{"id":51752,"date":"2018-03-20T00:01:23","date_gmt":"2018-03-19T16:01:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/besgroup.org\/?p=51752"},"modified":"2023-06-24T16:55:50","modified_gmt":"2023-06-24T08:55:50","slug":"singapore-rhododendron-bees-a-lizard-and-a-bird","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/besgroup.org\/2018\/03\/20\/singapore-rhododendron-bees-a-lizard-and-a-bird\/","title":{"rendered":"Singapore Rhododendron: Bees, a lizard and a bird"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Singapore or Straits Rhododendron (Melastona malabathricum<\/em>) is a common weedy shrub that is found all over Singapore. The fruits are sought after by at least 8 species of birds LINK<\/a>. The seeds are tiny and numerous and pass off with the birds\u2019 faeces, usually some distance away from the fruit source.<\/p>\n

The flowers are pollinated by bees, the most prominent being the Carpenter Bees LINK<\/a>. The fruits are commonly taken by the Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum cruentatum<\/em>) that spread the seeds far and wide\u00a0LINK<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I have retained a plant in my garden for some years now. It was most likely brought in by a Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker. I love to hear and see the colourful Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker flying to the tree for the fruits. I also love to see the large carpenter bees visiting the flowers.<\/p>\n

A mistletoe (Scurrula<\/em> sp.) has established on its branches LINK<\/a>. This will attract its own complement of fauna, making the plant richer in biodiversity.<\/p>\n

\"M<\/a><\/p>\n

A few hours in the evening monitoring my Singapore Rhododendron showed the presence of the big Black Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa latipes<\/em>)\u00a0and the Halictid Bee or Sweat Bee (Anthophora zonata<\/em>) (above). The latter was soon gobbled up by Male Changeable Lizard (Calotes versicolor<\/em>). The video clip also caught the male Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker visiting for the fruits.<\/p>\n