The Blue Oakleaf butterfly Kallima horsfieldi (as are other members of this genus) is known for its stunning resemblance to a dry decaying leaf. The mimicry is so perfect that it is complete in all details. The butterfly when sitting with wings closed resembles a leaf and the undersides have varying shades of brown, with markings representing the midrib and the veins of a leaf.  Signs of fungal attack (seen on most dead leaves) are also represented on the undersides of the butterfly. And the butterfly usually sits with the wings closed. When sitting, the butterfly makes very subtle movements. This behaviour enhances the effect of the mimicry. All the camouflage is restricted to the undersides. Very rarely are two individuals alike on the undersides. Often, it is very difficult to locate one of these butterflies at rest. The colours on the upperside are in stark contrast to the underside. On the upperside, the Blue Oakleaf is largely greyish with areas of blue, a band of white and a black tip to the forewing. This species is found in forested areas of south India. Members of this genus occur in parts of South-East Asia.

Newts and salamanders are largely inhabitants of the temperate regions with a few exceptions. There are about 350 species of newts and salamanders in the world.  At first sight newts and salamanders (tailed amphibian) can be mistaken for a lizard (a reptile).

The Himalayan Newt Tylototriton verrucosus is a very special creature since it is the only tailed amphibian that is known from India. Within India it is known to occur in the eastern Himalaya. It has been recorded from Darjeeling, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.

They frequent pools, ponds, and paddy fields. The sideways movement of their flat tail propels them forward and helps them swim well. Insects and other aquatic organisms are their main food. Being nocturnal and secretive not much is known about these creatures. During the winter months they are known to hide in burrows and other suitable places. They emerge from their hiding places during the monsoon months to breed and are most active during this time.

Habitat destruction is a threat to this uncommon species. Climate change could also threaten this species.

Coming to think of it, it has been more than 25 years since I first saw a glow-worm in my garden. Ever since, I have seen it every year around Shivarathri festival. The glow-worms would make their presence felt for a few days with their nice green glow and would disappear until the following year.

.

The inch-long, segmented pale brown worm would raise the tail end of its body and would display the glowing segment. Fearing that the light producing area would be hot, on one occasion, I cautiously picked up the worm. To my surprise, it was not the case. It was only later that I realised that this process of producing light is called bioluminescence. The light emitted is due to a chemical reaction and there is no heat produced.

While talking about glow-worms I should also mention about fireflies. Both these are misnomers. They are neither worms nor flies. They are both beetles!! Glow-worms and fireflies use their light effectively for communication in the dark. This communication can be compared with the Morse code but it can be more complex.

This year I saw a glowing object in the vicinity of my home a few days before Shivarathri and was very elated. I went closer to check and I was disappointed to see a piece of glossy plastic catching a ray from the streetlight. However, it was heartening for me to discover them a few days later in a park nearby. They brightened my evening walks for a whole week and one fine day they disappeared.  I now look forward to seeing them again.

So, don’t write-off your garden or a near-by park as they can always spring pleasant surprises!

The Binturong Arctictis binturong belongs to the family of civets (Family Viveriidae). Being secretive and rare, the binturong is a little known creature. This arboreal (living on trees) creature occurs in northeastern states in India, while its range extends over a large part of Southeast Asia. This arboreal animal, unlike other members of the family, has a prehensile tail, which it uses like another limb. The tail is used very effectively when climbing and when moving about in the trees. Being omnivorous, they feed on fruits, insects, carrion and small animals like birds and rodents during their forays in the dense jungle they live in. The binturong has a keen sense of smell. Like other civets, binturongs use scent marking to communicate with other individuals. They also have good vision and hearing. These nocturnal (active during the night) animals spend the day sleeping in the trees.

Binturongs grow to about five feet long including the tail. Their colour varies from dark grey and black with grizzled fur on their face. They have a thick coat comprising of long hair, which, perhaps, has earned them the name ‘Bear Cat’.

Bangalore’s charm as a Garden City may have diminished. However, some of the trees that perhaps earned its name are still to be seen and cherished. For those of us who would want to simply immerse ourselves in that moment appreciating the beauty of each of these flowering trees that dot Bangalore it really does not matter …we will continue to do so. For those who would want to know more information about these trees, I have tried to put together some information and pictures for 26 species that are often seen. I have been wanting to do this for some time and it has finally happened. You can access the page by clicking “Flowering Trees“. Hope you find it useful.

‘Can you please tell us what that frothy thing is?’ This was the question a parent asked me while pointing in the direction of a small frothy mass on a plant while on a nature trail in Lalbagh Botanical Gardens. His ward had drawn his attention to this. As I moved closer to examine the subject of interest, the child promptly said it was someone’s spit. Well, it did deceptively resemble the human spit.

But, as I moved the slimy froth away with my fingers, it exposed a tiny green creature. The child, as were everyone else in the group, was surprised at this. This indeed was the young one of an insect called the froghopper. Froghoppers are bugs. After hatching from the egg, the young froghopper crawls on to a tender stem of a plant to feed on plant sap. After feeding, the waste is mixed with some body secretions and excreted. During this process the froghopper blows air from the tail end of its body creating a frothy mass. This frothy mass resembling spit has earned them the name ‘Spittle Bug’. The `spittle’ is thought to protect the young bug from its predators and also from desiccating. The spittlebug moults a few times before it stops making froth and becomes an adult. The adults hop or fly to move from one place to another and also to escape from predators. There are several species of froghoppers in the world. All of them are small creatures, most measuring less than half an inch in length. Adult froghoppers are known for their “long hop” with many capable of hopping distances greater than 24 inches!

Tropical evergreen forests of the southern Western Ghats are the home of this endangered, evergreen tree. The tree bears tiny crimson flowers on long stalks growing on the trunk of the tree (cauliflory). These stalks are arranged in clusters on the trunk. When in bloom the whole trunk appears red and is a beautiful sight. Fruits hang in clusters from the trunk of the tree. These are about 2.5 cm in diameter and are sour to taste. Elephants, tortoises and the lion-tailed Macaques feed on the fleshy fruits. People eat these fruits too.  These trees flower during the month of February and March and bears fruits are borne during May and June. In Kannada this tree is known as kolikuki. There are more than forty species of trees belonging to this genus Baccaurea occurring in India and southeast Asia. One of them has been brought into cultivation in Singapore.

Nature always has surprises in store. It was a nice bright morning and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, sending a shiver down my spine once in a while. All the plants were swaying in this breeze. And a spider web caught the morning light and looked like silver strands amid greenery.

Closer observation revealed a very beautiful spider with green, yellow, silver and black on it. The camera came out of my bag and I was getting ready to capture this moment. The breeze was not helping me at all - the spider swayed in and out of focus. I was continuously looking through the camera, waiting for the right moment to press the button. I managed some pictures but was still trying to get the best one.

Even as I was looking through the camera, something dramatic happened. A delicate, blue and black, damselfly that was flying in the vicinity of the web came dangerously close to the web. And, long before I realised, it flew into the web and got entangled. The spider did not waste much time; it rushed to the struggling damselfly and caught it.

I got more than I bargained for - I managed to photograph the spider and damselfly together on the same web. Both are beautiful and colourful little creatures playing their roles in nature! The spider and damselfly are predators in their own respect, but on this occasion the damselfly became the meal of the spider!

Orchard Spider or Decorative Leucauge Leucauge decorata with damselfly

We were on a birdwatching trip to the eastern coast in south India. While watching a flock of flamingos, some movement on the ground, close to the edge of water, caught my attention.

In the area where I noticed the movement, the mud was soft, slushy and slimy. It was not possible to get any closer. With unaided eyes, I found it difficult to discern anything meaningful or familiar. On observing carefully through my binoculars, a fish like creature wallowing in the mud took shape.A fish outside water?! Yes, it was indeed the mudskipper!

Mudskippers are fish that have taken to an amphibious life style. They are exceptional among fishes in this behaviour. They live in the mudflats and mangrove swamps throughout tropical Africa, Asia and Australasia. Mudskippers are very characteristic in having a large head with a protruding snout and eyes projecting above the top of the head. Most of them range in size from 11cm. to 30 cm.Mudskippers feed on a variety of food items. They eat algae, worms and other titbits left behind by the receding tide on the mudflats.Even as I watched, one of them opened its fin and started displaying. Being very territorial, it chased another individual, which came too close. It was very interesting to watch this little drama. At this juncture, I decided to capture these interesting creatures on film. The day advanced and the unbearable heat forced us to leave the mudskippers to themselves.

The Mole Cricket has an apt name - it is a cricket (an insect) that burrows and tunnels like a mole (insectivore-mammal). They are generally small and grow to about 5 cm. Most mole crickets have wings and can fly. Often their flight is very weak and clumsy. However, they can dig very well, particularly through sandy soil.

If you wondered what tools a mole cricket uses to dig through soil, take a close look at its front legs. Their front legs are strong and modified into spade-like structures and are equipped with flat finger-like spines, which help them move earth as they burrow.

They can dig rapidly. As they work their way through the soil, they leave behind a trail of soil displaced by the digging activity. This adaptation to tunnel through soil is very useful since they spend most of their lives underground. Female mole crickets excavate chambers and lay eggs in them. In some species the female closes the entrance to the chamber and will not visit the eggs. However, some return to take care of the eggs and the young ones.

Mole crickets are voracious feeders. Being omnivores they eat a large variety of insect larvae and other small creatures besides feeding on plants. Sometimes, they are known to spoil lawns and damage food crops because of their burrowing nature.

Mole crickets are active by night. Sometimes, they stray into our houses attracted by light. They are completely harmless and do not bite or sting. They also do not damage paper, fabric or for that matter anything in the house. They are capable of running quite fast. If you are quick and manage to catch one, try and have a closer look at this formidable digger before you release it safely outdoors!