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
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
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
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
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
I have a wild Common Indian Monitor (Varanus bengalensis) in my garden. I had written on it in this blog around two years back. It has now grown up to be a gentle giant. Along with few toddy cats, dozen snakes and a resident shikra, it forms a healthy population of predators in my half … Read more