RESERVE REPORT November 2015 Introduction The summer shrill of the cicada is in full swing. This month our Conservation Intern, Paige Ezzey, enlightens us about these fantastic creatures, drawing attention to the interesting facts and endearments that effect the life of a cicada. 2015 is drawing to a close, I wish to thank Paige for her contributions to the Reserve Report, and other, over the past 10 months, continuing to build up an informative reference of educational articles that highlight a particular aspect of the environment during the reporting month. Paige leaves our employment shortly in pursuit of studying her Higher Diploma in Nature Conservation. We wish Paige all the best with her post graduate studies. The Cicada, the Summer Screamer As you walk beneath the Mopani trees in camp in the early summer (November – December), you will experience the air piercing shrills that make your ears and head buzz. If you’ve ever wondered what the mysteriously hidden creature is that makes this sound, you have found your answer here. The vocalist is the cicada, the bug that screams. What are they? The cicada looks like a strange mix of cricket, fly and moth, with some thinking it is a beetle, but the truth is that it is none of these. The cicada is in fact a bug, belonging to the Hemiptera family (true bugs) which are insects. In particular, it belongs to the suborder, Auchenorrhyncha, which means they are in the same group as aphids, leafhoppers and spittlebugs. There are about 1300 cicada species worldwide, 150 occur in South Africa. Here are a few species found in South Africa: Picture 1: The Axe Head Cicada that is common on Ingwelala and in other parts of Limpopo. It appears that this species is an annual type, repeating its cycle every year. It produces a sustained high pitched call alternating between a smooth note and a trill. Picture 2: The Cape Emerald Cicada endemic to the Afromontane forests and fynbos. Makes a characteristic intermittent clicking call while flying. Picture 3: Giant Forest Cicada which also occurs in the Lowveld. Very loud, continuous calls, almost pure tone. Picture 4: Orange Wing Cicada endemic to the western and Eastern capes. Produces a continuous high pitched call on one note, almost smooth but changing to a trill. Picture 5: Green Wing Cicada found in Lowveld. Produces clicks and “churr” sounds. Picture 6: Bladder Cicada endemic to Eastern Cape. Produces a repetitive, grating call that is frog-like. Cicadas are NOT “Christmas Beetles”! Picture 8: This is a Christmas Beetle Picture 9: This is a Cicada There are two groups that fall under the super family Cicadoidea (cicadas). These are Cicadidae and Tettigarctidae. The tymbal organs (the organs that produce the cicada’s loud sound) in the Tettigarctidae are not as well developed as in the Cicadidae. Picture 10: The well-known Cicadidae family Picture 11: A member of the Tettigarctidae subfamily, these are known as hairy cicadas and are a more primitive form than the more well-known Cicadidae species. Tettigarctidae species are mostly extinct and restricted to Australia. Where do Cicadas live? Cicadas are found on every continent in the world, except for Antarctica, as they prefer warmer climates. Many species occur within specific biogeographical regions, giving this insect a high degree of local endemism. Cicadas spend most of their lives developing as nymphs in the soil before they emerge as adults. They then live in trees where they feed on plant sap with their mouth parts (proboscis) adapted for sucking. Cicada proboscis mouth part. It sucks up plant sap like humans drink through a straw. Interesting facts Life cycle: The cicada is known for its synchronised life cycle, with some species taking two to seventeen years as nymphs before reaching adulthood. This potentially classifies the cicada as the insect with the longest larval development stage in the world. The breeding cycle begins when adults mate after the males lure the females with their attractive cicada songs. Mating Gender comparison: Male left, female right. Only the male sings in the Cicadidae family group Egg slits on a branch After mating the female lands in a tree, and uses her saw-like, egg laying organ (ovipositor) to fashion a slit into the bark. This is where she lays her eggs, some females lay up to 400 eggs at a time. These eggs hatch and the nymphs drop to the ground where they burrow down to depths of 2.5 meters deep into the soil. Cicada nymphs excavate chambers close to plant roots where they feed on sap. The nymphs continue to develop until they reach the final stage known as instar, when they tunnel to the surface and exit the soil. Emergent cicadas land on plants where they shed their skins for the final time, morphing into adulthood. Abandoned nymph skin left on plant Cicada nymph burrowing to surface Freshly emerged adult cicada on the left and abandoned nymph skin on the right The males die after mating and the females die after laying their eggs. The magic cicada die in their thousands when finished breeding. Its South African counterparts suffer the same fate. Picture 7: The “Double Drummer” cicada species found in Australia. According to scientists, this is the loudest insect in the world! The Cicada Song: Unlike similar insects, such as crickets, the male cicada does not use stridulation or the rubbing together of body parts to make their loud sound. Instead, they have a unique noise making organ, called a tymbal, located on the front side of the hollow body of the male that acts as a sound box. The noise is made with the contraction of muscles acting against the tymbals, which produces clicks which are combined into continuous notes. The cicada actually has the ability to manipulate the sound by changing its position in relation to a surface. Each species has its own distinctive mating songs and acoustic signals that ensure only appropriate mates are attracted to the sound. The sound and singing strategy of males differs between species, and often it is more than one male species singing at one time. Cicada experts are able to distinguish between the different songs of the males, with one species imitating the sound of a sizzling skillet, another sounding like a high pitched lawn mower and a third with a song that sounds like its repeating the word “pharaoh” in a droning tone. Some male species prefer to sing alone, while others, like the ones on Ingwelala, prefer to sing in chorus, congregated in one particular location. But whether these little guys sing alone or together, to sit beneath them on a bench will surely leave you with a buzzing head! Cicadas singing in chorus, congregated in one spot on a tree. Ingwelala’s cicadas seem to adopt this singing strategy Some cicada species produce sounds that measure up to 120 decibels, which is among the loudest of all insectproduced sounds. The song is loud enough to cause permanent hearing damage in humans should the cicada sing too close to the ear. In contrast, some of the smaller cicada species have such high pitched songs, they are inaudible to humans. So it pays to keep your distance! In addition to the mating song, many species have a distinct distress call, usually a broken and erratic sound emitted when the insect is seized or panicked. Males also produce “encounter calls”, whether in courtship or to maintain personal space within choruses. Only the males sing, which attracts the females, which are lured by the sound to his position. A female responds to a male with a flick of her wings. The two gradually draw close to one another until they meet for mating. Other Interesting Cicada Facts: In China male cicadas are kept in cages in people's homes so that the homeowners can enjoy the cicadas' songs. Cicadas give away their pending emergence by building thousands of "chimneys" or "stovepipes" on the ground, especially near trees. They will emerge through these structures when they leave the ground and crawl up trees and shrubs. Cicada emergence holes Stove pipe created by emerging cicada nymphs The transparent wings of cicadas are said to filter out ultraviolet light. People who have placed a cicada wing on their skin prior to exposure to the sun have noticed that they do not tan under the wing. Cicadas are said to make good eating because they are low in fat and high in protein. They are considered a delicacy by many people around the world. Cicada Anti-Predator Tactics: These insects have excellent camouflage. You may have noticed the cicadas on your windows look like bark, with disruptive patterns on their body that allow them to blend in with the trees. Have you ever been able to look into a tree and successfully spot an African cicada singing? Try it when next you visit the Reserve. Cicadas possess wings that do not reflect light, therefore preventing the typical insect cuticle shine. Cicadas can be extremely difficult to see on trees Cicadas are very strong fliers, who are able to fly at high speeds escaping their predators. Scientists say that the reason behind the cicada’s long period of nymph stage is to “outsmart” their predators by having a life cycle that is out of sync with specialized cicada killers, such as the cicada killer wasp and the praying mantis. Diet: Cicada nymphs suck sap from the xylem of various species of trees. While it is common folklore that adults do not eat, this is not true because adults do drink plant sap utilizing their sucking mouthparts. Should you be concerned about Cicadas? Cicadas are purely herbivore, feeding entirely on plant sap, and are harmless to humans; they do not bite or sting, but can occasionally mistake a person's arm for a plant limb and attempt to feed. The Cicada’s Value to Animals: The explosion of cicadas in the summer time is like nature’s Christmas treat to the multitudes of different life forms that occur in the bush veld and other ecosystems in South Africa. They provide an important energy source for birds, reptiles, mammals, other insects and even fungi. The cicada’s presence means that smaller animal viewing around your bungalow will likely boom. Just this morning I woke up to observe a dozen birds on the patio feasting on the cicada bodies failing to return to their roost from the night before. Therefore, the great abundance of cicadas in the summer is probably a major contributor to the breeding and survival success of other species, which have an important ecological role to fulfil. Cicadas help to keep the natural ecosystem functioning. The Cicada’s Value to Trees: Since cicadas parasitize on trees, they contribute to biodiversity by preventing their host tree populations from out competing other tree species. Cicadas provide trees a service by pruning the weak branches of a tree, the tree benefits by not having to waste energy supporting a weak or diseased branch. Cicadas provide natural fertilizer for trees through their decaying mass, recycling much needed nutrients into the soils. The Cicada’s Value to People: Cicadas are an important food source to humans as well as animals. In some places, these insects are people’s staple diet. Facts researched off various internet sites on cicadas. Words by Paige Ezzey. The Field Guide to Insects of South Africa, 2004 by Picker, Griffiths and Weaving was also consulted for information on the different South African cicada species. Pictures courtesy of Google Images. From the Board The next Members Information Evening (Bird Evening) will take place on 02 March 2016 at 18h00 at Country Club Johannesburg; Woodmead. Ingwelala Director of Environmental Management, Dr Chris Henderson, will be speaking about conservation objectives and management on Ingwelala, how this complies with the APNR Management Plan, and what projects are currently being undertaken. General feedback will be provided from recent Board Meetings regarding current topics of interest. Climate and rainfall (summary) Rainfall: Minimum temperature: Maximum temperature: 49.5 mm 16 degrees Celsius. 42 degrees Celsius. The following graph summarises total rainfall recorded at Ingwelala for the month of November over the past 32 years. (Note: November 2015: 49.5 mm rainfall is below the November monthly average of 60.1 mm) Staff complement Reserve Manager (1) Conservation Manager and 2iC (1) Camp and Systems Manageress (1) Front Desk Manageress (1) Accounts Manageress (1) Workshop Manager (1) Maintenance Manager (1) Reception and Housekeeping (1) Field Assistants (7) Grounds staff (2) Domestics (14) Maintenance Assistants (5) Workshop Assistants (5) Petrol and Stores Attendant (1) Shop assistants (2) Sibon (2) Conservation Intern (x1) Staff Movement Nil Bungalows for sale Bungalow # 183, a 50% share of six shares for R4.0 million. Conservation Alien plant eradication Conservation staff targeted mature Opuntia (prickly pear) stands and treated with herbicide four plants on Argyle, four plants on Buffelsbed and one plant in Camp. Veld Rehabilitation X 46000 bundles of old thatch grass spread on bare soil on Buffelsbed between Southern Boundary Road and Argyle Road. Selective bush thinning by mechanical means of tractor and chains (pulling) recommenced on Buffelsbed on Eastern River Road (opposite the Platform). In addition two new trial methods on Grewia spp. control commenced, namely foliar spray and cut stump treatment. Results will be monitored to ascertain best effectiveness for our local environment. Erosion Control Nil. Roads and Tracks 100% of the mitre drains on Argyle, Goedehoop, Buffelsbed and Sibon serviced and completed. Airstrip The airstrip surface continues to be inspected on a weekly basis and general condition recorded in a register. Any identified hazards are removed. The surface was compacted with an industrial roller immediately after 16mm of rainfall. All airstrip users are reminded to complete (once off) an Ingwelala Airstrip Indemnity Form before landing. Indemnity forms are obtainable from [email protected] Guest pilots must also complete the form. Fencing Four breaches by elephants during the reporting period. Hides, Bomas and Picnic Sites Nil. Game sightings The month of November was unusually “quiet” as far as game sightings go. Indicative of this was a period of six days when no sightings were recorded in the register. In the whole month there was only one lion sighting and one buffalo sighting mentioned on Ingwelala. Elephant sightings were also fewer than expected. Four leopard sightings. It seemed the tar road early mornings produced far better sightings. The wild dogs brought some hope for frequent predator sightings, their pack numbers varying between 10 and 25 with several sub adults in tow. Good photographs of wild dogs for research ID purposes are always well received. General sightings included giraffe, blue wildebeest, zebra, waterbuck, kudu, nyala, impala, bushbuck, Sharpe’s grysbok, grey duiker, warthog, African wild cat, honey badger, civet, genet, banded mongoose, dwarf mongoose, spotted hyena and black-backed jackal. At the time of writing, impalas had finally commenced lambing, as much as two weeks later than expected. Bird sightings noted in the sightings register; Fish Eagle, African Jacana, Spotted Flycatcher, Bronze-winged Courser, Rattling Cisticola, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Masked Weaver, Jacobin Cuckoo, White-throated Robin-Chat, African Paradise Flycatcher and Dwarf Bittern. The first Woodland Kingfisher was first heard early morning on 21 November. Thank you to those Members who continue to write up their sightings in the register. Security No incidents on Ingwelala during the reporting period. The current property loss insurer, Thatch Risk Acceptances, very kindly sponsored Ingwelala a new security dog. The three year old female Malinois, Stormy, is highly trained to detect firearm, ammunition and animal products. Stormy is also trained to track humans. Mark Shaw is the handler (who also received plenty of obedience training!) and Mark appeals strongly to everyone not to touch or greet Stormy if he is not present, i.e. if Stormy is alone on the back of his Land Cruiser, please don’t walk up to the dog and try patting her! A sincere thank you to Natasja Blok and her team from Thatch Risk Acceptances for supporting our conservation efforts and fight against wildlife crime. Their understanding, support and generosity cannot be underestimated. Stormy in a reflective mood. Road Kills X1 Squirrel X1 Spurfowl X1 Scrub Hare X1 Nightjar General Fire Risk Management All fire-fighting equipment checked on a weekly basis and on stand-by for any emergencies. Fire tender (LDV F1) driven on a weekly basis. Two tractors available again to assist with fire-fighting (water drawn carts). X 20 fire beaters in good working order. Umbabat One successful legal land owner hunt on one buffalo carried out in the Umbabat Wilderness Conservation Area. Water reticulation Yield data for the boreholes is reflected in the following table, comparative with previous months. BOREHOLE BH NO 1 BH NO 2 BH NO 3 BH NO 4 BH NO 5 BH NO 6 BH NO 7 BH NO 9 J.B GOODEHOOP NOV 15 249 551 860 417 260 566 324 Solar 21 1079 OCT 15 20 330 335 560 252 642 508 Solar 134 1122 SEP 15 0 599 128 262 113 1000 483 Solar 213 837 AUG 15 * 957 430 741 378 986 577 Solar 234 0 JUL 15 * 875 272 929 406 1176 523 Solar 112 0 JUN 15 0 899 360 820 229 1332 739 Solar 382 0 MAY 15 0 955 211 614 92 1004 717 Solar 205 270 APR 15 0 850 164 787 324 662 686 Solar 176 342 MAR 15 8 749 319 781 251 1156 693 Solar 236 438 FEB 15 0 812 283 163 265 1063 765 Solar 188 373 Eskom Usage The following graph shows the monthly Eskom Usage (Kwh) for Ingwelala. WORKSHOP NOV 15 OCT 15 SEP 15 AUG 15 JUL 15 JUN 15 MAY 15 APR 15 MAR 15 FEB 15 41 59 53 72 56 42 60 59 34 JOB CARDS OPENED 30 JOB CARDS CLOSED 23 57 50 58 55 40 31 56 58 45 GENERATOR HOURS 31.6 11.1 5.3 4.2 17.8 11.8 23.6 16.3 9.6 32.8 DIESEL TANK (L) 425 775 900 950 500 725 850 675 420 550 Vehicles and Workshop The general fleet and static plant maintenance is 100% compliant with the servicing schedule. Building projects Current (major) building projects are listed below: Bung No Name Work requested Approval % Complete Builder 186 John Hawkins Re-thatch Approved July 15 Not selected 0% 196 Chris Knight Approved May 15 Not selected 95% 205 Gary Jordan Bathroom Ext, Re-thatch Gazebo, patio & interior revamp Approved August 15 Chameleon 85% Bungalows (known) working towards Building Committee approval for various scopes of work include #9, #44, #94 and #161. Reception Statistics GATE STATISTICS NOV 15 OCT 15 SEP 15 AUG 15 JUL 15 JUN 15 MAY 15 APR 15 MAR 15 FEB 15 VEHICLES 150 195 259 321 313 279 176 393 184 133 MEMBERS GUESTS 416 543 745 944 960 869 446 1186 499 371 UNACCOMP GUESTS 0 26 13 25 38 32 29 40 24 5 UNITS OCCUPIED 92 115 166 172 177 165 138 222 116 90 AIRBORNE VISITORS 13 7 12 26 26 2 6 6 6 1 COTTAGE NIGHTS NOV 15 OCT 15 SEP 15 AUG 15 JUL 15 JUN 15 MAY 15 APR 15 MAR 15 FEB 15 HORNBILL 0 7 12 16 19 16 7 20 12 5 FRANCOLIN 9 3 14 21 22 12 3 13 6 8 GUINEAFOWL 10 3 11 18 14 8 2 12 14 3 General 1. Our sincerest condolences to the Fox family in Bungalow # 142 over the recent passing away of a close family member. 2. Remember to join us at the Members Area for the New Year Bash. This year’s theme is “Beach in the Bush” with a ravenous menu to be enjoyed under the African sky. Book early with Reception to avoid disappointment. ANNEXURE1: GRAPHS No. of Vehicles (per month) 450 400 350 300 250 2013 2014 200 2015 150 100 50 0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC No. of Bungalows Occupied (per month) 250 200 150 2013 2014 2015 100 50 0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC No. of Guests (per month) 1400 1200 1000 800 2013 2014 2015 600 400 200 0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Hornbill Occupancy (nights per month) 30 25 20 2013 2014 15 2015 10 5 0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Francolin Occupancy (nights per month) 30 25 20 2013 2014 15 2015 10 5 0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Guineafowl Occupancy (nights per month) 30 25 20 2013 2014 15 2015 10 5 0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC No. of job cards opened (per month) 100 90 80 70 60 2013 2014 50 2015 40 30 20 10 0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Generator Hours (per month) 50 45 40 35 30 2013 2014 25 2015 20 15 10 5 0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Ground Water Extraction m3 (combined boreholes per month) 6000 5000 4000 2013 2014 3000 2015 2000 1000 0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
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