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Carpenter Bees of Jurong Lake Gardens

Carpenter bees from the genus Xylocopa are large and often hairy bees that are usually dark coloured and about 20-30 mm in length.

Behaviour and Ecology

True to their name, they create burrows in solid wood, usually dead tree trunks and branches or timber used for construction. These burrows branch out into many parallel passageways. Brood cells in their nest are filled with pollen and deposited with a single egg each. Unlike honey bees, which live in colonies with a single egg-laying female (the queen), Carpenter Bees are considered solitary bees which live singly or in small groups. All females are able to reproduce.

In addition to being large, they also buzz loudly while foraging for nectar and pollen from many trees and shrubs. Despite this, they are peaceful giants that are relatively docile and harmless. They carry out buzz pollination, where they grab onto flowers and buzz at a specific frequency, releasing pollen in the process. They function as pollinators of many local plants such as Sendudok (Melastoma malabathricum) and Simpoh Air (Dillenia suffruticosa).

About 13 species of carpenter bees have been recorded in Singapore. Here are some common species found in Jurong Lake Gardens.

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Malayan Water Monitor

Photo credit: Loke Peng Fai
Two males wrestling. Photo credit: Perlyn Chng
Scientific name: | Varanus salvator
Common name: | Malayan Water Monitor
Family: | VaranidaeUp to 3 m

What does it look like?

It is a large greyish brown lizard with leathery skin and non-overlapping scales. Its tongue is slender and forked. In Singapore, it is often mistaken for the Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) and is also a smaller relative of the Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis). You can usually spot a few of them roaming around Jurong Lake Gardens.

Behaviour and Ecology

Diet and Behaviour

The Malayan Water Monitor eats fishes, frogs, crabs, birds and other small animals, and has been known to scavenge on dead animals. It hunts during the day. This generalist diet allows it to be very adaptable to even highly disturbed environments.

These reptiles are usually shy, preferring to run from disturbance. It is advisable to leave them alone as they may become aggressive when cornered.

Where is it found?

It can be found in our forests, mangroves, parks and gardens, and tends to stay close to water bodies. It is mainly terrestrial but can also climb trees. It can sometimes be seen diving into the water from treetops at mangroves at Pasir Ris Park and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. It can also be found in urban areas, usually near canals. It is distributed from Sri Lanka and southern China to Southeast Asia.

Did you know?

When you see two monitors “hugging” each other, they are actually two males engaged in a wrestling match. The one that pushes the other onto the ground wins the favour of the female monitor they are trying to impress!

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Part 2

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Part 1

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Ther is six type of animals that can be found in Jurong lake gardens:Mammals,

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Ther is six type of animals that can be found in Jurong lake gardens:Mammals,

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I am confused why the Singapore want to make the Jurong lake gardens so good.confused:

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does the park have animals that we don't usually see

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What do you think about the facilities in Jurong lake gardens ??

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I like the facilities in Jurong lake gardens

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Are the fruits in Jurong lake garden free

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Are the fruits in Jurong lake garden free

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It is good to have those facilities right??😂😂😂😂

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How long did it take to build all those facilities in Jurong lake

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how is going to the park beneficial

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Can the fruits and vegetables from the edible show garden be sold?

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Why does Singapore continue to make more of these such gardens and green spaces when we are running out of land?

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how many times was the lake cleaned

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What  will people gain from going to such parks.

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all the thing build there is very fun no wonder Jurong lake garden once is closed for a long time

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How many of such parks are in Singapore? Also i don’t see such things in Jurong Lake Gardens

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i love geog

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How come Sg wants to build all these things?

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How long is the log trail in Jurong lake garden?

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I have never seen anything in Jurong Lake that was featured in the article. WHY IS THAT???

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What are the other good parks other than Jurong lake garden