Maculate Ladybirds at Admiralty Park!

This morning’s survey was at the forested area of Admiralty Park.

However, the highlight of the day was after the survey at the pond next to Sakura buffet restaurant, where I found the Maculate Ladybird (Harmonia octomaculata) for the first time in Singapore!

Colour variation in two individuals of Harmonia octomaculata

Two specimens were collected during the survey, both on Simpoh Air (Dillenia suffruticosa), which was to be expected since the “forested” area is predominantly composed of that. The ones found here were relatively higher up in the trees, a few were spotted but were out of reach, even with the mega net on hand.

See that tiny red glob near the center of the picture? That’s a ladybird!

On closer inspection, it looks like it may be Chilocorus politus.

Second one was also a glob, but black instead.

Definitely looks like a Chilocorus spp, but exact species has yet to be determined.

After the survey, Sam and I went to check out the pond, which was swarming with mating dragon and damelflies, as well as aphids!

Good supply of aphids!

And where there are aphids, there are of course, ladybirds!

What looks like the larvae of Menochilus sexmaculatus feeding on the aphids.

Menochilus sexmaculatus adult

The same individual, harassing a dragonfly.

The black Chilocorus spp, which, close up, looks somewhat like Darth Vader! Seems it can be found both in the forest and at the pond.

While photographing the ladybirds, as well as the many dragonflies and damselflies, a man who identified himself as an NParks staff approached us, introducing himself as Mr. Neo and asking if we were looking for ladybirds. It seems that he has heard of the project, perhaps through NParks Buzz! He then showed us one he had just caught. I was expecting something that we had already seen, but it turned out to be a pleasant surprise! He had a large, orange individual of Harmonia octomaculata, which prior to this I had only seen on the Malaysian Ladybird blog! He then brought us over to a clump of Cyperus papyrus where he had caught the ladybird. Within seconds we were spotting both pupae and adults!

Pupa.

Slightly smaller and redder adult.

At about 7mm long, it is relatively large for a local ladybird.

In conclusion, hooray! It’s another species record confirmed for Singapore, and a (relatively) large and charismatic one at that! I wish I could provide a solid number of species recorded so far, but the identities of many of the specimens (especially the small ones) are hard to ascertain, and will probably require the help of experts at a later (actually soonish) stage. At this point, I would say 20 is a rather conservative estimate so far, but hopefully the actual number will be more than that!

Also, I wish I could post more regularly, and a number of posts are already lined up (Intro to ladybirds, and sightings by members of the public!). This is a rather intensive period of surveys, so when things pan out do expect more frequent updates!

Cheers,

Sean