 wetlandsa publication of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve |
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13 No 3 Is that a crocodile or a monitor lizard? Special projects to Understand Nature (SUN Club) Dragonflies and Damselflies of Sungei Buloh The Kranji Countryside: Singapore's very own countryside Migration monitoring at Prince Edward Point BIrd Observatory, Ontario, Canada Selai Endau Rompin Johor National Park A feathered friend from Thailand |
 Did
you know that the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is home to more than 32 species
of dragonflies and damselflies (D & D)? This fact was revealed in a brief and preliminary survey early this year by the wetland staff and volunteers. To put into perspective, Singapore has about 100 species of D & D. D & D are fascinating insects. They have an interesting life cycle where they start out as an egg, hatch into a water loving predatory larva and undergo a series of moults before becoming a winged adult. As winged adults, they can fly relatively fast at speeds of up to 40km/h. Many are brightly coloured and male and females can often be distinguished based on colours and patterns on their wings and bodies. You do not need to walk very far from the Visitor Centre to watch D & D. In fact, at least 17 species of D & D can be found around the freshwater ponds and mangroves of the Visitor Centre.  Check
out some of the species such as the Common Blue Sprite (Pseudagrion microcephalum),
Sabine’s Skimmer (Orthetrum sabina) and the Red Darter (Crocothemis
servilia). Other good areas to watch and photograph D & D is at the freshwater pond areas at the western edge of the wetland around Hide 3A, the dipping pond at the outdoor classroom and the aquatic plant pond along route 1. While we know some facts about the dragonflies in Singapore and Sungei Buloh, we are also ignorant about many aspects of their behaviour and biology. This is a group of insects that definitely needs more people to take an interest in them. For example, we would like to know what types of food dragonflies feed on. Do they feed on different food items as larvae and as winged adults? Do different species of dragonfly have different food preferences and if so what are those preferences? Are there gender preferences in a species?  It
is believed that dragonflies prey on winged adult mosquitoes and mosquito
larvae. Are there specific dragonfly species that can be reared to control
mosquitoes in Singapore and will they be effective biological agents? Many of these questions seek answers and there are many questions that remain to be asked. Interested to make a contribution to the body of knowledge and understanding of D & D at Sungei Buloh? Contact us. We need interested volunteers like you. You could choose to help out in the following areas: Photography Breeding Nature interpretative guiding & teaching Conduct D & D counts Water quality testing Biological research Educational worksheets for children Arts & craft Contact us at Tel: 67941401 or info@sbwr.org.sg |
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© Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve |