Jewel in My Backyard

Green Jewel Bug - Chrysocoris sp.

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

I love to Singa or An ode to the Cicada

Platypleura Species of Cicada - Side View

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

Cicada

Dundubia species Cicada

As soon as I saw an exuvia of cicada on one of the tree trunks in our garden, I knew we were in for an ear splitting noise of cicadas. Peak of the summer every year I get a lots of these cicadas in our garden. Exuviae is the remains of an exoskeleton that are … Read more

Camponotus Ants Tending Aphids

Camponotus Ants Tending Aphids

It was raining heavily, I found these few amber colored ants climbing a sugarcane stem which had grown in our garden. They went underneath a leaf and stayed there for a long time. I was curious to find what they were doing. I turned the leaf over and I found these Camponotus Ants on the … Read more

Leafhopper

Soon after the Mysore trip I sold both my Canon EOS 5D Mark II and Canon EOS 7D camera bodies and purchased Canon EOS 1D Mark IV. I needed a camera which included the features of 5D Mark II & 7D and 1D Mark IV fitted that slot correctly. As Canon puts it in its … Read more

Camponotus Ant Tending Aphids

I found this Camponotus Ant (thanks Alex for pointing out the correct ID for the ant) on hibiscus branch which was tending aphids. I used Rayflash ring flash adapter attached to Canon Speedlite 580EX II which gave a far smoother light for the ant. The effect was far better than Canon MT-24EX macro twin light … Read more