Entomological Network of Singapore

19/08/2026

Following up on our earlier video — want to dig a little deeper into the science?

The full paper by Ong et al. (2026) explores how DNA recovered from the gut contents of dung beetles can reveal which vertebrates they have been feeding from, allowing researchers to build dung beetle–vertebrate trophic networks across a tropical forest.

Some particularly interesting findings:

🔬 Vertebrate DNA could still be detected in most beetles 24 hours after feeding.

🪲 DNA was even recovered from around 50% of beetles that appeared to have empty guts.

🐸🐦🐾 The method detected interactions involving amphibians, birds and mammals — including rare species such as the Sunda slow loris and Sunda pangolin.

🌳 Across 50 forest sites, these records helped reveal how dung beetles interact with the wider vertebrate community.

It is a fascinating example of how studying insects can provide a window into an entire ecosystem, and how entomology and molecular techniques can complement more conventional approaches to biodiversity monitoring.

📖 For those interested in the science behind the video, have a read of the full paper: https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.70151

18/08/2026

What can dung beetles tell us about the animals living in our forests? Quite a lot, actually!

Dung beetles don't just recycle nutrients — the dung they feed on can contain traces of DNA from the vertebrates that left it behind.

In this study, Ong et al. (2026) developed an optimised DNA metabarcoding approach using dung beetles as sources of vertebrate DNA, allowing researchers to reconstruct dung beetle–vertebrate feeding networks and potentially detect the animals present within an ecosystem.

This opens up another interesting way insects can contribute to biodiversity monitoring — especially in species-rich tropical forests where detecting vertebrates using conventional surveys can be challenging.

Sometimes, studying the smallest animals can tell us a lot about the bigger ones!

In this study, we present an optimised DNA metabarcoding protocol t...

17/08/2026

🪲 New insect research from Singapore! 🐉
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5866.3.5

A little shout-out to this newly published paper on the dragonfly Pornothemis starrei — describing its larval stage for the very first time, based on specimens collected in Singapore and successfully reared to adulthood!

What makes this especially interesting is that this is also the first larval description for the entire genus Pornothemis. The study documents how the larva can be distinguished from other Southeast Asian dragonflies, while adding information on its habitat, taxonomy and distribution.

It is a nice reminder that even in well-studied Singapore, there is still plenty we don't know about the insects living around us — sometimes even the immature stages of species we already know.

Congratulations to Tosaphol Saetung Keetapithchayakul, Zick Soh, Quoc Toan Phan and Robin Wen Jiang Ngiam on the publication! 🎉

And perhaps... time to go looking in more mangroves? 😆

16/07/2026

This may well be one of Singapore's landmark cases where entomological evidence played a pivotal role in the outcome of a court decision.

The case centred on subterranean termites, but it also highlights something much bigger—the growing importance of entomological expertise in our increasingly urbanised landscape.

Urban insects are often viewed through a simple lens: if it's inside a building, it's a pest. However, insects found around our homes and buildings are far more diverse than that. Some are genuine structural pests requiring immediate intervention, while others are harmless accidental visitors, predators, pollinators, or species simply displaced by urban development.

Without understanding an insect's identity, biology and ecology, it becomes easy to label every insect as a "pest" rather than asking more useful questions:

- What species is it?
- Why is it here?
- Is it causing damage, or is it merely passing through?
- What does its presence tell us about the surrounding environment?

This case also illustrates how entomology extends well beyond identifying insects. Knowledge of termite biology, nesting behaviour, dispersal pathways and evidence such as mud tubes allowed the court to determine the most likely origin of the infestation and assess whether reasonable preventive measures had been taken.

As Singapore continues to urbanise while promoting coexistence with nature, there is an increasing need to bridge entomology with pest management, urban ecology, engineering, architecture and public policy. Effective insect management is not simply about eliminating insects, it begins with correctly understanding them.

After all, insects are wildlife too. The challenge is knowing which species require management, which deserve conservation, and how science helps us tell the difference.

The court awarded them $10,978 for repair costs. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

14/07/2026

The recent Straits Times article on the Redhill hornet incident is a good reminder that hornets deserve our respect, especially around their nests.

One small entomological clarification: the article refers to "Hymenoptera" venom. Hymenoptera is actually an entire order of insects, not just hornets. It includes:
• 🐜 Ants
• 🐝 Bees
• 🪰 Wasps (including hornets)
• and thousands of other species such as parasitoid wasps and sawflies.

Not all Hymenoptera have the same venom or even sting humans.
Most wasp species do not sting humans, especially the tiny ones.
Moreover, their venom composition differs greatly between groups.

Avoid swatting at the insects, as this may provoke them and trigger a more aggressive response. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

20/06/2026

Discover the newly found scarab beetle species on Pulau Ubin, documented in a publication highlighting the island's rich natural heritage. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

11/06/2026

🐞 What an incredible weekend at the Festival of Biodiversity 2026! 🦋

A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by the ENSING booth over the weekend, 6 & 7 June during the Festival of Biodiversity Singapore organised by NParks.

Whether you came to admire our insect specimens, learn about cicadas, discover the hidden world of insects, or simply satisfy your curiosity, we truly enjoyed sharing our passion for insects with you.

One of the highlights for us was meeting so many people who were fascinated by the incredible diversity of insects found right here in Singapore. From familiar butterflies & dragonflies to the lesser-known beetles, true bugs, mantises and cockroaches, every conversation reminded us how much there is still to discover about the "little things that run the world."

Let's continue exploring, documenting, and appreciating Singapore's incredible insect biodiversity together.
Every observation matters, and every curious mind helps build a greater appreciation for the insects around us. 🐜🪲🦋

06/06/2026

"The survey recovered an estimated 100,000 species (of insects) from 24 plots across the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, Clementi Forest, Dover Forest and several nature parks between 2024 and 2025.

While physically small, flies, wasps and other flying insects form the foundation of healthy forest ecosystems by acting as a food source and by helping to decompose organic matter and support plant reproduction."

These findings were announced at the Festival of Biodiversity 2026. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

06/06/2026

Around 140,000 unique insect DNA sequences, including undescribed species, were recovered in Singapore’s forests through a recent study conducted by NParks, NUS and the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum.

Minister of State for National Development and Trade and Industry Alvin Tan shared about the study at the Jun. 6 Festival of Biodiversity.

It is the largest-ever survey of flying insect communities in Singapore's forests, conducted over a year using traps and biodiversity sequencing technology.

“This level of species diversity is unparalleled locally and places insects as a megadiverse, integral component of Singapore's tropical forests,” NParks said.

The agency added that flying insect populations are facing global decline and remain severely understudied. The survey findings help to provide a current estimate of insect species across different types of forests, and will inform effective conservation and forest management strategies in Singapore.

Photos by Hwang Wei Song and Lim Le Xuan