Congregation of Rajah Brooke Butterflies, Kuala Woh Recreational Park
The striking metallic green butterflies congregating at the river banks
Posted in Insects, Mother Nature |
Can 2 different species of butterflies mate with each other?
I wonder if this could be an evolutionary process where a new biological species may arise. For more than over 20 years we have been around, our field lepidopterist claimed to have not seen this before. Look what we have found recently:
Can two different butterfly species mate with each other? What do you think?
These 2 species of butterfly have been found mating in our farm late evening yesterday. The male is a Cethosia cyane, while the female is the Parantica aspasia. Could this be just an accident in nature? Or can nature or its surrounding force the butterflies to change their behaviour? Possibly, studies have found that behavioural changes in plants and animals can occur as the environment changes. So how has the environment change? What else might be the cause for this?
4 hours later: I googled further into this and realised that speciation can occur in butterflies, and it has been simulated in laboratory before. Our senior lepidopterist also did confirm that this was possible previously through random pairings of Heliconius butterflies, but limited to butterflies in the same genus.
Click here to read about the the speciation of a Heliconius hybrid. I can say that the butterflies in the genus of Heliconius are a truly advanced species. I might cover more about that at a later stage.
If you have anything to share about this, please feedback to us at our forum:
http://butterfly-insect.com/blog/naturetalk/index.php/topic,370.0.html
Tags: butterfly mating, cross mating, cross species mating, speciation
Posted in Butterflies, Latest News |
Earth Day 2009
Yes, today is Earth Day 2009… Why are we watching Earth Day? If you live on Earth, you should know what to do to save the Earth.
Some facts to know about the climate change:
- Human activities are now adding about 7 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere every year and this contributes to global warming.
- As the world grows warmer, diseases such as malaria are predicted to spread, due to the carriers of disease spreading out over a larger geographical area.
- As many as 15 to 37% of all wildlife species in some regions could be “committed to extinction” by 2050 years because of global climate change. Our butterflies will go extinct too.
You can also download a free Earth Day wallpaper from us:
Earth Day Wallpaper by butterfly-insect.com/blog
Posted in Latest News, Mother Nature |
Countdown of Penang Earth Hour 2009 Campaign, Island Plaza Penang
The rain was pouring heavily as I make my way to the official countdown venue for Penang Earth Hour 2009 at Island Plaza. My first initial thought when the heavy drops came by was to hope that it will come and go off soon. Let this important and meaningful undertaking arrives in a pleasant manner for all.
It was still raining as I reached the venue by 5.40pm. However that did not damper my spirit. I quickly unload my boxes and bags of butterfly host plants which will be distributed to all our Penang Earth Hour countdown supporters. Thankfully, the security guards at the shopping complex were kind enough to assist me in the unloading, looking at I was alone. Uncle, thanks again, I hope you managed to get our Cleome rutidosperma plant!
I started to place the paper bags on the registration counter. Seemed like the paper bags were kind of attractive and create much curiosity. In moments of time, I had passers by popping in asking the content of the paper bags. While I explained to them that the Cleome plant are meant for free distribution in aid of our Caterpillar Club Butterfly Conservation project, some were simply thrilled to hear and receive it. The first plant was given away to a keen gentleman from DELL. We hope he will help us to spread the awareness of Butterfly Conservation in long run!
Welcome to Penang Earth Hour Countdown! Supporters being provided with a Cleome rutidosperma plant and goody bag while registering
By 720pm, the remaining set up inside the shopping complex foyer were almost done and ready for the countdown. The rain had stopped too. Our Organising Chairman, Mr. Eddy Low were seen busy entertaining our other invited guest, Datuk Dr. Chan while awaiting for the arrival of YAB Mr. Lim Guan Eng, Chief Minister of Penang. The queue at the registration counter was kept busy with the many supporters coming in. I almost missed out in noticing the arrival of your YAB Mr. Lim Guan Eng until I saw his smiling and friendly face walking across. Following behind were YB Danny Law, Penang State EXCO for Tourism Development, Culture Arts & Heritage, our Organising Chairman and other invited guests. Dressed in our Earth Hour black color t-shirt, he looked much younger than I had seen him in newspaper and happy too!
In between the start of the event to the speech from our Organising Chairman, the crowd kept coming in. Soon all our door gifts and plants were given out in no time. And yet, the queue was still there!
Supporters of Penang Earth Hour waiting anxiously for the countdown at 8.30pm
The crowd was almost filling up the whole foyer of the shopping complex soon after the speech by the YAB Mr. Lim. It was more than what we anticipated for. Nevertheless, we were thrilled to see the much support of the many Penangites on this peculiar event. Hopefully the message of reducing the power usage and coming together to fight global warming goes across the many minds of all our supporters on that particular evening.
Mr Eddy Low presenting a souvenir plant to Chief Minister of Penang, YAB Mr. Lim Guan Eng
Penang Butterfly Farm, had the privileged of presenting (represented by the Organizing Chairman) a pot of the Cleome rutidosperma, a butterfly host plant for the Leptosia nina. It was a gift of greening the earth and conserving more butterflies!
Soon the time came for the important countdown. YAB Mr. Lim Guan Eng together with all the invited guests were at the stage preparing for the countdown. A gigantic switch had been prepared for our YAB Mr. Lim to be power off. At 8.29pm, the crowd started to the countdown and when it came to the 3, 2,1. Everything lights were off. The place was in darkness for a second. YES! Penang marks its inaugural support of the global action on reducing power consumption.
YES, Penang Earth Hour 2009!
The next moment, little kids came behind the stage came up with lanterns and luminous sticks. They had their funs twiggling and waving the color sticks around the stage! As the minutes ticked by and we were all casually hanging around, I noticed there were many photographers who also came by to capture this significant event. I supposed such event like this deserves a good coverage!
For the next hour, the crowd were served with refreshments and chinese musical instrument while sitting around chit chatting. As the clock struck 930pm,the lights came back. I noticed some faces among the crowd showed a sigh of relief. To how much the extend or impact of this global action had brought to them, I have no answer. But I am glad that the awareness had spread. Thank you to all the Earth Hour supporters!
The much anticipated inaugural Penang Earth Hour 2009 countdown at Island Plaza came
Tags: 28 March 2009, 8.30pm, 9.30pm, Add new tag, Cleome rutidosperma, Island Plaza, Penang Butterfly Farm, Penang Earth Hour 2009 Countdown
Posted in Habitat, Photos |
Earth Hour, 28 March 2009, 8.30pm
At 8.30PM on 28 MARCH 2009, 1000 cities and towns across the world will turn off their lights for ONE HOUR – sending a powerful global message that it’s possible to take action on global warming.
An initiative which started in Sydney in 2007 whereby lights were turn off for an hour, this noble gesture had spread across 370 cities and towns in more than 35 countries across 18 timezones, and the campaign shifted from a Sydney event to a global sustainability movement a year later. An estimated 50 to 100 million people around the world switched off their lights for Earth Hour in 2008, and global landmarks including the Golden Gate Bridge, Rome’s Coliseum, the Coke billboard in Times Square and Jumeirah Hotel in Dubai darkened for one hour.
In what we hope will be the world’s largest mass participation event, Earth Hour 2009 will be the culmination of one billion people around the globe, in more than 1000 cities from business, government and the community turning off lights, and sending a message to world leaders in the lead-up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference Copenhagen 2009 that we need a commitment to actions that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions for the short and long term benefit of the planet.
It is our delight that Penang Butterfly Farm together with other major tourist attractions in Penang had the privilege to join hands and support this significant Earth Hour cause. For the first time ever, Penang will be supporting this effort with many interesting programs. Major shopping complexes, hotels, government state buildings and many other tourist attractions have pledged their support on 28 March 2009, 8.30pm to power down the electricity of their non-critical areas premises.
Prior to this, some organisations had taken up their own initiative to organise some interesting awareness programs such as Essay Competition, GREEN Performance and NO CAR DAY. Penang Butterfly Farm, having its role played in the nature and environment sustainability efforts will be distributing 100 Butterfly Host Plants to all invited guests during the official countdown day at Island Plaza, 8.30pm. These host plants are meant for greater propagation which in directly translates to more butterflies in our Earth. Having said this, butterflies which play an important role in pollination will interact with other animals, plants and the physical environment in the ecosystem. The effects of the global warming which had already begun will continue to deteriorate if the ignorance and selfishness of human beings toward Mother Nature sees no mercy and stop.
Earth Hour is simply a message of hope and action. Imagine what we can do if we act together. Already, through the extensive WWF International network, Earth Hour 2009 will be delivered in over 60 countries; the number growing is each day.
For the sake of our future generations and loved ones, pledge your support with us – Earth Hour 2009 today!
Posted in Latest News, Mother Nature |
Secret of Eternal Youth is found in an Immortal Jellyfish
Immortal Jellyfish - Turritopsis nutricula
Believe it or not, according to scientists, the creature you see, which is a 5mm jellyfish is actually… immortal. It could possibly be the only creature in the world which is actually immortal.
Jellyfishes normally die after propogating themselves asexually, but most jellyfish of the genus Turritopsis are able to revert back into an immature sexual state after reaching adulthood, therefore technically, they could never die. It was also documented that it could transform into its younger form (in a bloblike cyst, which then develops into a polyp colony – the first stage of a jellyfish’s life) even when facing crisis, starvation or physical damage.
Such jellyfish which is a hydrozoan is believed to be able to transform itself from its adult state into younger state through process called transdifferetiation, where a type of cell can transform into another type of cell. This is usually only found in organ regeneration among living beings, but occurs quite naturally in this creature. These jellyfishes are now invading the oceans and its numbers are increasing rapidly. Marine biologists and scientists are now keeping a close eye on these tiny creatures.
Other known immortal species includes: Turritopsis dohrnii
Well, another creature which is believed to be immortal is the Hydra. It has been suggested that hydras do not undergo senescence or the aging process, and so are considered biologically immortal.
The jellyfish has also spark some humour on Scott Adam’s blog.
Generally speaking, animals in the natural world are very wary of attacking anything which might cause them harm. To do so would potentially cause them major injuries, reducing their chances of successfully catching prey. It is an effective survival mechanism, honed over centuries of evolution, so that apex predators avoid one another and other animals which could be dangerous to them. Now and again though, two closely matched creatures will stumble across one another. Sometimes, either through desperation or stupidity, this will result in a titanic struggle, a spectacular encounter which may end up with one or sometimes both animals sustaining life-threatening injuries.
Read the Top 10 Ocean Rivalries at AskMen.com >>
Tags: immortality
Posted in Ocean Life |
Winners of the Nature & Insect Conservation Photography Competition
Have you seen the winners’ photographs of our Nature & Insect Conservation Photography Competition?
You may view them at the below page (forum):
Nature & Insect Conservation Photography Competition Winners
Don’t forget to join our discussion at the forum too! 🙂
Tags: inesct photography, nature photography, photo contest, photography competition, photography winners, winners, winning photographs
Posted in Latest News, Photos |
A Butterfly Garden Opens At Changi T3 Airport
On Thursday, 28 August 2008, Singapore Changi Airport – the World’s Best Airport opened The World’s First Butterfly Garden In An Airport. Conceptualised by Butterfly House Consultancy Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Penang Butterfly Farm, the butterfly garden is designed to be a tropical nature retreat for passengers of Changi Airport Terminal 3’s Departure and Transit Mall to have a quick rest and relax from travelling. It is home to more than 1,000 free flying singapore butterflies, and close to 50 butterfly species native to Singapore and Malaysia were specifically selected to be bred in the butterfly garden.
The two-storey open-air enclosed garden is protected by a curved-shaped roof made out of high quality stainless steel mesh and unique glass windows, facing Changi Airport’s large airfield. It was designed in this manner to keep the butterflies in, maintaining exchange of wind and natural air which is vital to the survival of butterflies while maximising the butterflies’ flight activity.
Visitors walking inside this enclosure can view and enjoy the beautiful scenary of a waterfall which keeps the garden cool even at noon, and traversing a garden on timber walkway, the feeling being close to nature with exotic jungle plants and an unimaginable sight of colourful butterflies.
The media claimed that it is the most beautiful event that they had covered for Changi Airport. Mrs Lim Hwee Hua, Senior Minister of State for Finance and Transport who officially launched the butterfly garden, said:
“The Butterfly Garden is a unique attraction designed to complement Terminal 3’s nature theme and Singapore’s tropical garden image. Passengers will have a tranquil haven offering a respite from the stresses of traveling.”
The technical representative from Butterfly House Consultancy Sdn Bhd further advised that each plant has been carefully choosen for each butterfly species survival. In a garden like this, the butterflies are actually living in a “butterfly paradise” as they can easily find nectar and thrive in the abscence of predators, therefore they have longer life-span and naturally, very friendly to humans.
A stairway is to be found leading to the second level, where it brings visitors deeper into their imagination. As visitors watch closely on the leafs of plants on the balcony, creatures that are almost hidden emerge before one’s eyes causing a surprise. It seems the garden not only keeps butterflies alive, but alive with creatures of camouflage such as stick insects and leaf insects. The sight from the butterfly garden’s balcony is absolutely relaxing for its visitors; standing at the height of its waterfall, one can feel in awe with its beauty.
Related links:
Butterfly House Consultancy Website
Changi Airport Colours Website
Tags: airport butterfly garden, airport garden, changi airport, changi butterfly garden, changi t3, t3 butterfly garden
Posted in Butterflies, Habitat, Latest News, Plants & Flowers |
Butterfly World UK – The World’s Largest Butterfly Dome
An amazing plan for a giant butterfly dome has been revealed to the world to saving UK’s butterflies and their habitat…
Our dear friend, Clive Farrell, who is a butterfly enthusiast once said “I wanted to build one more butterfly house but on a gigantic scale and incorporating everything I have learned in 30 years about butterflies and the idea of a massive dome emerged. ”
The largest butterfly house or dome in the world, founded by Clive Farrell, will be built in a 26-acre site Chiswell Green, St. Albans, Hertfordshire in Great Britain. It will boast a collection of approximately 10,000 tropical butterflies consisting of 250 different species in a 300 foot wide complex.
Some of the more interesting planned sections of Butterfly World are caterpillar gardens, chrysalis pond, spiral proboscis walk and nectar gardens. The biome and walkthrough experience will include reproduced Mayan ruins and rainforest. This £25m world-class visitor attraction which opens in 2009 till 2011 in few phases, is expected to attract about 1 million visitors a year where 40% of them are children.
3D impression of Butterfly World UK from the sky. Image is courtesy of The Independent.
The aim of this butterfly dome is to raise immediate awareness of the current threats to the world’s butterfly and moth population and educate the public on conserving all flora and fauna in this world. This project will also largely help towards funding the organisations that care for and preserve the natural environment, which will benefit the public in return, as 10% of Butterfly World’s annual profit will be donated to the Butterfly World Trust to invest into research, conservation and community projects.
Clive also said “More than three quarters of British butterfly species have declined in the last 20 years, some of them very rapidly. That is worrying, not least because these declines indicate an underlying deterioration of the environment as a whole. For the sake of future generations we must take action now. Butterfly World is doing just that. It is putting the issues on the agenda and is seeking to help reverse this environmental catastrophe.”
From left to right, David Bellamy - botanist, environmental campaigner and broadcaster, Clive Farrell - world renown lepidopterist and Sir David Attenborough - broadcaster and naturalist.
Dear Clive, we thank you for continuous inspiration to us.
“Making butterfly spotting accessible gets people in touch with nature. Butterflies are essential indicators of the health of the environment, as well as being beautiful and quite wonderful to watch. It’s an honour to be recognised for doing something I love.” said Clive.
Butterflies are continuing to lose their habitat not only in the UK but also every part of the world. Here are some facts about butterflies in the UK alone:
- During the 20th century, 5 butterfly species (in Great Britain) and 60 moth species became extinct!
- Losses of butterfly species have outstripped those of birds and plants!
- The number of butterfly species on the priority endangered species list has more than doubled in twelve years, rising from 11 butterflies and 53 moths in 2005 to 24 butterflies and over 150 moths in 2007!
- The Large Blue or Maculinea arion – the UK’s largest and rarest blue butterfly became extinct in the British Isles in 1979!
Tags: butterfly dome, butterfly dome uk, butterfly habitat, butterfly world, butterfly world uk, clive farrell
Posted in Butterflies, Habitat, Latest News |
Antartica Sea Expedition Photos
I’ve been following the updates of the Antartica sea expedition by New Zealand scientists, and here are some photos taken by them.
Giant Sea Spider
Octopus
Sea Stars
Shrimp Like Creature
Tags: antartica, giant sea spider, octopus, photos and images, predatory fish, sea star, shrimp, underwater
Posted in Latest News, Ocean Life |