Local Butterfly Species

Hello!
I'll be introducing some local butterfly species so that everyone can keep their eyes peeled to see these amazing flyers! I'm proud to say I've seen quite a few butterflies at the Kent Ridge Park!

http://25.media.tumblr.com/876278a941d5f12e84dbed2a469dfae6/tumblr_mp8od1dKws1sxevpdo1_500.gif

After some research, I realised that Singapore is really diverse in the number of butterflies! The Butterfly Interest Group, a subgroup of the Nature Society Singapore has been working hard since the nineties to compile a comprehensive guide, which is available in Botanic Gardens. 

Swallowtail Family (Papilionidae)

Common Mime Butterfly
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Common_Mime_Papilio_clytia_Form_dissimilis_by_kadavoor.jpg/220px-Common_Mime_Papilio_clytia_Form_dissimilis_by_kadavoor.jpg

Common Birdwing Butterfly
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtd0BBbBJ-VngNpjz7AHWrrTLJLfIvNNfQe_XZuLd3uBP8Zi22rS3CQy7lXeOOFr352L0BqVzjt-muaR_IwsfIGYa6Kcog98uVfntQcMM92P7Mw7djkwmAmAT6ZX2m-edBNQiFu8B9CW0/s1600/CBW_adult_Bobby_01.jpg

These butterflies are from the family Papilionidae, and they are usually large and striking, and the patterns on their wings set them apart from other families of butterflies. The Common Birdwing Butterfly is under Appendix II under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), hence it is vulnerable. Birdwings are very popular with butterfly collectors, and often found in illegal foreign wildlife trades.  

White and Sulphur Family (Pieridae)

These are medium sized flyers, and they are not always white and sulphur despite their name.

Painted Jezebel Butterfly
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZvxqee2dpWd2Zedf9pTuRaSUxXHYv_y41IF-Lk2TmGvk-sc98tVfOX_oVUzCMpN9iqHBuiWqhCWcVLIsrPZzqH2i4M0nKjOcGvSpv5dyswzoeP2cFDD3S3JYikulQqS0h9N7jllkP8EF/s1600/PJ_adult_Nelson.jpg

Family Nymphalidae Subfamily Satyrinae

These brush-footed butterflies are brown with eye patterns on their wings. They have a very distinctive way of flying; after each wingbeat, they glide through the air without moving their wings for a while!

Three Ring Butterfly 

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Y2TOFbihE58_YZu3SfCw5iJkp7YEg_TjWw-ITpvSX52NnPW4dh3BhgaSf93bvrRX7kApoH7h-M8D7T-aUEeiuKjO9MQTgt81syrmg_qlfHoj0fbFPIYYD0EQCESVNQUp7y2qBSelinYb/s1600/CFR_female_T_upperside_01.jpg

Since I've covered some butterfly species, I'll be writing about local moth species soon!

Ciao!

Review of SGBioAtlas Mobile Application

Hola!

As I've mentioned in my post earlier, SGBioAtlas application is an application launched by the NPB (National Parks Board) in April this year. It is a great platform for Singaporeans to participate in "citizen science and research". However, there's only 1000+ downloads as of now on the Android market.

Please download more!
[source: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com/post/78336860444/jazzmoth-finally-my-moth-reaction-gif]

While I have yet to capture pictures of some butterflies and moths as of yet, I'm keeping my eyes peeled!

The application is simple to use, and has good tutorial to guide users on how to get started. 

Sighting of Cycad Blue butterfly near Yishun, uploaded by one of the users!

I realised that some amazing butterflies and moths can be found all over Singapore. Users have uploaded pictures of the Cycad Blue, Peacock Pansy, Green Baron and some other butterfly species recently that I have never seen around in Singapore. I am encouraged to find that these sightings were around parks and nature reserves, as it indicates that our effort to conserve biodiversity is effective. 

I'll be introducing some local moth and butterfly species so that everyone can recognise them when they see one!

(By the way, there are lots of butterflies and squirrels around NUS, especially on the walk from King Edward VII hall to the Life Science labs!)

Till then, ciao!

Butterfly and Moth Conservation Efforts in the UK and Singapore

Hola!

I will be introducing some conservation efforts by various groups in the United Kingdom and how we can learn and adapt from them.

There are 2500 recorded species of moths and over 70 species of butterflies in Britain. Studies have shown that there is a 28% decrease in overall numbers of moths since 1968. (Kinver, Mark)

This majestic white ermine moth population has 

decreased by 70% since 1968.

[Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/The_road_of_the_white_ermine_moth.jpg]

Since then, many organisations such as Butterfly Conservation started Moth Count programmes.

Butterfly Conservation website, working towards 

conserving UK's butterfly and moth species

[Source: http://www.mothscount.org/]

This programme has been very successful, thanks to the enthusiastic support of the moth recording community and the citizens. Thousands of people have taken part in 'citizen science' survey in events such as Moth Night and Garden Moth Count, and the National Moth Recording Scheme amasses 16 million moth records. Through active volunteerism, high level of publicity was reached via the national television, radio, newspapers and magazines, thus raising awareness of the need for butterfly and moth conservation. 

Does Singapore has a citizen science programme for butterflies and moths?

Were you wondering if Singapore has such a programme? NParks (National Parks Board) just started their brand new citizen science programme called NParks Butterfly Count! It starts today (5th September 2015) to 13th September 2015. We can all play our part as a citizen scientist by submitting photos of butterflies through SGBioAtlas mobile application. The application can be downloaded at https://www.nparks.gov.sg/mobile-applications. 

I think that this is a great initiative by NParks. Given Singaporeans' love for their smart phones, applications and photo-taking, it allows them to participate actively in citizen research in a simple and effective way. I hope that Singaporeans will become increasingly aware of such initiatives and realise that their country has biodiversity worth conserving and protecting. Citizen awareness will lead to long-lasting projects such as the Moth Count in the UK and achieve the much-needed public attention to raise awareness of a larger group of people. 

Make sure to check out the application and participate in butterfly watch!

References

Kinver, Mark. UK Moth Numbers Crash, 40-Year Studies Shows, British Broadcasting Corporation, http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-21246322 [online] [Accessed 4th Sep. 2015]