The dainty insect pictured here is a nymph of a variety of short horned grasshopper (Family Acrididae) Oxya hyla hyla. Being strict vegans and ironically despised for this very fact, they are also known as Rice Grasshoppers, owing to their propensity to damage rice crops at all stages of growth. Both nymphs and adults are … Read more
2013 has been a wonderful year for me, especially as a photographer. It also turns out that my blog, and photo critique forum on Facebook are evidently quite popular. The Mangalore Photography Club Photo-critic Group has held some very interesting discussions on several aspects of the photography, with participation from over 1100 members. The year … Read more
Driven by a dream that a seer had about a hidden treasure, the Archaeological Survey of India started its excavation in a fort in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, India few days back. After several days of futile digging, excavation had to be called off for the lack any treasure. I did not have to dig anywhere … Read more
Last winter’s eve, late one night, a dainty Cicada invited itself into my dining room and having done so, proceeded to perch atop my glass topped dining table. Ever the one to seize an opportunity, I carefully slid a sheet of paper underneath it, and proceeded to take a few pictures. Seemingly unperturbed, the Cicada … Read more
I came across this dainty Adanson’s Jumping Spider, Hasarius adansoni on my car the other day, which is fast turning into a Salticd magnet, attracting quite a few interesting species like Phintella, including one which was only recently reported from the country, Siler. Adanson’s Jumping Spider was photographed using a Canon EOS 5D Mark III … Read more
Unlike humans, a fly has five eyes. Three simple eyes, with little more than an ability to distinguish light from dark and sense movement and two much larger, compound eyes. Compound eyes are a feature unique to Insects. Instead of a single lens, insects see the world as a composite diorama, through many hundred or … Read more