaceful."

Monday Morgue: 3rd August 2009

Orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides)
Pulau Ubin, 4th October 2008

Wild Fact Sheets
A Guide to the Mangroves of Singapore
A Guide to Common Marine Fishes of Singapore
FishBase
Fishes of Libong Island
Fishes of Bitung

Rare White Bat Lily adds special touch to Bukit Batok park

A nature park tucked away in the heartlands of Bukit Batok is home to some rare flora species, says STOMPer Arborist, who spotted this rare and beautiful White Bat Lily there while on a visit.

The sender not only saw the flower at the Bukit Batok Nature Park, he also spotted a quarry lake and took many scenic pictures from the 80m cliff.

STOMPer Arborist says:

"These pictures were taken at the Bt Batok Nature Park at Bt Batok East Ave 2.

"This tree looks as if it is suffering from some skin disease as the bark is peeling off from the trunk.

"I saw the white bat lily (Tacca integrifolia), which grows well on mountain slopes in Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore. It is the most unusual flowering plant as its weird flower arrangement is about 1m from top to bottom.

"Its top bracts consist of two spectacular dorsals usually white and purple stripes and each one about 20 cm wide.

"The true flowers are like thick purple buttons and there are huge purple whiskers which hang from the flowers to about 60cm below.

"The view of the quarry lake from a height of about 80m as I took this picture from a rain shelter near the top of the cliff. The lake teems with tortoises and monitor lizards.

"However, it was about 3pm in the afternoon and the street lamps in the park were brightly lit. This was a sheer waste of electricity."

The bat lily (Tacca integrifolia) is adapted to growing in the shady understorey of forests, and can be spotted in our Central Nature Reserves, as well as in Bukit Batok Nature Park. It has a wide distribution throughout much of Southeast Asia.


Bat lily, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve;
(Photo by Ria)


Bat lily, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve;
(Photo by Marcus)

If you have realised that the bat lilies in the above photo look somewhat different from the one posted on STOMP, it's because the one posted on STOMP appears to be the white bat lily, a form that was actually once considered to be a separate species known as Tacca nivea. However, it appears that it is actually a horticultural variety of the bat lily.


White bat lily, Wave Hill;
(Photo by suavemaeve)

A relative of the the bat lily that can also be found in Singapore is the seashore bat lily (Tacca leontopetaloides). This species grows in coastal forests.


Seashore bat lily, Pulau Semakau;
(Photo by Ria)

This plant can be found over a large area, from coastal East Africa to Southeast Asia, Australia, and many islands of the Pacific. However, the seashore bat lily is considered critically endangered in Singapore, and is known to grow in a natural state only on Pulau Semakau and Pulau Pawai. Several plants have also been propagated in Bukit Batok Nature Park.


Seashore bat lily, Pulau Semakau;
(Photo by Ria)

$4,500 Golden parrot 'escapee' found and returned to owner

An honest STOMPer found this Golden Conure bird that costs S$4,500 in his garden and returned it to its grateful owners.

Philip told STOMP via email today (Jul 31):

"A Golden Conure parrot escaped from Shunfu Road flat a few days after I found it on Jul 17 in my beautiful garden with many fruits.

"It greeted me and I greeted it back. Its leg has a numbered tag.

"I lifted it up carefully and took it to the Wan Bao newspaper to tell the good news.

"A few hours later, it was at the Jurong Bird Park.

"The next day, Wan Bao newspapers appeared island wide regarding the find.

"A taxi-driver saw it and came to my house at midnight to enquire about the bird.

"The next day, I took him to the Bird Park.

"A few days later, it was returned to its rightful owner.

"He and his wife were very happy to be united with the parrot that was worth S$4,500."

Here's a story of a lost pet with a happy ending.

The golden conure (Guaruba guarouba) is a medium-sized parrot that is endemic to rainforests of northeastern Brazil, where deforestation and trapping for the pet trade have led to its endangered status.


National Aviary;
(Photo by greybeh1979)


Pará state, Brazil;
(Photo by smdantas)


Paraíba state, Brazil;
(Photo by Alexandre Duarte)

The golden conure is on Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which means that all international trade in this species requires both export and import permits. Trapping for the pet trade, combined with deforestation, mean that many parrot species are now under serious threat of extinction in the wild.

The trade in wild-caught parrots continues to be a severe problem in many parts of the world, despite the existence of laws which are meant to protect wild populations of parrots from further exploitation. Thanks to captive breeding, the pressure on wild populations has been relieved to some degree. A growing number of parrot species are now being bred in captivity, which does contribute greatly towards reducing the need to continue trapping wild birds for the trade. Furthermore, captive-bred birds are hardier, adapt easily to life in captivity, and are much better at forming bonds with their human owners. Compare this with a wild-caught parrot, which has probably been through a lot of trauma and stress, weakened by the often inhumane conditions that wild-caught birds have to suffer during transportation, is terrified of close contact with humans, and in all likelihood, carries its own load of parasites and germs.

However, a lot more still needs to be done to stamp out the unsustainable trade in wild-caught parrots.

If this golden conure had not been retrieved, and if it had managed to survive for some time in the wild, it might have ended up as a new entry in our local bird checklists. Many species of exotic parrots are already on the list, and while most of these consist of scattered sightings of escapees, some of them have managed to establish breeding populations. Which does raise a lot of questions about the possible impacts on native birds, especially our 3 native species of parrot.

Fish-eating birds flock to Marina for a good meal

The beautiful sandy beach at Marina Promenade is not only popular with sightseers, it is also a hot spot for fish-eating birds, says STOMPer Angler.

While there recently, the sender spotted many birds standing on the shore, waiting for a chance to scoop their prey out of the waters.

In an STOMPer Angler says:

"One morning I was at the corner of Queen Elizabeth Walk and Marina Promenade looking out to the sea and the Merlion.

"Just below me was a short stretch of sandy beach and at low tide, many birds gathered to wait for the fish to arrive.

"I spotted this bird that was patiently waiting for about 10 minutes (photo 1) for the tide to bring in a shoal of fish.

"Suddenly this hawk-eyed bird saw a school of fish coming in with the wave. It stood still and once within earshot, quickly penetrated the water with its beak. Lo and behold it caught a small fish and its patience was rewarded.

"It then flew off to a nearby tree to enjoy its catch."

The bird is a little heron (Butorides striatus) or striated heron, our most common and widespread heron species. This is a bird that can be found in a large number of marine and freshwater habitats throughout Singapore, from mangroves and rocky shores to rivers and marshes, and even to ponds and canals in urban areas.


(Photo by mjmyap)

Some little herons are known to use lures to increase their chances of success while fishing; using small objects such as leaves, feathers, or even pieces of bread, these individuals will place the item on the surface, and wait for curious fish to swim close enough. They hence qualify as one of a handful of birds to actually use some sort of 'tool' to obtain food.

Please DON'T cut down this old tree at Eu Tong Sen St

This venerable old tree along Eu Tong Sen street has borne witness to great changes in the area over the years. STOMPer Fire Phoenix hopes that the authorities will spare it for many more to come.

Here's what the STOMPer had to say:

"I passed by Eu Tong Sen Street and saw that workers were cutting the branches of this old tree at the corner of the former CID compound.

"The tree had grown to embrace the iron fence and workers were chipping the trees's branches and leaves from the fence.

"I hope they were just trimming the tree and not cutting it down."

Monday Morgue: 27th July 2009

White sea urchin (Salmacis sp.)
Changi, 16th November 2008

Wild Fact Sheets

Pangolin spotted on Hillcrest Road

A STOMPer came across this pangolin taking a nap when he was cycling along Hillcrest Road.

Peter told STOMP via email today (Jul 25):

"Just wanted to send a picture of a pangolin at the end of Hillcrest Road as I was cycling.

"It was all curled up sleeping."

Hillcrest Road is relatively close to the forests of the Central Catchment Area, so I'm not surprised to see a pangolin sighting in the area. Still, it is a nice sighting of the Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica), although I am a little puzzled as to why it was sleeping out in the open in broad daylight.

Yucks! Mystery creepy crawly invades my house

STOMPer Dickson was disturbed to find this bizarre creature crawling around on the floor. He sent in a video hoping someone would know what it was.

Here's what the STOMPer wrote in an email today (July 23):

"What is this creature?

"Is it some kind of new bug or something else?

"Tell me please."

Do check out the video posted on STOMP.

It appears that this is a silverfish (F. Lepismatidae), but the video quality is simply too lousy to discern any identifying features that would help in narrowing down the species.

It is possible that it is a common silverfish (Lepisma saccharina), a cosmopolitan species that can be found in homes all over the world.


Common silverfish;
(Photo by misterjingo)

The silverfish gets its name partly due to its smooth silvery appearance, as well as the tiny scales that cover its body.


Common silverfish;
(Photo by johnhallmen)

Silverfish like dark, cool and damp places, so it is not uncommon to encounter them hiding inside cupboards where dried foodstuffs or books are kept, or beneath sinks. They feed largely on substances containing starch, which includes all sorts of items, such as glue, book bindings, paper, cereals, sugar, and even hair and dandruff. This helps explain why silverfish are often seen hiding among old books or piles of old newspapers. Apparently they can survive for up to a year without food.

These insects can become pests and cause serious damage to books and textiles, but do not pose any threat to human health. However, their feeding habits pose a challenge for those who wish to preserve and maintain old books, works of art and other items of cultural significance in good condition.

I suppose the risk of damage to books because of silverfish infestation is a major reason why libraries in Singapore are so unbearably cold. The lowered temperature and humidity must make it more challenging for undesirable organisms (silverfish included) from establishing themselves and reproducing.


Common silverfish;
(Photo by keith tooley)

Silverfish belong to the family Lepismatidae, which in turn are the largest family in a very primitive group of insects known as the Zygentoma. Zygentomans are among the most primitive living insects; only the bristletails (Microcoryphia) are thought to be more basal. These 2 groups were once classified with other tiny 6-legged arthropods such as the springtails (Collembola), proturans (Protura) and two-pronged bristletails (Diplura), and this group was known as Apterygota, as members of this group lacked wings at all stages of their lives. However, more recent research shows that such a grouping is artificial, and that while bristletails and silverfish are very primitive insects, the other 3 groups fall outside of the Insecta.

The common silverfish is not the only species in its family that is adapted to living in our homes. A close relative of the common silverfish is known as the firebrat (Thermobia domestica), and it prefers much warmer places than the silverfish. Hence, this insect can be found living close to ovens, furnaces, fireplaces and water heaters.


Firebrat;
(Photo by Mundo Poco)

While doing research for this post, I found out that the common silverfish and firebrat are not the only species that can be found living in homes.

There is the four-lined silverfish (Ctenolepisma lineata).


Four-lined silverfish;
(Photo by Goshzilla - Dan)

There is also a species known as the grey silverfish (Ctenolepisma longicaudata).


Grey silverfish;
(Photo by Bettaman)

The grey silverfish bears a very close resemblance to the common silverfish, but grows to a larger size, reaching 19 millimetres in length compared to the common silverfish, which maxes out at about a centimetre or so. There are several other anatomical details that can be used to differentiate the various species. For example, common silverfish have broad and flattened femora (the first segment of the leg), whereas the grey silverfish is somewhat stout-bodied compared to the slender build of the common silverfish. Unfortunately, these details can be hard to spot in such tiny insects.


Grey silverfish;
(Photo by Bettaman)

Because of this, I suspect that the insect in the video is a grey silverfish, since it does appear to be quite large compared to the silverfish I used to find in my cupboards. Still, given the quality of the video, it is difficult to make such a conclusion with any certainty. I don't even know if the grey silverfish is present in Singapore or not.

Silverfish are not the only insects that a bibliophile should worry about; the Psocoptera has several wingless members that are commonly known as booklice. These tiny insects belong to the family Limnoscelidae, in the genus Limnoscelis. Like silverfish, they can be found in homes worldwide, where they nibble on the paste used in book bindings. They can also be found hiding beneath peeling wallpaper, or feeding on flour and other cereal products.


One species of booklouse in particular, Liposcelis bostrychophila, has a worldwide distribution;
(Photo by Alby Oakshott)

A wide variety of arthropods have adapted to living in our homes, so much so that it can be impossible to find them living in a so-called 'natural' or 'wild' state. We are familiar with various species of cockroach, flies and ants, but we tend to overlook the multitude of other critters that find a ready source of food and shelter in our homes.

For many of them, it just so happens that we have an abundance of the food they have specialised to munch on. Various species of beetles, moths and mites are significant pests, feeding on food products to clothes, carpets, and furniture. Some beetles are especially partial to museum specimens, and can ruin entire collections of insects or furs. These in turn attract a host of predators, such as spiders, centipedes and pseudoscorpions.


Chelifer cancroides is a cosmopolitan species of pseudoscorpion that can be encountered in the home, where it feeds on mites and tiny insects;
(Photo by Erling Ólafsson)

Like it or not, our homes form an entire unique ecosystem, full of tiny creatures living in our midst. Given the worldwide distribution of many of these species, it would be interesting to study how they managed to colonise new areas, usually by hitching a ride as we move goods and cargo to and fro. The growth and development of transportation networks all over the world has certainly assisted in the spread of these little commensals.