Dragonflies and damselflies are one of the oldest known insects in the world. These ancient animals are also one of the first to develop wings. There are about 6000 species of dragonflies in the world with over 500 species found in India. Although the two look very similar, there are some marked differences between the […]
Rare Species Of Indian Moon Moth Spotted In Trichy
A nocturnal moth species, Actias selene, which had become rare and endangered was recently found by a team of researchers in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. The moth was first sighted by enthusiastic school children Mahadevan and Praveen and their headmistress N Geetha of Panchayat Union Elementary School, Kavundampatti, near Mannachanallur. This was in 2012 during the […]
Five New Insect Species Discovered in Western Ghats
NEW DISCOVERY: In addition to being the birth place of spices such as pepper and cardamom, the Western Ghats in India is also known as a proliferate biodiversity hotspot. While the forests in this tropical belt along the west coast of the country are home to many unique fauna and flora, new discoveries add to […]
One Man for a Billion Ants: Meet Dr. Himender Bharti
What is your first reaction when you see an ant? Brush it off, trample it, or take the insecticide spray out to kill it envisioning hundred more all around. If you are not Dr. Himender Bharti, you will probably say yes to all three. But for this man fascinated by the ant world, a single […]
Vanishing Butterflies could mean a Vanishing Planet
The most common of Indian butterflies are becoming uncommon these days. Mega species like tigers and elephants get a little attention but insects are regarded more like pests or mere things of beauty that have no bigger roles to play. But experts say it is this loss of interest in saving small sized species like butterflies that is most fearsome because with the disappearance of these fluttered friends, plants too will lose their pollinators and fail to bloom, bear fruit or provide food for the planet.