Aliens are invading, Are You Ready?

Giant African Snail in Mangalore

Ladies and Gentlemen, friends and folks and my fellow, paranoid conspiracy theorists. It is with a heavy heart and constant dread, that I bring you this latest piece of news. We’ve been invaded. They’ve spread far and wide and multiplied in numbers beyond belief. Even as you read this, know that they’re out there, drawing … Read more

Kissing Ants

Kissing Ants

Ever the opportunistic photophile, I perchanced upon these foraging major workers of the common weaver ant, Oecophylla smaragdina, locked together in a deep kiss, though even if it does seem like the ants are passionately kissing each other, it serves a whole different purpose altogether. Ants frequently indulge in this ‘kissing’ action, which in scientific … Read more

Dark Blue Tiger Butterfly

Dark Blue Tiger Butterfly

I dreamt; and in my dream I was a butterfly. I woke; or is it simply That, weary of the sky, Some butterfly is sleeping And dreams that it is I? – Zhuangzi (369-286 BC) Butterflies are among the most conspicuous and most beautiful of all insects. Along with moths, they make up the order … Read more

Hummingbird hawk-moth

Hummingbird hawk-moth

I encountered this dainty little Hummingbird hawk-moth, on a morning walk while attending an amphibian workshop conducted by the inimitable Dr. K. V. Gururaja, purveyor of all things amphibian, at Karkala. Since this was an impromptu ramble, I was armed only with a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM lens fitted on my trusty … Read more

Wasp Moth – Euchromia polymena

Wasp Moth – Euchromia polymena

I photographed this day flying moth when I was doing review of Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM Lens near Mangalore. This Euchromia polymena moth is also called a wasp moth as it looks like a dangerous wasp. It utilizes this act of mimicry to put off potential predators who are familiar with the … Read more

Green Crab Spider

Green Crab Spider

Living in the midst of urban greenery can have its own advantages. My dining room opens onto our kitchen garden, lush with luxuriant foliage. One fine day, as I sat down to a hearty breakfast, a familiar little critter dropped in for a bite. As I looked on amazed, there on my dining chair, sat … Read more