Mosquitoes, Beware - Dragonflies Are In The Air!

If you've been to a pond, you will likely see dragonflies, with their colourful iridescent bodies reflecting the sunlight as they rest on the leaves of water plants or zap about on their four strong wings.

But have you ever seen a swarm of dragonflies? If you do, don’t be alarmed. Instead, be grateful because these insects are probably feeding on mosquitoes – so there are fewer mosquitoes to feed on you!

Why Do Dragonflies Swarm?

We are probably seeing more of them because they may be going farther from water to find their prey, and the reason for that probably has something to do with mosquito control.

They swarm because their food sources swarm. If it has been a rainy season, or if you live near a lot of standing water, then the mosquito population is bound to be booming. If a large mosquito population is present at the time and place of the emergence of fully-grown dragonflies then you may witness a dragonfly swarm.

Dragonflies do not only eat mosquitoes, so you may even catch a small swarm of dragonflies in your yard if there happen to be any acceptable prey abundant there.

They are good for any garden, so be glad they're there for you...

Read More

Gardens By The Bay - Sakura Trivia

Gardens By The Bay

Marina, South

March 2016

Fascinated by the "sakura fever", Merlion Wayfarer delves into cyberspace and digs out some essential nuggets about sakura blossoms...

Sakura

Cherry blossom is known as "sakura" in Japanese, and it is the country’s national flower. A symbol of renewal and hope, cherry blossom heralds the arrival of spring each year, and it can be seen in abundance from late March to mid-April.
  

Sakura Zensen

The Japanese have a television forecast for cherry blossom season, provided by the country’s Meteorological Agency. It is based on the sample trees planted in the different regions of Japan. The blossom moves north in a "sakura zensen", or cherry blossom front, and its progress is keenly tracked.
   

Cherry Blossom Capital

Surprisingly, the title of "Cherry Blossom Capital of the World" isn’t actually bestowed on a Japanese city. That honour falls to Macon, in Georgia, USA, which is home to an estimated 300,000 sakura trees.

Yoshino Cherry Tree

The Prunus × yedoensis, or Yoshino cherry tree, is the type of cherry blossom tree most often seen in Japan, but did you know that it is a hybrid? Unable to reproduce naturally, they are treated with great care by their cultivators so they produce splendid blossoms year after year. Japan is home to over 200 different varieties of cherry blossom, the most popular being the “Somei Yoshino”. Its white flowers have the merest hint of pink and usually last no more than a week - a reminder of the transient nature of life.

 

 

Hanami

During cherry blossom season you’ll often see groups of people having picnics underneath the cherry trees. This is called "hanami", or "flower viewing". The tradition of hanami has been going on for many hundreds of years; according to a text from the 8th century, such festivities have been held since at least the 3rd century.



Yozakura

When hanami takes place at night, it’s known as "yozakura", which means "night sakura". On such occasions, paper lanterns are hung in the trees to light up the night.

    

Cherry Blossom Parties

Hanami festivities are celebrated with gusto, with music, specially prepared dishes of food and sake (rice wine). During cherry blossom season, the parks are alive with the sound of people admiring the flowers and joyfully celebrating.

 

 

Cherry blossoms or Peach blossoms?

Cherry Blossoms

• Cherry blossoms have five petals and a small characteristic V-shaped notch at the end of each petal. Even when the flowers are hybrids, they still have that characteristic v-notch centered on the edge.

• The bark of the cherry tree often has small horizontal lines on it.

• More than one cherry will come out of a cherry bud.

• The leaves of cherry trees are green and unfolding.



Plum Blossoms

• Plum blossoms don’t have any split at the end of the petals.  
     
• There is only one plum blossom coming out of the bud.
    
• Although some varieties of white plum blossoms will have small green leaves, plum blossoms have small purple leaves that are unrolling.
    
• Plum blossoms have a very fragrant smell (they smell “flowery”).
   
• The bark on a plum tree is darker and does not have distinctive horizontal lines on it.

This experimental floral display is expected to run till March 27. Check Gardens by the Bay’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/gardensbythebay for updates on the blooming.

 



 

|   Blossom Beats   | 

 



Read More

Monsters Of The Sea - A Journey Into The Depths

Science Centre
Jurong East
January 2016

In days of yore, when dinosaurs ruled the Earth, sea monsters thronged the deep blue seas. With a single themed exhibition, Science Centre Singapore brings the world of massive marine beings to life with 14 prehistoric marine monsters side by side with their present-day sea counterparts with informative displays and interesting stories on mythical sea creatures.

“Monsters of the Sea will heighten interest among our visitors to discover more about these mighty marine animals - their ways of life, survival and possible causes of extinction. Perhaps this would initiate some to embark on a journey of revolutionary research on environmental change or conservation in future.”

- Associate Professor Lim Tit Meng, Chief Executive, SCS –

Pliosaurus was a massive marine reptile with a short necks and a large head with formidable teeth. Built for speed, this sea monster had limbs that were paddle-shaped to help them move swiftly through the water...

Educational panels illustrate key learning point for adults and children alike -

This panel here illustrates the difference between bioluminescence and biofluorescence,

and drives in the point further with glow-in-the-dark jellyfish and UV lights on pebbles...

Known to have the strongest jaw bite amongst four-footed animals, Purussaurus was an apex predator at the top of the food chain, and is capable of attacking very large vertebrates. with conical teeth curved backwards and slightly inwards...

A life-sized submersible with cardboard figures for photogenic poses...

Tylosaurus (or KnobLizard) was dubbed the “Predator of the late Cretaceous Seas”. It was ate sharks, flightless birds, large marine reptiles like Plesiosaurs, and other Mosasaurs...

For each letter of the alphabet, there is an accompany panel to list a monster from the depths...

A predator of the upper oceans, Mosasaurus tended to wait for other marine reptiles to surface for air, before using its tail to provide a quick burst of speed to launch its attack. Using its fearsome array of teeth, it ensures that any prey sliding down through its throat could not escape easily...

Young children can create their very own take-home monster in a jar or vibrating isopod at $5 each at this hands-on counter and learn about electron flow and buoyancy here...

Other fun stations to dig in the sand for fossils, fix a monster jigsaw,
or test your strength to generate enough "bite force"...

With a name meaning "Big Tooth", Megalodon lived during the Miocene period and had huge teeth that grew up to 18cm. These serrated and multiple rows of teeth allowed the sea monster to latch onto its prey tightly and rip it apart before swallowing...

Finally, be awed by the fascinating array of fossils from Singapore's very own Fossil Hunters...

The “Monsters of the Sea” exhibition will be held at the Science Centre Annexe Hall till 28 February 2016. For Singapore citizens and permanent residents, exhibition tickets are priced at $16 and $20 for children (3 to 12 years old) and adults respectively. Child and adult tickets are priced at $20 and $25 respectively for all other visitors. More information is available at www.science.edu.sg/exhibitions/Pages/MonstersoftheSea.aspx.

|  Meet The Monsters  |

Read More