Some visitors from Singapore came round to visit us and left with a challenge to find out more about the ladybirds of Singapore. They took this on armed only with a guide to the ladybirds of the UK. To be honest, I didn't know if there are any ladybirds in Singapore. But they seemed keen and confident that they were there to be seen.
It turns out that there are ladybirds in Singapore and they do look a little different to their UK cousins. For example: a question was raised on the Nature Society (Singapore) Forum about ladybirds, including a picture of what looks like an 8-spot ladybird.
Another site carries a warning that not everything that looks like a ladybird turns out to be one. There are spiders that are excellent ladybird-mimics.There are some surprising pictures on this site on Macro-photography in Singapore.
There are people too who share a passion for ladybird spotting. In November 2011 The Curious Gardener blogged about different ladybirds the the habits that she had observed. As in the UK, there are some aphid eating ladybirds and some that have adapted to eating mildrew. Of course, ladybirds across the world all go through the same stages of larva, pupae and adult.
So from a quick survey of sites on the Internet, it appears that the challenge of spotting ladybirds in Singapore is a valid, but challenging one. How many types of ladybird can be found? What is the best time of year for spotting them? What kinds of food do they prefer? Are they increasing or decreasing on the island? What steps are people taking to ensure that their own children are able to take delight in these amazing creatures?
No comments:
Post a Comment