As a small city state, with few natural areas remaining, biological conservation is important to Singapore It is imperative for the government and conservationists to determine Singaporeans’ attitudes and behaviours toward biological conservation and which demographic variables predict for conservation attitude in order to design and implement conservation policies in a more socially acceptable manner. A survey, of the undergraduate student class of 405 with 310 respondents (76.5%) but only 280 (69.1%) usable, was conducted on 21 Feb.2008 during a lecture of SSS 1207 (The Natural Heritage of Singapore) at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Data analyses revealed that students do not particularly prefer to conserve plant species, animal species or natural habitats over any other, and are also more likely to exhibit introverted conservation behaviours such as using conservation-friendly products rather than extroverted behaviours such as submitting a petition to a relevant government agency to take up conservation causes. Students from the higher and lower household income groups, who had enrolment in modules involving conservation, who have biological knowledge and who major in computing were more likely to have more pro-conservation attitudes.

Opinions and declarations Rendered by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature

In Singapore, the Australian cockroach is apparently a non-native insect. It resembles the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) in general appearance, but is smaller and has a distinct yellow stripe on the anterior outer edge of its forewing. Although regarded as a pest of buildings in many areas of the tropics (Teo, 1990: 178), the Australian cockroach tends to be more commonly found outdoors among vegetation in gardens and parks (Goh et al., 2002: 19). The contributor In Singapore, the Australian cockroach is apparently a non-native insect. It resembles the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) in general appearance, but is smaller and has a distinct yellow stripe on the anterior outer edge of its forewing. Although regarded as a pest of buildings in many areas of the tropics (Teo, 1990: 178), the Australian cockroach tends to be more commonly found outdoors among vegetation in gardens and parks (Goh et al., 2002: 19). The contributor finds this to be the case in Singapore. Unlike the American cockroach that is ubiquitous in urban areas, he has never encountered the Australian cockroach in buildings. He also finds the Australian cockroach to be considerably rarer, and has seen it only on vegetation.

The Australian cockroach appears similar to the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) but can be easily distinguished by its bearing a pale yellow stripe laterally along the outer anterior margin of each forewing (Goh et al., 2002: 19). It is reputed to be a pest of buildings in many areas of the tropics, known for its propensity to feed on tender greenhouse plants (Teo, 1990: 178). In Singapore, Periplaneta australasiae is supposed to be common (Johnson, 1964: 29). It is egarded as a household pest and often occurs with Periplaneta americana (Ho, 1990: 454). However, Goh et al. (2002: 19) state that it is more commonly found outdoors in gardens and parks living in vegetation. The contributor agrees with the latter opinion. In over a decade of observing cockroach diversity in Singapore, the featured record was his only encounter with this species on Singapore Island. He had never found the species in buildings, and never seen it cooccurring with Periplaneta americana, the latter species he notes to be ubiquitous and abundant in buildings in urban areas.

Opinions and declarations Rendered by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature