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

For many species of insects, mimicry is one of the key to survival. However in a latest findings by an insect ecologist – mimicry caused by parasites can be life torturing for some insects such as ants.

Here’s what I mean when you see these photos:

This tropical ant of the species Cephalotes atratus is infected with a parasitic roundworm that makes its bulbous rear end, called a gaster, look like a juicy red berry. Researchers believe the parasites transform the gasters to trick foraging birds into eating the ants. Birds poop out parasite eggs, allowing the worms to spread to new ant colonies.

The Cephalotes atratus ants are common in the tropical forest canopy in Central and Latin America. If knocked off a branch, they can glide toward the tree trunk, grab hold, and climb back up.

  - photos by Steve Yanoviak and National Geographic

Insect ecologist Steve Yanoviak says the finding is the first known example of fruit mimicry caused by a parasite in the world.

Such as an amazing discovery, isn’t it? Too bad for the ants, they enjoy feeding on birds’ feces which contain those worms that causes this strange life cycle to go on. Well, that’s nature!

You can read the full story here:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/01/photogalleries/ant-pictures/index.html