Shuli Sudderuddin, Straits Times 9 Mar 08;
NEW 'immigrants' are adding to Singapore's diversity - biodiversity, that is.
At least three species of butterfly new to Singapore have been discovered here in the past few years. Welcoming the winged newcomers are naturalists and butterfly spotters, who dismiss worries that their presence will upset the ecological balance here.
The new species spotted here - the Two-spotted Line-blue, the Tawny Coster and the Leopard Lacewing - pose no such threat, experts say.
Butterfly watching and photography group ButterflyCircle found a small colony of Two-spotted Line-blues in Telok Blangah early this year.
This tiny blue, brown and lilac butterfly originated in Australia.
The other two new species, the Tawny Coster and the Leopard Lacewing, are believed to have gradually migrated here from South Asia over the past few years.
Architect Khew Sin Khoon, 49, a veteran ButterflyCircle member, has been butterfly watching since he was 10.
He is especially intrigued by how the Two-Spotted Line-blue, which has tiny wings no longer than 1cm, got here: 'It seems too small to have flown here, so we suspect that it came with imported plants rather than naturally migrating here.'
Dr David Lohman, research fellow with the National University of Singapore's Department of Biological Sciences, specialises in butterflies. While he does not dismiss worries that, in general, new plant and animal species could threaten a country's existing biodiversity, the Singapore context is different as far as butterflies are concerned.
He said: 'Since there is virtually no agriculture in Singapore, such impact would probably be minimal. I know of no introduced butterfly species that have an ecological impact on natural ecosystems.'
Mr Khew agreed that new types of butterfly would help add to Singapore's biodiversity: 'Such critters coming in to Singapore could provide the local life sciences community with the opportunity to observe and learn new things.'
Said ButterflyCircle member Sunny Chir, 57, a retired fighter pilot: 'So far, the new non-native species discovered are feeding on common host plants which are not known host plants of local species, so they are not likely to compete with local species for food.'
The Tawny Coster migrated here from South Asia.
THE TWO-SPOTTED LINE-BLUE could have slipped in with imported plants.
THE LEOPARD LACEWING is native to South Asia and is believed to have migrated here over the past few years. Its larvae feed on passion flower plants.(PHOTOS: KHEW SIN KHOON & SUNNY CHIR)
More about these butterflies and more on the Butterflies of Singapore blog
The Voyage of the Tawny Coster
A new Lycaenidae species for Singapore!
Know your butterflies - with help of 20-page guide
Ho Ai Li, Straits Times 9 Mar 08;
HAVE you heard of the Chocolate Pansy, the Lemon Emigrant or the Painted Jezebel?
You may not know their names, but they are among the butterflies found here.
Now you can put names to the butterflies you spot with the help of a guide launched recently by the Butterfly Interest Group of the Nature Society. The 20-page brochure features 140 common species out of the 280-odd varieties found here.
IT manager Gan Cheong Weei, 45, one of the guide's two writers, said it arose out of an 'overwhelming need'. Most of the existing guides are too big and cumbersome to carry around on butterfly walks.
Over 11/2 years, he and fellow writer Simon Chan, 45, spent weekends traipsing through forests and parks to take snapshots of the often elusive winged creatures.
The guide, which costs $5, can be bought from the Nature Society or at the Nature Niche Bookshop in the Botanic Gardens.