tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34344578128279088622024-03-06T06:22:57.573+05:30Small WondersYuwaraj Gurjarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13670118550392331266noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434457812827908862.post-89100505080680818172019-03-02T20:25:00.000+05:302019-03-02T20:25:02.814+05:30फुलपाखरांच्या जगात.... गारो हिल्स मेघालय. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="HI" style="font-family: Mangal, serif;">गेल्या वर्षी
दिवाळीच्या सुट्टीमधे मेघालयला जायचा योग आला. चेरापुंजी, शिलॉंग, रूट ब्रिज अश्या
प्रसिद्ध ठिकाणांना भेट दिली. या ठिकाणी फिरताना तिथला आगळा वेगळा स्वच्छ निसर्ग
बघताना वेगळीच मजा येत होती. त्याच वेळी निर्णय घेतला की पुढच्या वर्षी बरेच दिवस
मनात घोळत असलेली गारो हिल्सची सफर खास तिथल्या फुलपाखरांकरता करायची. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="HI" style="font-family: Mangal, serif;">आता मेघालयाचा चेरापुंजी,
शिलॉंग हया भागात अनेक प्रवासी येत असल्यामुळे इथे बरीच हॉटेल्स आणि अनेक सुखसोयी
आहेत. मात्र गारो हिल्स हा भाग मात्र अगदिच अविकसीत असल्यामुळे इथे येण्याकरता खास
नियोजन करावा लागते. स्थानीक लोकांच्या विकासासाठी झटणारी संरक्षण संस्था यांच्या
सहयोगाने इथली व्यवस्था केली. मेघालय मधे गारो, खासी आणि जयंती पर्वतरांगा आहेत या
मधले गारो हे सर्वात अविकसीत आहेत पण त्याच मुळे इथला निसर्ग अजूनही टिकून आहे.
फुलपाखरांच्या अनेक जाती इथे दिसत असल्यामुळे देशभरातले फुलपाखरांवर काम करणारे
निसर्गेप्रेमी इथे भेटी देतात. भारतात फुलपाखरे बघण्याचे दोन हंगाम असतात..एक तर
एप्रिल मधे तुम्ही मोठ्या प्रमाणात फुलपाखरे बघू शकता किंवा ऑक्टोबर /
नोव्हेंबरच्या काळात तुम्ही मोठ्या प्रमाणावर फुलपाखरे बघू शकता. आम्ही सुद्धा
नोव्हेंबर मधे दिवाळीच्या नंतर इथे जायचे ठरवले. ९ दिवसांच्या या फुलपाखरांच्या
शोधमोहिमेसाठी सिजू, कारवानी आणि बालपाक्रम या ठिकाणांचा समावेश केला. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="HI" style="font-family: Mangal, serif;">सकाळी १० च्या
सुमारास आम्ही गौहाटी विमानतळावरून गारो हिल्सला जाण्याकरता सुमो जीपमधून प्रवास
सुरू केला. साधारणत: ६ ते ७ तासाचा हा प्रवास असणार होता. गौहाटी शहराच्या
गजबजाटातून बाहेर पडायला वेळ लागला आणि त्यानंतर आम्ही शहराच्या बाहेर मेघायलाला
जोडणाऱ्या हायवेला लागलो. मध्येच एका धाब्यावर जेवाण उरकून घेतले आणि पुढचा प्रवास
सुरु केला. हळूहळू आम्ही शहारापासून दूर जायला लागलो आणि तिथला निसर्ग जाणवायला
लागला. दूर दूर पर्यंत पसरलेल्या भातशेती आणि पलीकडचे हिरवेगार डोंगर नजरेला सुखद
थंडावा देत होते. आसाम मधे असे पर्यंत रस्ते सरळ आणि गुळगुळीत होते. मात्र आता
आम्ही मेघालय मधे शिरलो होतो आणि सिजू गावाकडे चाललो होतो. हळूहळू डांबरी रस्ता
नाहिसा व्हायला लागला आणि मातीच्या कच्च्या रस्त्यावरून आमचा प्रवास अगदी संथ
वेगाने व्हायला लागला. मुळात मातीचा रस्ता आणि त्यात प्रचंड मोठी खड्डे. मुळातच
देशाच्या पुर्वेला असल्यामुळे इथे दिवस फारच लवकर मावळत असतो. त्यामुळे अंधार
पडायला लागला आणि आम्हि एका गावाच्या जवळ पोहोचलो. सोबतच्या गुगल मॅप्सवर हेच सिजू
गाव आहे असे दाखवत होते. गावाच्या मुख्य चौकात सर्वत्र संत्री विकायला ठेवली होती.
आम्ही आपले मनात विचार करत होतो की कशी काय ही संत्री पार नागपूर पासून इथपर्यंत
विकायला आली ? त्यानंतर आम्हाला कळले की सिजू इथली संत्रीसुद्धा आपल्या नागपूर
सारखीच प्रसिद्ध आहेत आणि अगदी थेट शेजारच्या बांगलादेशामध्येसुद्धा पाठवली
जाताअत. नंतर गडद अंधारात आम्ही आमच्या वाटाड्याला कसेबसे शोधले आणि त्याच्या
मागोमाग आम्ही परत पुढे जायला निघालो. गावापासून बरेच लांब आणि वळणा वळणाच्या
रस्तावरून आम्ही एका ठिकाणी जीप थांबवली आणि तिथे आमचे सामान उतरवून घेतले. त्या
सिजू गावच्या आधीच आमच्या मोबाईलची रेंज मेली होती. आमचे सामान एका इमारतीपर्यंत
आणल्यावर, आम्हाला आमच्या खोल्या दाखवल्या. दिवसभराच्या प्रवासानंतर थकलेल्या
आम्हाला नविन धक्का बसला... इथे विजच नाही. त्यामुळे आता प्रत्येक गोष्ट टॉर्चच्या
प्रकाशात करायची, म्हणजे अगदी हातपाय धुण्यापासून ते बॅगेतून सामान शोधेपर्यंत.
चहा मिळेल का ? असे विचारल्यावर त्यांनी विचित्र नजरेने आम्हाला बघितले पण अगदी १०
मिनिटातच बिनदूधाचा चहा आम्हाला दिला. चहाचा कप आम्ही खाली ठेवला आणि त्यांनी
आम्हाला सांगीतले जेवण तयार आहे. त्यांच्या विचित्र नजरेचा अर्थ आत्ता आम्हाला
समजला. संध्याकाळचे फक्त ६ वाजले होते, त्यांना गावात परत जायचे होते म्हणून
त्यांनी आमचे जेवण तयार करून त्या निघून गेल्या. मिट्ट काळोखात, फक्त ६ वाजता
आम्ही जेवलो आणि चक्क ७ वाजता बळजबरी झोपायला गेलो कारण अर्थातच आम्हाला करायला काहीच
नव्हते. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="HI" style="font-family: Mangal, serif;">भल्या पहाटे बिन
पंख्याच्या नैसर्गिक गारठ्याने आणि पक्ष्यांच्या सुरेल गायनानेच जाग आली.
खिडकीच्या बाहेर नजर टाकली आणि एकदम मंत्रमुग्ध होऊन गेलो. आमच्या घराच्या पलिकडे
पांढऱ्या शुभ्र वाळूचा किनारा होता आणि त्यानंतर नितळ पाण्यानी संथ वाहणारी
नदी...नदीच्या पलीकडच्या काठावर हिरवाकंच डोंगर. याच डोंगरावर पक्ष्यांचा किलबीलाट
सुरू होता. आम्हीसुद्धा आमचे कॅमेरे सज्ज केले आणि त्यांची छायाचित्रे टिपायचा
प्रयत्न केला. यानंतर आम्ही नाश्ता करून सिजूच्या जंगालात फुलपाखरे बघायला निघालो.
नदीवरचा तारेचा डगमगता पूल पार करून आम्ही पलिकडच्या जंगलात शिरलो. याच घनदाट
जंगालामधे आता आम्हाला फुलपाखरे शोधायची होती. एकेक फुलपाखराची जात शोधत शोधत,
त्यांचे जमेल तसे छायाचित्रण करत आम्ही पुढे निघालो. एका सुकलेल्या ओढ्यामधे आम्ही
त्याच्या उगमाच्या दिशेने निघालो. मोठमोठाले दगड कसेबसे पार करत, स्वत:ला आणि
आमच्यापेक्षा उरावरच्या कॅमेराला सांभाळताना आमची त्रेधातिरपीट उड्त होती, आमचा
वाटाड्या मात्र टणाट्ण उड्या मारत पुढे सरकत होता. याच ओढ्यातून पार होताना मधेच
आम्हाला किटकभक्षी घटपर्णी वेली दिसत होत्या, काही ठिकाणी नुकतेच हत्तीच्या
पावलांचे ठसे दिसत होते. मधेमधे वेगवेगळ्या जातीची फुलपाखरे दिसत होती. ४/५ तास
तंगडतोड झाल्यावर आम्ही परत फिरायला लागलो. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="HI" style="font-family: Mangal, serif;">या वेळी
वाटाड्याबरोबर गप्पा मारताना, दुर्मिळ फुलपाखरांचा विषय निघाला आणि त्याने
सांगितले की या जंगलाच्या भागात कोहिनूर हे अतिशय दुर्मिळ फुलपाखरू सापडते. आमच्या
गप्पा सुरु असतानाच एक भलेमोठे जवळपास पंजाच्या आकाराचे झळाळत्या निळ्या रंगाचे
फुलपाखरू उडत पुढे गेले. आमचा वाटाड्या जोरात ओरडला “कोहिनूर........” आम्हा
पायवाट सोडून आत घनदाट जंगलात त्याच्यामागे पळत निघालो. ते फुलपाखरू सुद्धा
आम्हाला झुलवत झुलवत थोडे पुढे उडायचे.. मधेच बसायचे...परत थोडे उडायचे आणि मग परत
बसायचे. त्याच्या मागे खड्ड्यातून, नदितून पळता पळता आम्हाला त्याची
छायाचित्रेसुद्ध मिळत होती. त्याला नजरेत आणि कॅमेरातसुद्धा साठवून आम्ही पुढच्या
प्रवासाला निघालो. आता आम्हाला सिजूहून कारवानीच्या जंगलासाठी जायचे होते. तसे हे
अंतर जेमतेम ३०/३५ किलोमीटर होते पण तिथे रस्ता नसून फक्त मोठे मोठे न टाळता
येण्यासारखे खड्डे असल्यामुळे ज्या प्रवासाला एक तास लागायला हवा होता त्यासाठी
आम्हाला साडेतीन तास लागले. परत एकदा दिवस लवकर मावळला होता. आम्ही रस्त्याच्या
कडेला गाडी लावली आणि सामान उतरवून खाली ठेवले. रस्त्याच्या कडेला खाली उतारानंतर
एक छोटासा ओढा होता आणि त्यावर दोन बांबू टाकले होते. त्या बांबूवर आमचा तोल
सांभाळत कसेबसे आम्ही पलिकडे गेलो. वाटाड्या आणि त्या घरातला मुलगा मात्र
सराईतासारखे आमच्या सामानासकट पलिकडे गेले. या ठिकाणी चक्क विज होती आणि अधेमधे
मोबाईला रेंजसुद्धा, म्हणजे आमची चंगळच होती. धडाधड कॅमेराच्या बॅटऱ्या, मोबाईल
चार्जींगला लावले. होम स्टे मधले आदरातिथ्य आणि अतिशय रूचकर जेवणाचा आस्वाद घेउन
परत आम्ही संध्याकाळी ७ च्या सुमारसच गादीवर प्रवासात खिळखिळे झालेले शरीर झोकून
दिले. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="HI" style="font-family: Mangal, serif;">दुसऱ्या दिवशी
सकाळी लवकर उठून परत एकदा अतिशय रूचकर असा नाश्ता करून आम्ही जंगलात जायला सज्ज
झालो. आद्ल्या दिवशी सिजूला ८५ फुलपाखरांच्या जाती बघितल्यामुळे इथल्या जंगलात आता
कुठल्या नविन जाती सापडणार याची उत्सुकता मोठी होती. कारवानीच्या झऱ्याच्या
काठाकाठाने आम्ही जंगालात फिरत होतो.... फुलपाखरांच्या नविन नविन जाती दिसत होत्या
पण अर्थातच नविन जाती दिसण्याचे प्रमाण आता कमी कमी होत होते कारण १०० पेक्षा
जास्त जाती आता आम्ही बघितल्या होत्या. त्यांची आता जास्तीत जास्त चांगली
छायाचित्रे मिळवण्याचा आमचा प्रयत्न सुरू होता. दिवस मावळत आला होता आणि आम्ही परत
आमच्या होम स्टे मधे परतलो. रस्त्यामधे आम्हाला आमच्या वाटाड्याने एका जागी ड्रॉसेरा
बर्मानी</span><span lang="HI"> </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: Mangal, serif;">ही किटकभक्षी जात दाखवली. गुलाबी रंगाचे
एखाद्या गुलाबाच्या फुलासारखे दिसणारे, जेमतेम २ रुपयाच्या नाण्याएवढेच असणारे झाड,
आजूबाजूला जाण्याऱ्या मुंगी आणि इतर किटकांचे भक्षण करत असताना दिसले. दिवस मावळत
असल्यामुळे त्यांचे छायाचित्रण न करता परत सकाळी लवकर येउन त्यांचे छायाचित्रण
करून पुढे जायचे ठरवले. परत एकदा होम स्टे मधे परतलो, आता आम्ही सुद्धा त्या
ओहोळावरच्या बांबूवरून लिलया पार होत होतो. रात्री बांबूच्या कोवळ्या कोंबांची
शेकोटीत भाजलेली भाजी आणि गरम गरम कंदमुळे यावर ताव मारला.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="HI" style="font-family: Mangal, serif;">सकाळी लवकर उठून
ड्रॉसेरा बर्मानी</span><span lang="HI"> </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: Mangal, serif;">ह्या किटकभक्षी
वनस्पतीचे छायाचित्रण करून आम्ही आमच्या शेवटच्या मुक्कामाच्या ठिकाणी निघालो. मधे
मधे थांबत, पक्षीनिरिक्षण करत आम्ही संध्याकाळी बालपाक्रम जंगलाच्या वनविभागाच्या
रेस्ट हाउस वर पोहोचलो. एक प्रचंड मोठा आणि सुसज्ज बंगला आम्हाला देण्यात आला. या
भागात मातृसत्ताक पद्धती असल्यामुळे आतापर्यंत सर्वत्र बायकाच आमचे जेवण बनवणे,
शेती करणे, दुकाने चालवणे आणि इतर कामधंदे करणे अशी प्रमुख कामे करतात. घरातसुद्धा
एकंदर मुलांमधे एकच मुलगी घरी राहून घराची आणि आई-बाबांची काळजी घेते तर इतर मुली
आणि मुलांना घराबाहेर पडून त्यांची त्यांची स्वतंत्र व्यवस्था बघावी लागते. इथे
आमची जेवण करण्यासाठी दोन लहान दिसणाऱया मुली खानसामा म्हणून होत्या आणि जेमतेम
शाळकरी दिसणाऱ्या त्या मुलींपैकी एका बहिणीचे लग्नसुद्धा झाले होते हा आमच्या करता
मोठा धक्काच होता. इथे सुद्धा संध्याकाळी लवक्र जेउन आम्ही झोपी गेलो. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="HI" style="font-family: Mangal, serif;">सकाळी लवकर उठून
आम्ही बालपाक्रम राष्ट्रिय उद्यानात जायला निघालो. मधे मधे पक्षी, फुलापाखरे बघत
आम्ही जंगलात वेगवेगळ्या भागात फिरत होतो. आता आमचा फुलपाखरांचा काऊंट १५० च्या
पुढे गेला होता. जंगलात दिवसभर फिरून परत येत असताना मला एका झाडावर अनेक फुलपाखरे
दिसली. मी जीप थांबवायला सांगीतली आणि बरोबरच्या मित्रांना ती फुलपाखरे दाखवली. एका
छोट्याश्या झुडपावर १००/१५० फुलपाखरे स्थिरावली होती. आधी सर्वांना ती फुलपाखरे
गाडीतूनच बघायला सांगीतली आणि तिथूनच त्यांचे थोडे छायाचित्रण केले. मग अलगद
गाडीतून उतरून त्यांच्य जवळ जाउन त्यांचे निरिक्षण केले तेव्हा कळले की ती रेड
स्पॉट जझबेल जातीची फुलपाखरे होती आणि जवळपास १५० फुलपाखरे एकाच वेळेला कोषातून
बाहेर येऊन त्यांचे ओले पंख त्या झाडाच्या फांद्यांवर वाळवत होती. एक छोटेसे
जेमतेम २/३ फुट उंचीचे झुडूप आणि त्यावर लगडलेली १५० संथपणे हलणारी फुलपाखरे बघणे
म्हणजे आनंदाची परिसीमा होती. जवळच्या कॅमेराने त्या फुलपाखरांची छायाचित्रे,
विडीओ घेतली अगदी मोबाईलनेसुद्धा त्यांचे छायाचित्रण केले. प्रसन्न मनाने आम्ही
आमच्या परतीच्या प्रवासाला निघालो. प्रत्येक रस्तावर दिसणारा निसर्ग मनात साठवत,
तसाच खडतर प्रवास आम्ही मजल दरमजल करत पार केला. परतीच्या प्रवासात परत आमच्या मुक्काम
त्याच कारवानीच्या होम स्टे मधे आणि त्यानंतर सिजू इथे होता. या परतीच्या वेळेस
आम्ही सिजू इथेली प्राचिन गुहा बघायला गेलो. अतिशय खोल आणि मोठी असणारी ही गुहा
आणि त्यात थंडगार पाण्याचे ओहोळ, त्यात दिसणारे बेडूक आणि कोलंब्या यांचे
छायाचित्रण करून आम्ही परतलो. सकाळी आमचा परतीचा शेवटचा प्रवास सुरू झाला... खड्या
खड्यांच्या रस्त्यावरून आम्ही परत आसामच्या सरळ आणि गुळगुळीत रस्त्याला लागलो,
मात्र मनात अजूनही मेघालयातला निसर्गच आठवत होता... या निसर्गरम्य आठवणी आठवतच
आम्ही परत आलो ते पावसाळ्यानंतर परत लगेचच हिरवाकंच, ओला मेघालय बघायचा ते ठरवूनच.
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<b><span lang="MR" style="font-family: Mangal, serif;">युवराज गुर्जर.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: Courier;">www.yuwarajgurjar.com</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Yuwaraj Gurjarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13670118550392331266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434457812827908862.post-80483066146795717652017-04-01T17:49:00.001+05:302017-04-01T17:49:37.032+05:30Ethics in Photography<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;">What’s your </span><span style="color: red;"><i>“Focus”</i></span><span style="color: #c27ba0;"> in Wildlife Photography? Self Satisfaction or just </span><i><span style="color: red;">“likes”</span></i></span></h2>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Recently I was doing nature photography trail in Maharashtra Nature Park, Mumbai which is a cultivated city garden developed on the old dumping yard. I saw one photographer spraying water from spray gun on butterflies, bugs and other insects to get the dew drop effect. I found it very unnatural and unethical. Being a macro photographer I have seen many foreign photographers regularly refrigerate their butterflies, insects and spiders before their shoot. Here are few quotes from them –</span></div>
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“Insects are cold-blooded, so cooling them off for a few minutes in the refrigerator will slow them down and make them more relaxed subjects”</div>
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“Flies are easiest to capture early in the morning while they are still half asleep and cold.”</div>
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“I put the butterflies in the refrigerator to slow them down. Some of my best photos were soon after they were released and in a quiet cool mood. I can get closer.”</div>
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“By refrigerating a flying insect for 20 minutes prior to shooting, I can usually get 2-3 minutes of shooting before the insect will exhibit signs that it is considering flight. I then recapture and stuff it back in the fridge for another few minutes.”</div>
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Do you think this is right and ethical just to get a good shot of spider or butterfly? I have spent hours and hours running after butterflies or other insect to get a descent quality photo. Many a times they simply don’t pose or fly high and run away without giving a single shot even a record shot also. I personally feel that a good nature / wildlife photographer who manages the shot with the available light and environment conditions as it is and make a best photo out of it. But these days many photographer’s managed everything just like studio setup with props and even rains also. </div>
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Few years back in the 2011 National Geographic contest winner, whose image of a dragonfly in a supposed rainstorm won him the grand prize in the nature category. In his original photo submission, he claimed he was caught in a sudden downpour when he happened upon the dragonfly. Only after winning the grand prize did the “truth” shift. Careful analysis of several other similar photographs from “winner” revealed something fishy about the way the “rain” was hitting the insect. “winner” later admitted that his friend sprayed water on the dragonfly to get the shot. He claimed that the original caption he submitted alongside the photograph had been manipulated for added effect. Regardless of the truth, National Geographic angered nature photographers across the globe when it stood by its decision to award “winner” the grand prize that year. </div>
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Photographs of Dancing frog or Dancing Geckos by same photographer gone viral on internet few years back. These photos won many international photography contests and been published in media. The photographer claimed these photos are captured naturally but that's a far-fetched reality. A nature enthusiast can easily tell that these animals are staged and posed, some animals are suspected to be abused. When I look at these photos, i can only say I am really amused. The frogs or the geckos were pets but were managed by the wire or thread which was removed in post processing later. </div>
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As per me this is not at all acceptable and I feel we macro photographers (if those are really nature lovers) should follow some discipline while shooting in our forests. </div>
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Many times we observe a mating pair of butterflies or beetles, try to approach them very carefully and slowly. Do not try to bump on them. They might startle and release the mate instantly. Similarly in the case of some insect or spider is caught some prey and eating the prey. They have spent tremendous amount of energy as well as time to get the prey, our sudden movements might startle them and they try to drop the prey and run or fly off. Many times we might not get a perfect angle or eye-to-eye contact or there might be some disturbing twig in between, but try to wait patiently to get perfect angle and not to try to touch the insect. Some photographers choose to create artificial perches to make the photo beautiful. I have seen photograph of Hump nosed Pit Viper which is totally ground dwelling species, but the photographer kept the specimen on the tree trunk just like Bamboo Pit Viper. Many times I have seen people collecting specimen, bringing back to home or other closed area to do the photography. If you are not doing any scientific research and doing photography just as a hobby then this should be certainly avoided. Not only collecting but you should avoid touching the subject directly… many of us are very new in this filed and may not know about the species and their behavior. Either it may stressed out the specimen and other way if it is venomous or poisonous or may be giving itchy feeling to skin then it might be harmful for us also. Do not pluck any leaf though it is obstacle in your photo. It might be harmful for the insect or its nest which you keep open to their predators. Try to reduce footing on leaves / grass or shrubs as there might be many insect homes around them. OF course this seems very idealistic but then at least we can try to reduce harm to nature / habitat. </div>
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This is about the macro wildlife photography but what about the Bird or Mammal photography ?</div>
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We all love to go in big forests / sanctuaries / national parks. As our India is pride for its Big Cats like Asiatic Lion, Royal Bengal Tiger, Leopard and Snow Leopard, we often visits to photograph these majestic beauties in various forests. Now today in every Tiger Reserve there are boom of so called nature photographers and everybody wants the BEST shot and that too from very close distance. I have witnessed even people having cell phones wants to capture best shots and fighting for the best place to stand there in front of Tigers. But when we go in big forests then we should follow some rules which are now internationally known as ethics of wildlife photography. </div>
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View wildlife from a safe distance. Trust your camera zoom lenses, they are quite powerful and can capture wildlife from distance. We further have option to crop the subject while post processing. Never force an action. If you stay there for some time you will certainly get good action. And it is not required that you will get always “action” shots. Never come between a parent and its offspring. Mothers are always extra cautious so let them go as they wish. Never encroach on nests or dens as certain species will abandon their young. Internationally bird photography is banned and you cannot put those photos for competitions as well as photography exhibitions. Few years back one crazy nature lover (??) cum photographer promoted nest photography tours in Tadoba National Park. The photographer spotted few nesting spots near the buffer zone of Tadoba forest and he started inviting photographers for the bird nest photography claiming the bird species. Soon it was published in local newspapers and then the matter was settled down. </div>
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Few years back when Bharatpur was in full bloom, many photographers hired guides or cycle-rickshaw drivers specifically to locate the Sarus Crane’s nest and its hatchlings. After getting the tip from local guide the photographer’s set up their entire equipment very near to the nest and take close ups. Even there are few photos of the photographer’s taking macro images of the eggs / newly hatched chicks when the parents went for food. There was news that the Jackals were specifically fed meat pieces to get fight sequence amongst the jackals or meat thrown in air and they were capturing those in air. Recently there were several news about the Bangalore based photographers who are specialized in Bird’s of Prey photography especially with the snakes or rat kills. It was claimed that all the snakes were captured and kept as a bait for raptors. After reading such news and seeing the photo of the same it feels really bad. Frankly I have also used fruits baits for butterfly photography for few species which attracts only on rotten fruits. But I will not dare to keep the live or specifically half dead snakes as bait for raptors. </div>
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Just like a good citizen and real nature lover think twice before shoot such unethical clicks in nature. Also when you are on field trip in a group let the person who finds the object, allow him to shoot first. Do not try to go very near to object to get 1:1 macro. Try to shoot some record shots from behind. Let others also get few shots and then you can slowly move towards the object. Also do not try to do experiments there when other fellow photographers are waiting for their turn. I have observed several time that when someone is shooting others go opposite and try to shoot but then obviously the photographer getting the subject with “you” as a background. If you are not part of the group then ask permission politely though its not that group’s personal property but they have done efforts and have skills to find that subject in nature. I am sure if we follow some basic rules and simple ethics, our photography will give smiles to the thousand viewers and that will certainly more great and joyful than 1000s likes on Facebook or Instagram. </div>
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<b style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Yuwaraj Gurjar</span></b></div>
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www.yuwarajgurjar.com</div>
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Yuwaraj Gurjarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13670118550392331266noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434457812827908862.post-326032464791724232016-05-14T12:34:00.000+05:302016-05-14T12:34:05.393+05:30Testing – Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro VC USD (F017) <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">First
of all I am not at all technical person / photographer....so do not expect a
very high end / technical review / testing of this lens. I am Tamron lover and
using Tamron lenses since 1996 till date, and I love all my Tamron lenses from
my bottom of heart. At the same time I am not a professional photographer so I
do not have any access to many other lenses, so frankly I can not compare this
lens with any other brand's macro lenses. But at the same time I have
used Tamron 90 mm Macro (Non VC version - Model 172E) for 6/7 years,
Tamron 180 mm Macro (Model B01) for more than 6 years and now using 90 mm
VC macro (Mode F004) which is predecessor of this lens for nearly 3 years. I am
pretty much happy with my 90 mm VC (F004) but when i got this new 90 mm VC
(F017) which is more robust, beautifully designed with top class finishing and
some superior and much needed features for real nature / wildlife
photographers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Here are few key
features of the new upgraded lens which is in SP series (Super Performance) :</span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Outstanding Depictive
Capabilities and Anti-reflection Efficiency</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Featuring VC with
Shift Compensation</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Optimally Tuned USD
Actuator for Macro Photography with Manual Override for Instantaneous Focus
Control</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Moisture-Proof and
Dust-Resistant Construction</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Reduction in Flare
and Ghosting: Superiority of eBAND Coating</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Optimized for
spectacular background blur effects (bokeh)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">A durable Fluorine
Coating on the front element repels water and fingerprints</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Use of circular
aperture to achieve beautiful, rounded blur effects (bokeh)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Compatibility
with TAMRON TAP-in Console</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Of course I have not tested for all the features, but the superior VC and faster Auto </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Focus even in low light is surely amazing. Here are few test shots using this lens</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">(All photos were clicked with Nikon D7100 DSLR body)</span></div>
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(Gulbakshi flower pollens - Mirabilis jalapa)</div>
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(f9,1/100, ISO 400, Aperture Priority, Handheld, No flash)</div>
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(f8,1/320, ISO 400, Aperture Priority, Handheld, No flash)</div>
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(f8,1/320, ISO 200, Aperture Priority, Handheld, No flash)</div>
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(f16,1/60, ISO 200, Aperture Priority, Handheld, Built in flash)</div>
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(f16,1/80, ISO 200, Aperture Priority, Handheld, Built in flash)</div>
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(Bee on Mango Flowers)</div>
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(f16,1/100, ISO 200, Aperture Priority, Handheld, Built in flash)</div>
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(f3.5,1/2000, ISO 200, Aperture Priority, Handheld, No flash)</div>
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(Scale Insect on Rose Leaf - heavily cropped)</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Soon monsoon will hit our forest and then there will be blooming
on wild flora and many tiny & colorful beasts will appear. So I will post
some additional images from real / wild places like Yeoor, Nagla, Matheran,
Phansad, Goa or Amboli. This particular macro lens was given by </span><a href="http://tamron.in/"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Tamron,
India</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> so there were lots of restrictions on testing in wild n
outdoors. But I think soon I will buy one for me personally along with Nikon
D500 and the I will upload few more stunning shots.... till then keep connected .... and keep commenting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Yuwaraj Gurjar</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Yuwaraj Gurjarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13670118550392331266noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434457812827908862.post-73160317684494913362016-02-06T19:42:00.002+05:302016-02-06T19:42:58.202+05:30Molting: Fresh skin every time.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">All insects have segmented bodies made up of many small sections. Insects
have three major body divisions, the head, thorax and abdomen. Mouthparts, eyes
and antennae are found on the head, while legs and wings grow from the thorax.
In some insects these body divisions are easy to see. In others they are not so
separate. The antennae, which are often long and carry sense organs for touch
and smell. The head also has the usually large compound eyes and some ocelli or
simple eyes. The head carries several pairs of mouthparts, which are very
important in distinguishing the insect order. Some are adapted for biting, with
two mandibles, and some are modified to form a tube for sucking the liquid
food. The thorax has legs and wings. The legs have spines and claws. The thorax
carries a pair of wings. The wings are often colored and may have hairs or
scales. </span></h1>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">The outer covering of the insect is strengthened on all or some parts of
the body by a hard cuticle, which protects the body, gives it a shape and as an
external skeleton or exoskeleton provides a fixture for the soft body parts.
This strengthened skin or cuticle consists of chitin and sclerotin. These two
substances together form a very hard and resistant, but very light structure
which in the course of evolution has served a variety of functions. Finally the
cuticle is covered by a waxy layer, which acts as water repellant. </span></h1>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidncTDqci4xgs3L87TVoeJWGItc5455Ua-MOqPK4gV6B0D2I7qpwWKws4CJkZB0ZOeltwtsw-QiFsacHIb4CN2z4gknDIRgQdH1Ixx6jcljk28akluubEytwpsnRP_8x3kQgfsW90yfjSE/s1600/RAJ_8877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidncTDqci4xgs3L87TVoeJWGItc5455Ua-MOqPK4gV6B0D2I7qpwWKws4CJkZB0ZOeltwtsw-QiFsacHIb4CN2z4gknDIRgQdH1Ixx6jcljk28akluubEytwpsnRP_8x3kQgfsW90yfjSE/s320/RAJ_8877.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">This very
resistant and powerful form of skin has, however, one great disadvantage. Once
formed it can not be altered, that is, it can no longer grow. As the rest of
the insect’s body grows, a new skin begins to form under the old one. When the
insect molts, the old skin splits and the insect crawls out. The soft, new
exoskeleton expands at first just like elastic, but once it has dried and
hardened, it will not grow any longer. Some newly molted insects eat their old
skins, other just leave them behind.</span></h1>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Yuwaraj Gurjar.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/">www.yuwarajgurjar.com</a><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Yuwaraj Gurjarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13670118550392331266noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434457812827908862.post-86234308702088827682016-02-06T19:33:00.001+05:302016-02-07T20:59:06.608+05:30Giraffe Weevil.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This is an unusual beetle found in Yeoor hills (Sanjay Gandhi National Park, India) called
“Giraffe Weevil”. It is called as giraffe as its abnormal long neck. It is very
tiny insect just less than one centimeter, but very colorful and active. Its
flight was also very funny and wobbling. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojwyftun-dqN-xaR8lxnkUj4NJZHhp5AXM3C8XEr-UraxJgiF9a_QHeF13Le7el6cdSCC_hexnTfBEFBc4y8YJr5KzjrdQxu-chSJVFsX7Q_mrja-y1ujSEW1YiUG8uQJW1ZvakdyhruC/s1600/Giraffe+weevil+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojwyftun-dqN-xaR8lxnkUj4NJZHhp5AXM3C8XEr-UraxJgiF9a_QHeF13Le7el6cdSCC_hexnTfBEFBc4y8YJr5KzjrdQxu-chSJVFsX7Q_mrja-y1ujSEW1YiUG8uQJW1ZvakdyhruC/s320/Giraffe+weevil+01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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These are types of beetles known as weevils or snout
beetles or elephant beetles due to their long mouth parts. These weevils are
minute to large species as much as three inches. One of the commonest weevils
we can easily find in our wheat grains. Many of this species are wingless but
many others fly well. Males and females are usually similar in appearance. In
some species male can be easily distinguished by the form of the snout,
forelegs or antennae. The legs are moderately long for walking. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AZCPJt_R7WI5bHiHKhCbdpv8hYwt0ifdWnAxQtzFr_BeYps7FVKXxOLOopTjPwSHI_Ops3Db3SvaGtRxxLlHCzAeimSgux7_tnSQowd8YhT_p7LzBFkG8v16u1hGAX_1BjsM5m-1u5IN/s1600/Giraffe+weevil+02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AZCPJt_R7WI5bHiHKhCbdpv8hYwt0ifdWnAxQtzFr_BeYps7FVKXxOLOopTjPwSHI_Ops3Db3SvaGtRxxLlHCzAeimSgux7_tnSQowd8YhT_p7LzBFkG8v16u1hGAX_1BjsM5m-1u5IN/s320/Giraffe+weevil+02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Normally these weevils lay eggs on the plants or inside
the plants. But this particular species prepare cases of green leaf. First the
leaf is cut across near the base, the cut reaching to the midrib or crossing
the midrib from one margin only. Then it is folded vertically and the tips
rolled in; an egg is then laid and the rolling process continues till the leaf,
up to the cut. This forms a compact cylindrical roll with the egg deposited in
the centre. No silk or gum is used and the insect works with legs and jaws in
folding and packing the leaf. The roll is left hanging to the remainder of the
leaf, the egg hatches and the grub feed on the leaf inside the roll. The roll
subsequently dries and falls off with the pupa inside. August / September are
the perfect month to observe these rolls and the adult insects in our forests.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufGGqdAsiPC579nUMFUbPZ24q-lwktMLnmsoDp9aZh7cjEPd4Fr-wCkJ8ZhQjFBxI1L81mxP3keea6Fi8BbIdnnGobnqj1ygUji9yZlCSknpmvcC3wos0A7mQZc-Ddongw81-LNkNaWvE/s1600/Giraffe+weevil+03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufGGqdAsiPC579nUMFUbPZ24q-lwktMLnmsoDp9aZh7cjEPd4Fr-wCkJ8ZhQjFBxI1L81mxP3keea6Fi8BbIdnnGobnqj1ygUji9yZlCSknpmvcC3wos0A7mQZc-Ddongw81-LNkNaWvE/s320/Giraffe+weevil+03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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As a defense mechanism, weevils have the habit of
“shamming dead” when disturbed, the legs and antennae get folded close to the
body and the insect drops to the ground. It is very difficult to find the
insect in the thick vegetation. </div>
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Yuwaraj Gurjar.<o:p></o:p></div>
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www.yuwarajgurjar.com</div>
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Yuwaraj Gurjarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13670118550392331266noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434457812827908862.post-59625445330119648752015-12-11T13:52:00.001+05:302015-12-15T09:46:05.439+05:30Mantis Fly - A perfect mimic for Preying Mantis<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I was having my photography walk at Karnala Bird
Sanctuary in monsoon. Though the season was very good for macro life, somehow
on that particular day the insect activity was very low. No butterflies and
other insects were visible. I spotted few spiders with egg sacks. So i was busy
with shooting of the spider moms and their tiny spiderlings. Suddenly i saw
some movement around me... a small wasp settled on a dry twig few meters away.
It was very tiny hardly 5-8 mm in size. This is very tiny Mantis Fly female
from family Mantispidae (of course i came to know this afterwards as i was not
seen such creature in last so many years). The female Mantis Fly landed on the
small twig and stared laying eggs by circling. Soon the entire twig was covered
with tiny white eggs. This entire process took more than 30 minutes. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMr8iHlghV9D3DlrHs5T-yiksdWW-nMgEL9Ffe5CwXGZjwoK3rXFwBVgqo5J7nUYPVf-Fjo8Bld109bl7w1ikXHjfXKvT5pyrtiv-fC-Biwcn-KYCu0TZB-mh-tsa0-3ZmbdvSJ5INvd1/s1600/RAJ_9311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMr8iHlghV9D3DlrHs5T-yiksdWW-nMgEL9Ffe5CwXGZjwoK3rXFwBVgqo5J7nUYPVf-Fjo8Bld109bl7w1ikXHjfXKvT5pyrtiv-fC-Biwcn-KYCu0TZB-mh-tsa0-3ZmbdvSJ5INvd1/s320/RAJ_9311.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The mantis
fly is actually a remarkable creature. From a distance, it looks almost exactly
like a wasp. As you look closer, though, you'll notice it has claws like a
praying mantis. Despite its fearsome appearance, mantis flies don't sting and
are pretty much harmless to humans. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">They get their name from their mantis-like appearance,
as their spiny "raptorial" (raptor-like) front legs are modified to
catch small insect prey and are very similar to the front legs of mantis. The
Mantispoidea are a superfamily of lacewing insects in the suborder
Hemerobiiformia. Mantispidae, known commonly as mantis flies, mantispids,
mantis lacewings or mantis-flies, is a family of small to moderate-sized
insects in the order Neuroptera. There are many genera with around 400 species
worldwide. Mantis fly larvae are predatory especially on spider eggs so they
generally ride on female spiders. There are not common because they are
nocturnal but more active hunters than true preying mantis. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAhPkaFQY-B5fC-JOCbLOiEMzQ7l2KEfz_63TaFtZTAhD8nTATYAOSYdvZYmw9DEcCK9UM-OEqUPdFKfWTk8yCzuyWcZWhJREQO6Yw26rgtSjwpLLTmVf-Qlq8sBtTeq9eMy4bR003lra/s1600/RAJ_9318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAhPkaFQY-B5fC-JOCbLOiEMzQ7l2KEfz_63TaFtZTAhD8nTATYAOSYdvZYmw9DEcCK9UM-OEqUPdFKfWTk8yCzuyWcZWhJREQO6Yw26rgtSjwpLLTmVf-Qlq8sBtTeq9eMy4bR003lra/s320/RAJ_9318.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The subgroups of mantis fly have different specialized
larvae. One subgroup has larvae that are parasite on bees, wasps. Another group's
larvae are predators of small Arthropods. Third group have larvae parasitic on
spider eggs. These larvae have well developed legs like the larvae of beetle so
they can search out spider egg sacs or female spiders. They ride on female
spiders and are even transferred from one spider to another during mating or cannibalism.
These larvae enter the egg sacs as the
female spins them.. That means these larvae remain on spider like lice on our
head. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Location : Karnala Bird Sanctuary, on 23.08.2015 9.56
am<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Nikon D7100, Tamron 90 mm VC macro with Nikon R1C1
flash </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Yuwaraj Gurjar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/">www.yuwarajgurjar.com</a></span></div>
</div>
Yuwaraj Gurjarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13670118550392331266noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434457812827908862.post-39535706401324382262015-10-14T11:51:00.003+05:302015-10-14T11:55:19.475+05:30Baby Bugs : Just emerged from the eggs.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Animals have two ways to make sure that they leave
offspring in the world, so that their genes survive. One is to have few
children and care for each one intensely. The other is to have huge numbers of
offspring, so that even though many die enough survives. That is what insects
do. Most of those eggs, or the larvae they give birth to, will die in one way
or another, so there have to be many of them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In most insects, life begins as an independent egg. This
type is reproduction is known as ovipary. Each egg is manufactured within the
female's genital system and is eventually released from her body through an
ovipositor, a tube-like, saw-like, or blade-like component of her external
genitalia. The egg-laying process is known as oviposition. Each insect species
produces eggs that are genetically unique and often physically distinctive as
well - spherical, oval, conical, sausage-shaped, barrel-shaped, or
torpedo-shaped. Yet regardless of size or shape, each egg is composed of only a
single living cell.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsOGZhqGNJu_irAsQsZzGw3fe_N0smbaGKB4SV7NHhk-uw6qNMwa5bQ11ii-PCZsOppSLi3GTTsgPs3vMTtmAUjgK8dJesg-6MczwGAZVHWRT-4GBiqmmdlr-uzdN06FzgOUTHdkjEITw/s1600/66.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsOGZhqGNJu_irAsQsZzGw3fe_N0smbaGKB4SV7NHhk-uw6qNMwa5bQ11ii-PCZsOppSLi3GTTsgPs3vMTtmAUjgK8dJesg-6MczwGAZVHWRT-4GBiqmmdlr-uzdN06FzgOUTHdkjEITw/s320/66.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In most insects the egg is covered by a protective
"shell" of protein secreted before oviposition by accessory glands in
the female's reproductive system. This eggshell, called the chorion, is often
sculptured with microscopic grooves or ridges that may be visible only under
the high magnification of an electron microscope. The chorion is perforated by
microscopic pores that allow respiratory exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide
with relatively little loss of water. The micropyle, a special opening near the
anterior end of the chorion, serves as a gateway for entry of sperm during
fertilization. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A female receives sperm from her male partner during the
act of mating. She can store that sperm for long periods of time in a special
part of her reproductive system, the spermatheca. As a developing egg moves
past the opening to the spermatheca, a few sperm are released onto its surface.
The sperm swim toward the micropyle - the first one to reach its destination
enters and injects its nucleus into the egg. The sperm nucleus quickly fuses
with the egg nucleus to form a one-celled embryo. This event is known as
fertilization. After the egg is fertilized, it undergoes a period of rapid
growth and development known as embryogenesis, literally the "embryo's
beginning". </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
</div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJH0v0B6yeU_wzYb_cigRALDl-2R2K71SRUWX5BnIqY9woxyDmkOHICGaYvQ9cqdSi74cAUBu81HVktyXBr9wIQkqwcmP9aIATXumzY08_Bs24rpe_R9qKd-ofC01NWM9JhoDaaQIaPpZX/s1600/65.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJH0v0B6yeU_wzYb_cigRALDl-2R2K71SRUWX5BnIqY9woxyDmkOHICGaYvQ9cqdSi74cAUBu81HVktyXBr9wIQkqwcmP9aIATXumzY08_Bs24rpe_R9qKd-ofC01NWM9JhoDaaQIaPpZX/s320/65.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many insects pass the winter in the egg stage. Insect eggs are ideally suited
for withstanding the hardships of winter. The eggs have shells that are thick
and watertight. In many cases the eggs are covered with hairs, silk, or frothy
materials produced by the female before she died. These provide an extra degree
of protection by insulating the eggs. Most butterfly or moth caterpillars eat
their eggshell just after the hatching as they get maximum proteins out of eggshell.
But these “Baby Bugs” just crawling here without eating the eggshell.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yuwaraj Gurjar.</span></div>
</div>
Yuwaraj Gurjarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13670118550392331266noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434457812827908862.post-19082323483417170932015-10-14T11:41:00.000+05:302015-10-14T12:06:15.266+05:30Caterpillar : Greedy eating machines.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Butterflies and moths undergo major developmental
changes during their growth. The moth lay eggs, which hatch into creeping forms
with chewing mouthparts. These are called as caterpillars or larvae.
Incidentally, the word caterpillar is derived from two Latin words, <i>catta pilosa</i>, meaning hairy cat, which
is quite descriptive of some kinds. During this stage the moth feeds and grows.
It is only during the larval stage, that actual growth occurs, and a
caterpillar’s only aim in life is to feed and store up food. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx24VfH8lvnmjmJhyphenhyphenUTaEzH1yFIKaQ-QuDNiGHvLxOZ1eKJIDgpG4Ni0EjctL35hnmmp2qyKjD05uJNv45HyAT9csINAYmh3gNa6deU3_9fwU3QZLhjZVqsUIiBz-K4gxD8y-UMUJ9WaUB/s1600/11907189_10153508093360890_6838419848375292632_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx24VfH8lvnmjmJhyphenhyphenUTaEzH1yFIKaQ-QuDNiGHvLxOZ1eKJIDgpG4Ni0EjctL35hnmmp2qyKjD05uJNv45HyAT9csINAYmh3gNa6deU3_9fwU3QZLhjZVqsUIiBz-K4gxD8y-UMUJ9WaUB/s320/11907189_10153508093360890_6838419848375292632_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The caterpillar eats through the top of the egg,
creative a hole through which it emerges. After hatching, it often eats the
eggshell as its first food and this gives it invaluable nutrients. Since this
is the only growing stage in a moth’s life, it has to consume as much food and
store as much energy as possible. Its jaws works like scissors very rapidly and
efficiently and it finishes leaf after leaf on branch after branch. The
caterpillar grows rapidly so periodically it has to molt. A moth caterpillar
casts off its outer skin layers five times in its life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX8Ksa-yLkbMrn8pD8-GQvGKbWXxe9hQfs2NXe3UzN4QEwTINKo9s9rYyXlWXEBN-YzvxyBtM5V-yEnIPg5GKlmEG-RsSGanQDHaEPDChfu7h8hQOw0N0sZCsMvIp_4p1_uEzJrtYWaC2n/s1600/11863213_10153510304045890_7540073216465980077_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX8Ksa-yLkbMrn8pD8-GQvGKbWXxe9hQfs2NXe3UzN4QEwTINKo9s9rYyXlWXEBN-YzvxyBtM5V-yEnIPg5GKlmEG-RsSGanQDHaEPDChfu7h8hQOw0N0sZCsMvIp_4p1_uEzJrtYWaC2n/s320/11863213_10153510304045890_7540073216465980077_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Although most caterpillars feed on leaves, there are
strict preferences for specific host plants. These strict preferences are
dictated by the chemical composition of the plant parts that the caterpillar
eats. Therefore, the caterpillar feeding on a particular plant species or set
of species will not eat leaves of other species. Some caterpillars may prefer
slightly mature leaves, some may refuse to eat anything other than tender ones;
most prefer to tender leaves but otherwise eat whichever are available on the
plants where their mothers as eggs place them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5_4K9htRbOUo36fGrSUlHP9tpWjU1fl4orv1sE-Hkx0oUsqKo0D0_GpljyOCKpq_b3W9ScrSLo4RQwoG-aOYjT2Z9uUcCv94oYV7kYbx5uf1-rK4ZnPair8gPenBIU3rGDq6-DO808OS/s1600/Atlas+Moth+Caterpillar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5_4K9htRbOUo36fGrSUlHP9tpWjU1fl4orv1sE-Hkx0oUsqKo0D0_GpljyOCKpq_b3W9ScrSLo4RQwoG-aOYjT2Z9uUcCv94oYV7kYbx5uf1-rK4ZnPair8gPenBIU3rGDq6-DO808OS/s320/Atlas+Moth+Caterpillar.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The coloring is usually such that the larvae are
well camouflaged, and can thus avoid or fool predators. Sometimes there are
scary looking eye designs or bristles to frighten the enemy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">When the larva is ready to pupate, it attaches
itself to a spot with silk pad and cremaster. After a period of rest, it starts
wriggling and makes undulating movements from tail up, until the skin bursts
near the head. The skin is then pushed upwards till it gets collected near the
tail. The pupa then draws it tail out and by means of some minute hooks in the
cremaster, fixes it to a surface again after casting off the old skin. The pupa
hang there for some days and then the adult will emerges out of that pupa for a
new flying life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Yuwaraj Gurjar.</span></div>
</div>
Yuwaraj Gurjarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13670118550392331266noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434457812827908862.post-91997601075362848332015-09-29T11:38:00.000+05:302015-09-29T19:39:12.317+05:30Ceropegia Flowers – Beautiful flytraps.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
The name derives from the Greek words 'keros', a wax
candle and 'pegnynai', assemble or unite; for the chandelier like flower
structures of some of the species. Ceropegia contains a diverse group of 160
named species distributed over a wide range including the <st1:place w:st="on">Canary
Islands</st1:place>, <st1:place w:st="on">Africa</st1:place>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Madagascar</st1:country-region>, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Arabia</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Ceylon</st1:country-region>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Indonesia</st1:country-region>,
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Phillipines</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">New Guinea</st1:country-region></st1:place> and <st1:country-region w:st="on">Australia</st1:country-region>.
About 40 species from <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region>
occur mostly in the peninsula, with the Sahyadri or northern <st1:place w:st="on">Western
Ghats</st1:place> alone home to 20 species of this specialised plant group,
most of them endemic to the area. Ceropegias are uncommon small herbs that
appear only during the monsoon months, blooming for just a couple of weeks, in
very remote habitats. Since their habitats become even more inaccessible in the
rains, sightings of these flowers are rare and adventure for shooting. I
clicked this particular flower in Tungareshwar Sanctuary on a rock cliff around
75 feet high.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzhb6e9a1v25HtifNoDm_Aj31bu-W6p06nKfvJstG0uVsT09jCf5_L0E-EmQLLecQgT5IzD7Fn8q7JGPxkbG63pkbJmv4UR2U9Nn5smYlf7dqoyEc5hw58vlQ40-aJ7ozdwvJQi9ISVNu/s1600/Ceropegia+attenuata.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzhb6e9a1v25HtifNoDm_Aj31bu-W6p06nKfvJstG0uVsT09jCf5_L0E-EmQLLecQgT5IzD7Fn8q7JGPxkbG63pkbJmv4UR2U9Nn5smYlf7dqoyEc5hw58vlQ40-aJ7ozdwvJQi9ISVNu/s320/Ceropegia+attenuata.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ceropegia attenuata</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p> </o:p>Flowers occur either singly or in clusters and have a
tubular corolla 2 or more times as long as its diameter and longer than the 5
lobes. The base of the tube is usually inflated and the tube may have
downwardly orientated hairs on the inside and hairs on the outside and at the
edges of the lobes. Colors include reds, purples, yellows, greens and mixtures
of these. The hairs until the flower wilts may trap flies entering the corolla.
The tips of the lobes are fused together to form a cage-like flower structure
in many species, but are open in others. The five lateral entrance windows on
the lantern are decorated with frills of vibrating colored hair. The inside of
the pitcher has dark colored bands, which seem to guide insects to the nectary.
The purpose of evolving this complex structure of flower is to ensure
pollination without loosing much pollen and nectar.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIDfRQhFVtXPF4bTfN2zaZg98itF7ek7EaTfGz9m7Kort0pOeZqlTc5HziFAGJ8XxFb7olYvmBzKFSFfD3d21PjATs8CHIiLG4NPQ5q0uZwdBEO-aXq8sFhlq4V-2_lqzdTI7lHa85DE-/s1600/Ceropegia+media+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIDfRQhFVtXPF4bTfN2zaZg98itF7ek7EaTfGz9m7Kort0pOeZqlTc5HziFAGJ8XxFb7olYvmBzKFSFfD3d21PjATs8CHIiLG4NPQ5q0uZwdBEO-aXq8sFhlq4V-2_lqzdTI7lHa85DE-/s320/Ceropegia+media+01.jpg" width="175" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ceropegia media</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: justify;">If an insect is trapped in the pitchers and has brought in
pollens from another flower, which is picked up by the sticky stigma as the
insect was attracted towards the sweet nectar. Once pollination has occurred,
the stalk of the flower bends and the pollinated flowers turns limp, bending
over and releasing the trapped insect. Once the critical process of pollination
is completed successfully, fruiting begins.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmA7FE2x_pOIBviBavVrp44kqm7PVxjcDHraSi3mfCzH8hxQhk5RONIMQBin6GG3RO5KL9oMLD3eiKlrCMb9uQYHmNooudPZNw-BJmC9ZgTNC1y3TSnF910jh3ajC_tt8qZdWVr7lMmbA/s1600/Ceropegia+hirsuta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmA7FE2x_pOIBviBavVrp44kqm7PVxjcDHraSi3mfCzH8hxQhk5RONIMQBin6GG3RO5KL9oMLD3eiKlrCMb9uQYHmNooudPZNw-BJmC9ZgTNC1y3TSnF910jh3ajC_tt8qZdWVr7lMmbA/s320/Ceropegia+hirsuta.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ceropegia hirsuta - TOP view</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAu3L1KamjElwKfZX4nrHAcY4-_6-EhPpyutVcjvNMgqxp9ULHdmgtg7lXPHbQbX_qU8ecE5nvbW-93ZOSwUkR395WpSKaX8umWFlBOnoQ2CXkFLNSe6eLTMoOlrL1nyNAPisFOMujBD0k/s1600/Ceropegia+media+02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAu3L1KamjElwKfZX4nrHAcY4-_6-EhPpyutVcjvNMgqxp9ULHdmgtg7lXPHbQbX_qU8ecE5nvbW-93ZOSwUkR395WpSKaX8umWFlBOnoQ2CXkFLNSe6eLTMoOlrL1nyNAPisFOMujBD0k/s320/Ceropegia+media+02.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ceropegia media - TOP view</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNUVMgTGjU8PHz5u5xruS6iTKpmlrTHn4wBNMPNz2l91mpTXsekWFFNFSWLQMJCkU9F0wO9e9RDhwF6WVA8N8cL8JOqgofG4BZK4xLpJW_sxnTTvXtCZNQqLuhoKyx0zYeenR-he7Tb40/s1600/Ceropegia+huberi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNUVMgTGjU8PHz5u5xruS6iTKpmlrTHn4wBNMPNz2l91mpTXsekWFFNFSWLQMJCkU9F0wO9e9RDhwF6WVA8N8cL8JOqgofG4BZK4xLpJW_sxnTTvXtCZNQqLuhoKyx0zYeenR-he7Tb40/s320/Ceropegia+huberi.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ceropegia huberi - TOP view</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjji3RTuOpxsPc_YidU1NMbCiA5zMEr-Yd0cWUFFoA7peyGne5I5qP4ApIS9bHx7LFqur0G7xY5ocpm6kiYUuPj5lG-3Sf9jwQA46V7KDyYC6YkN4waw8XC0Ro7PjTVgYGE_bcoUzH9WdxW/s1600/Ceropegia+jainni.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjji3RTuOpxsPc_YidU1NMbCiA5zMEr-Yd0cWUFFoA7peyGne5I5qP4ApIS9bHx7LFqur0G7xY5ocpm6kiYUuPj5lG-3Sf9jwQA46V7KDyYC6YkN4waw8XC0Ro7PjTVgYGE_bcoUzH9WdxW/s320/Ceropegia+jainni.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ceropegia jainni</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHuh2gYBfl7GVZU-SmRyXR9RROXold5z3tg_uYX1J_zsJf3EoUc6dzZ-UJ_yZa39fLzsA3pieLgDy8eMKiU9o-5NsfbHxhIRvrgMWBcOHIV9L8u7bIOCCNMTHQ0LuEs-HZfejgJVSdYqw/s1600/Ceropegia+rollea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHuh2gYBfl7GVZU-SmRyXR9RROXold5z3tg_uYX1J_zsJf3EoUc6dzZ-UJ_yZa39fLzsA3pieLgDy8eMKiU9o-5NsfbHxhIRvrgMWBcOHIV9L8u7bIOCCNMTHQ0LuEs-HZfejgJVSdYqw/s320/Ceropegia+rollea.jpg" width="207" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ceropegia rollea</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbTf63Mb371OmHKG3KSu-q0334PaR5uksvyQ9wyKHQYeAEl9fXbgFPYQKNnJ_8mzxrumimJ3ax1aygD7KMSq8KkXPbn5aYIdhPJA1n248CcHMUmiVMpQLNUHiqqgrpYL4ONhR16Xq1b37/s1600/Ceropegia+vincaefolia+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbTf63Mb371OmHKG3KSu-q0334PaR5uksvyQ9wyKHQYeAEl9fXbgFPYQKNnJ_8mzxrumimJ3ax1aygD7KMSq8KkXPbn5aYIdhPJA1n248CcHMUmiVMpQLNUHiqqgrpYL4ONhR16Xq1b37/s320/Ceropegia+vincaefolia+01.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ceropegia vincaefolia </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9q6q0IBsDN1dhcbYFds-P-ilVlKwMa7NAgivVAjs_FzM_ch_GrxG3JQARD2YQkNLqUaafWp-3tZWsEw7VVNTvNqtj_hJ3nQ9GJSUkKoMG-4wE2ebWMhsIcoZoyf6Bj3AKN164ImNUlkl/s1600/Ceropegia+vincaefolia+02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9q6q0IBsDN1dhcbYFds-P-ilVlKwMa7NAgivVAjs_FzM_ch_GrxG3JQARD2YQkNLqUaafWp-3tZWsEw7VVNTvNqtj_hJ3nQ9GJSUkKoMG-4wE2ebWMhsIcoZoyf6Bj3AKN164ImNUlkl/s320/Ceropegia+vincaefolia+02.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ceropegia vincaefolia - TOP view</td></tr>
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Yuwaraj Gurjar.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/">www.yuwarajgurjar.com</a></span></div>
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Yuwaraj Gurjarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13670118550392331266noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434457812827908862.post-6982986981097543912009-03-07T14:14:00.003+05:302009-03-07T14:17:20.662+05:30<div><div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"><strong>Pelicans : Feeding with unity.<br /></strong></span>This is Rosy or White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) out of eight species of pelican found in the world. They are found throughout the tropical and warm temperature zones, on both fresh and salt water. They are powerful, graceful flyers, using the air currents for soaring, although their huge size makes the task of getting airborne a difficult one. When they sight food, they dive perpendicularly into the water, sometimes from a great height. Their diet primarily consists of surface dwelling fish but may include crustaceans. Their enormou<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6jGrsEE8KIeOuSan337Pxaymbd6GUfBocwVaiIGiBsYf8y8XMkJz8LNAZtysY66LbgeAVaPM8JGMK9kUOqJLJSoqIrMUGaPcS7Qrmn94wTkc8gSozj0zj47Uoza2q2G0LpoYbthfSuj1h/s1600-h/Pelican+03.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310364421457245954" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 203px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6jGrsEE8KIeOuSan337Pxaymbd6GUfBocwVaiIGiBsYf8y8XMkJz8LNAZtysY66LbgeAVaPM8JGMK9kUOqJLJSoqIrMUGaPcS7Qrmn94wTkc8gSozj0zj47Uoza2q2G0LpoYbthfSuj1h/s320/Pelican+03.jpg" border="0" /></a>s pouches, which are modification of the lower part of the bill, are their most obvious distinguishing features contrary to popular belief the pouch is used as sort of fishing net rather than as a place for storing food.<br />The pelican feeds by scooping up fish with its enormous bill, which may hold 20 ltrs. water at a time. When an individual scoops water, many fishes escape by swimming away from the bill. The pelicans frequently feed in small groups, which swim in a horseshoe pattern, and then all moves forward and scoop the water at the same time. Small fish, which dart away from one pelican's bill are likely to be caught by another, thus all the birds benefit from feeding together. The fishes swallowed immediately and never carried in the pouch.<br />The nesting season is from November to April. Nest is build with large stick platform in tall trees and often far from water. There are several nests in the same tree and this colony covers a large area.<br />Among the adaptation of birds, which have contributed to their success, is flight, and the possession of feathers contributed to this <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4aZSBrune3uHNs5aUoqGDM2dRwIq7vqYsF1IN4WBz5zNpBos9sx1Thhp448qzrpDZnNMh9bBgS8Cvi-6eQfQdTAjPa2pFtfqhZs3Q-jDCebBLy-fcdA9Buw-pckkS6Iqi6BqCaLjwfAIl/s1600-h/Pelican+02.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310364419486407714" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4aZSBrune3uHNs5aUoqGDM2dRwIq7vqYsF1IN4WBz5zNpBos9sx1Thhp448qzrpDZnNMh9bBgS8Cvi-6eQfQdTAjPa2pFtfqhZs3Q-jDCebBLy-fcdA9Buw-pckkS6Iqi6BqCaLjwfAIl/s320/Pelican+02.jpg" border="0" /></a>adaptation. All birds have feathers but no other animal has them. The feather is formed from the cells of the skin just similar to the formation of scales on the legs of birds or on the bodies of reptiles. The feather grows from the base inside a sheath. Bird's flight feathers have sufficient strength and firmness to remain quite rigid when moved through the air despite being anchored only at the base. Birds spend a significant proportion of their lives engaging in feather maintenance activities. Dirt on the wings is removed by bathing in water or in dust and any water or dust is subsequently removed by flapping the wings, ruffling the feathers and by preening movements. For preening they apply oil from preen or oil gland. This gland is found in most birds and is situated on the rump above <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbzU8TQxQ8Nu9EVTvGcUkB_g1SWHX78BS2CSj7ry4kyczVEAmhawSx8cKr2k4Wy5M1c8pLMC49zDCiggOPGjAmO2jBx1mlA_xcluf8vVpUvaPM9_APE6DpupniJ_-137BczLYV_9QPJd5/s1600-h/Pelican+01.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310364414614095506" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 198px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbzU8TQxQ8Nu9EVTvGcUkB_g1SWHX78BS2CSj7ry4kyczVEAmhawSx8cKr2k4Wy5M1c8pLMC49zDCiggOPGjAmO2jBx1mlA_xcluf8vVpUvaPM9_APE6DpupniJ_-137BczLYV_9QPJd5/s320/Pelican+01.jpg" border="0" /></a>the base of the tail. It produces an oily secretion and is most active in aquatic birds. The secretion helps to keep feathers supple so that they do not break and increase their water proofing qualities. Despite their resistance to wear, feather must be renewed at intervals. The moulting process, during which old feathers fall out and are replaced by new ones growing in the same place, also allows birds to change from juvenile to adult plumage or from non-breeding to breeding plumage.<br />Yuwaraj Gurjar.</div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/">http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/</a></div></div></div>Yuwaraj Gurjarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13670118550392331266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434457812827908862.post-89891995556406490312009-02-03T14:55:00.003+05:302009-02-03T14:58:07.928+05:30<div><div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"><strong>Not a spider – Not a Scorpion</strong></span><br />This strange animal is called “Tailless Whip Scorpion”. This spider like animal is famous for their long, whip like front legs. Actually these tailless whip scorpions are neither true scorpions nor true spiders, but resemble a cross between the two. They live in humid habitat and prefer to hid<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2AHXg1Iz0YNX0C0vLHZ9-ZvZ_U1ipzwlhtAYRr-LUj8fCS-3P0fHG_RozTQcpZl31nUkTj8-VNxMhJBS9tCt81faJJcyMTgiK0_e-ziwkTRsMA_0WKowofZIAe0w7GHODUFf84T96opbN/s1600-h/Whip+Scorpion+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298500242947243730" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 204px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2AHXg1Iz0YNX0C0vLHZ9-ZvZ_U1ipzwlhtAYRr-LUj8fCS-3P0fHG_RozTQcpZl31nUkTj8-VNxMhJBS9tCt81faJJcyMTgiK0_e-ziwkTRsMA_0WKowofZIAe0w7GHODUFf84T96opbN/s320/Whip+Scorpion+2.jpg" border="0" /></a>e under cavities of large tree roots and under the rocks. They prefer to hunt in night and rests in days. There are around 70 species worldwide.<br />The body of most tailless whip scorpion is around 2 inches long but the front leg pair is extremely long; up to 10 inches in few species. The tailless whips scorpion has one pair of eyes in the front side and three pairs of eyes on the side of head. The long, feeler-like front legs are important sensory organs for hunting and orientation at night. The tailless whip scorpion<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2jhgCfkhr8qvwtOi1FJO0KjHXT-wcVsXMeTKincq9E18pM6a23_5d7uqGk27-6YqmqBCdPGpQwIsWLvl2kdHQF7WaL6NZDE6CsS7HSxs4zhSygCSYNjMEqDta6Sngzdg6D0doUxBSQTt/s1600-h/Whip+Scorpion+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298500242324823218" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2jhgCfkhr8qvwtOi1FJO0KjHXT-wcVsXMeTKincq9E18pM6a23_5d7uqGk27-6YqmqBCdPGpQwIsWLvl2kdHQF7WaL6NZDE6CsS7HSxs4zhSygCSYNjMEqDta6Sngzdg6D0doUxBSQTt/s320/Whip+Scorpion+1.jpg" border="0" /></a> walks sideways with these legs leading the ways. The leg-like mouthparts are stout, spiny and used to capture and hold insect prey while it is ton by the fangs. Whip Scorpions are purely nocturnal hunters feeding mostly on insects such as cockroaches, grasshoppers and sometimes on centipedes. These are not at all venomous for human. Although these animals may look extremely dangerous and frightening, they are perfectly harmless and very shy.<br />Mating involves a brief courtship which begins with the male holding the females forelegs in his forelegs with their tips and walking backwards until the female raises her abdomen. The pregnant female digs a special burrow with a larger area at the en<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rg8PQC7evQa0hcfcIuBjOZ2NT40mcf2B7gAXazwo8INLLKN2iTGWHllMHH_-2Di4asC1AYogm1HBF6FJWwky1ibNmqufRv9IWWiQA9ZT5G7JhVR4h8ANkoCinyJd5UPqPaDL-blwyEWs/s1600-h/Whip+Scorpion+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298500245799662178" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 222px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rg8PQC7evQa0hcfcIuBjOZ2NT40mcf2B7gAXazwo8INLLKN2iTGWHllMHH_-2Di4asC1AYogm1HBF6FJWwky1ibNmqufRv9IWWiQA9ZT5G7JhVR4h8ANkoCinyJd5UPqPaDL-blwyEWs/s320/Whip+Scorpion+3.jpg" border="0" /></a>d, when the eggs are laid they are inside a special membrane that prevents them from drying out. The female remains in the end of her burrow guarding the eggs. When the eggs hatch the young are white and look nothing like their mother, they climb onto her back and attach themselves there with special suckers. After a while they moult and the creature which now emerges looks like a miniature Whip Scorpion. After first moult they leave their mother. The young are slow growing and they gain maturity around the age of three years.<br />Yuwaraj Gurjar.<a href="http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/">http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/</a> </div></div></div>Yuwaraj Gurjarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13670118550392331266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434457812827908862.post-72330908798322109032009-02-03T14:47:00.003+05:302009-02-03T14:51:21.223+05:30<div align="justify"> <span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"><strong>Whitenosed Bushfrog.</strong></span><br />Frogs are members of the class called Amphibia. Amphibians are cold-blooded vertebrate animals. They differ from reptiles in that they lack scales and generally return to water to breed. Amphibians together with reptiles make up a larger group called Herps. The study of reptiles and amphibians is called Herp<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMxaen_L0u7GFLkuGQAVjrIjpvcAqUQYakzoVUQ6IuuRYGh310ZxHJtl5xI4sWu_Ll19QZPxh8n-Y3Mh6njtyB_yGtLOchRPxYPuEevaNlS16VNqVchTz6JwigsEp_4UUCkwXh4lHZLxt/s1600-h/Bush+Frog+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298498407119697250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 290px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMxaen_L0u7GFLkuGQAVjrIjpvcAqUQYakzoVUQ6IuuRYGh310ZxHJtl5xI4sWu_Ll19QZPxh8n-Y3Mh6njtyB_yGtLOchRPxYPuEevaNlS16VNqVchTz6JwigsEp_4UUCkwXh4lHZLxt/s320/Bush+Frog+1.jpg" border="0" /></a>etology. Herp comes from the Greek word herpeton, which basically means "creepy crawly things that move about on their bellies."<br />Most amphibians lack scales on their skin, and it is usually smooth. Mucous and granular glands are present in the skin. Skin helps in oxygen uptake and release of carbon dioxide from the surrounding environment. Due to permeable nature of skin, water readily evaporates from the skin and dehydrates the amphibians easily. Hence they tend to restrict their activity only to high humidity and low wind periods to avoid evaporation stress. One can probably find more amphibians in moist environments and <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0BUzPYdd3EuTjMj1HmQ6-HhyphenhyphenE9tnUWG59Ztl6o2sJK6VA5NCuEiTg5bmOlZho-4DF0bosn3Z8RR4FmKJza7xNc9XFJIHCRedQoXRqPrZT5XlAp_cG1pGCmKJp9tKKOITkeMyy8N91qen/s1600-h/Bush+Frog+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298498405926963794" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 314px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0BUzPYdd3EuTjMj1HmQ6-HhyphenhyphenE9tnUWG59Ztl6o2sJK6VA5NCuEiTg5bmOlZho-4DF0bosn3Z8RR4FmKJza7xNc9XFJIHCRedQoXRqPrZT5XlAp_cG1pGCmKJp9tKKOITkeMyy8N91qen/s320/Bush+Frog+2.jpg" border="0" /></a>they are active during nights. Amphibians in the dry region tend to absorb water through skin from moist soils. Amphibians can change their skin color according the surrounding environment. Amphibians use gills, lungs and skin for the respiratory purposes.<br />Asian tree frogs are most closely related to true frogs (Ranidae) but seem to be the ecological equivalents of New World hylids by being arboreal and having enlarged toe disks at the ends of the fingers to aid in climbing. Most Asian tree frogs have large eyes with horizontal pupils and dorsal coloration ranging from green to brown and gray to black and white. Many have flash coloration (bright, patterned colors) on the inner thighs, which confuse predators when the frog leaps away and exposes these areas, thus distorting the frogs overall body pattern to the predator. There are members in<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevCHDYu5ayECDzguvqOAeg0qbcV15TMOuE4Uar4aR9zfgPdqi2UmxomIRWwTrKJJzRWEeJMpJilq4tzYuHQynDhV_sG_e0zhE7eWa4claqx9ag-1AUsLqoUV4q1dUP4B_vEMvQiXgn6Qg/s1600-h/Bush+Frog+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298498412861731730" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 261px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevCHDYu5ayECDzguvqOAeg0qbcV15TMOuE4Uar4aR9zfgPdqi2UmxomIRWwTrKJJzRWEeJMpJilq4tzYuHQynDhV_sG_e0zhE7eWa4claqx9ag-1AUsLqoUV4q1dUP4B_vEMvQiXgn6Qg/s320/Bush+Frog+3.jpg" border="0" /></a> the family Rhacophorous with extensive webbing that are able to glide by extending their limbs out as they jump, thus serving to increase their surface area. These species are arboreal, with strong jumping skills. This particular frog is Philautus waynadensis, one of the widely distributed and a common frog in the Western Ghats. In the past this species was referred to as Philautus leucorhinus. It is commonly called whitenosed bushfrog. It is endemic bushfrog with lower risk of extinction. Among the leaf frogs, eggs are usually deposited on leaves above ponds, where mothers keep them wet by urinating on them. Hatchlings fall into the water below.<br />Yuwaraj Gurjar.<a href="http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/">http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/</a></div>Yuwaraj Gurjarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13670118550392331266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434457812827908862.post-43205289697194403912009-02-03T14:22:00.003+05:302009-02-03T14:25:11.072+05:30<div align="justify"><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#6600cc;">Insect Orchestra</span></strong><br /></span>In early monsoon our forests are full with insect orchestras. The loudest instrumentalist in the animal world is by the insects. They do not have ears and have some h<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4tQWc4Ne86FQu_DclQtNuO6-PNiC_RxOu447udrCE0MNZMNR8pC6HZHgqN_B4RNU8BA1cBjdyt6DoWWkeAEC-ZT-5uM4q4lDeZipgOWVvBHiB7GvbU7Sq9bOqUINtlm4DXmZc3ZOsmdPx/s1600-h/Cicada+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298491771609401138" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 234px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4tQWc4Ne86FQu_DclQtNuO6-PNiC_RxOu447udrCE0MNZMNR8pC6HZHgqN_B4RNU8BA1cBjdyt6DoWWkeAEC-ZT-5uM4q4lDeZipgOWVvBHiB7GvbU7Sq9bOqUINtlm4DXmZc3ZOsmdPx/s320/Cicada+1.jpg" border="0" /></a>earing organs, but some species have developed remarkable efficient ways of producing sound as well as receiving it. It is nearly always the male that is equipped with the sound making equipment and thus he must make the first moves in courtship game.<br />The synchronized screeching of cicadas fills the air and is often painfully clear. The cicada song is so loud that it can sometimes be heard up to one kilometer away. When ready to mate, the male cicada positions himself high up in a tree and begins calling loudly to attract the mate. Hi<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhceeQ1c2-ybASOQ9fWDmKsUGESGtpj75q-j5AkqGppzUPifwCxbl9ozTSPJ-1avKk7R4wXp4oFzeQeqg88wui6GOrFTYFgb0Tkt9UzPoKyPrGmNXvISN8tLBkvqn_MjEEDr-wBrHh6z0nF/s1600-h/Cicada+from+molt.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298491774909266082" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhceeQ1c2-ybASOQ9fWDmKsUGESGtpj75q-j5AkqGppzUPifwCxbl9ozTSPJ-1avKk7R4wXp4oFzeQeqg88wui6GOrFTYFgb0Tkt9UzPoKyPrGmNXvISN8tLBkvqn_MjEEDr-wBrHh6z0nF/s320/Cicada+from+molt.jpg" border="0" /></a>s song sparks off a chain reaction and suddenly all the males in the area will also burst into song. The sound of so many males seeking her attention quite overwhelms the female who flies right into the middle of this singing orchestra. Of course soon she finds her best male and they start for the new generation.<br />The cicadas, along with crickets and grasshoppers, are loudest and mist musical in the insect world and have remarkable complex ways of producing their unique sound. The male’s sound production mechanism consists of two hard plates called “tymbals” on either side of its thorax. By rapidly flexing strong muscles, the insect manages to buckle and unbuckle these plates to produc<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKb67jGFKDxz3uFUO97JX_sNT3ibJ744N2BgNkY-13WNJIr9HHmf9qp7X4HvymHxgUHkI8X72eOEbwgB7JdT26UnuGSgczQNhBGbwZmFs4TOYDw0L07kyOlL7nIQ-SByGZ2uFWQgOeffH6/s1600-h/Cicada+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298491774678026050" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKb67jGFKDxz3uFUO97JX_sNT3ibJ744N2BgNkY-13WNJIr9HHmf9qp7X4HvymHxgUHkI8X72eOEbwgB7JdT26UnuGSgczQNhBGbwZmFs4TOYDw0L07kyOlL7nIQ-SByGZ2uFWQgOeffH6/s320/Cicada+2.jpg" border="0" /></a>e its characteristic ticking sound. What is more, the male cicada has a volume control over his songs – a special covering that acts as a damper when it is lowered. This, combined with a prodigiously fast output of ticks that can reach upto 1000 per second, gives cicada an instrumental voice of some versatility for charming a prospective mate. The sound is differentiating between the species and those cicadas able to produce more clicks per second can vary their songs to make them distinct from other varieties. In addition to this cicadas can, by raising and lowering a cover over the tymbal, make their song louder or quieter.<br />Yuwaraj Gurjar <a href="http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/">http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/</a> </p><br /></div>Yuwaraj Gurjarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13670118550392331266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434457812827908862.post-77569319045420286512009-02-03T14:16:00.003+05:302009-02-03T14:20:49.930+05:30<div><p align="justify"><span style="color:#6600cc;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Pit Vipers with “Sixth” sense.</strong></span><br /></span>Some snakes have infrared vision also called “heat vision,” the infrared rays, which have longer wavelengths than those of visible light, signify the presence of warm-blooded prey in 3 dimensions, which helps snakes aim their attacks. Pit vipers possess this ability; have heat-sensitive membranes that ca<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmOmD4AloZi-sqMiXqnlV30kusuwoKxXudbo-szsVYI04yE49LbPJgCrV7A-TRbfStIK1buSNo9w3kaN8zoVpjIOjamO4XmSYAXTOElPsgdUZTqVKRIIr-GiOjnDZEU9SMrH5sR_wkHHW/s1600-h/Pit+Viper+Vision.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298490073853383890" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 223px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmOmD4AloZi-sqMiXqnlV30kusuwoKxXudbo-szsVYI04yE49LbPJgCrV7A-TRbfStIK1buSNo9w3kaN8zoVpjIOjamO4XmSYAXTOElPsgdUZTqVKRIIr-GiOjnDZEU9SMrH5sR_wkHHW/s320/Pit+Viper+Vision.jpg" border="0" /></a>n detect the difference in temperature between a moving prey - such as a running mouse.<br />The detection system, which consists of cavities located on each side of the head called “pit organs,” operates on a principle similar to that of a pinhole camera. A pinhole camera is a camera without a lens, where light from an image passes through a very small hole. Similarly, a pit organ’s aperture is about 1 mm—large enough to allow the snake to quickly detect moving prey. In pit vipers, which have only two pit holes (one in front of each eye), a block of about 1,600 sensory cells lie on a membrane which has a field of view of about 100 degrees. This means the snake’s brain would receive an image resolution of about 2.5 degrees for point like objects, such as eyes, which are one of the hottest points on mammals. This head of Bamboo pit viper shows a nostril, pit hole and eye (right to left). This is one of the poisonous snakes found near us. The Bamboo Pit Viper is a pale green snake with f<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUf-Ewqlrftm5DrWK_fZDFddQWqoeGOnB3eXbooHTItHPVXReRBYV_J-H9Dhrop7kw_6tMfCvdWD1fFroXOcoHI23TC72mjhH-rZLZHgzo0UShSz1A6MJL_JOC0HTKSxsOaQDCLj51RAGu/s1600-h/Malbar+Pit+Viper.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298490538092733394" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 264px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUf-Ewqlrftm5DrWK_fZDFddQWqoeGOnB3eXbooHTItHPVXReRBYV_J-H9Dhrop7kw_6tMfCvdWD1fFroXOcoHI23TC72mjhH-rZLZHgzo0UShSz1A6MJL_JOC0HTKSxsOaQDCLj51RAGu/s320/Malbar+Pit+Viper.jpg" border="0" /></a>aint, uneven black patterns on the back. The head is wide and triangular, set on a thin delicate neck. Actually this type of head is found in all types of Vipers and is one of the identification keys. This snake’s eyes are with golden iris and a black vertical pupil. This snake prefers living in vines, bushes and bamboo. Bamboo Pit Viper are slow moving snake and nocturnal. They rely on camouflage for protection. Although slow to defend themselves, they are capable of fast strikes and bites if disturbed. The food of this snake consists small mammals like rodents, lizards, birds and frogs. The female give birth to 4 or 5 living young. This is also Viper specialty as other snakes lay eggs. These Bamboo Pit Vipers are small in size near about 75 to 80 cms in adults. Their venom is low in toxicity, so that bites are rarely serious.<br />Yuwaraj Gurjar.<br /><a href="http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/">http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/</a></p></div>Yuwaraj Gurjarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13670118550392331266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434457812827908862.post-54498338130710176112009-02-03T14:01:00.004+05:302009-02-03T14:04:32.514+05:30<div align="justify"><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"><strong>Spider female guarding egg sac.</strong></span><br />Female spiders are usually larger than the male as the physical demands and accompanying energy requirements to produce webs and broods, are far greater. The male is smaller because once mature, his only function is to mate. Where males are similar in size to the females, they are generally more slender<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6r78kmT0_lTmgv3wn70p-CMwIanWAROjUcHpRiMokfIXKGLzeLottLlRydFVN3FjHStYTZpAtfYZMQNMQ2hQSVufJdHSe7kRNkcm-Fd6SKqNEaUX_tlKMC7NxaxW3Vw11DjooQq4pqk14/s1600-h/Spider+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298486318343339970" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 251px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6r78kmT0_lTmgv3wn70p-CMwIanWAROjUcHpRiMokfIXKGLzeLottLlRydFVN3FjHStYTZpAtfYZMQNMQ2hQSVufJdHSe7kRNkcm-Fd6SKqNEaUX_tlKMC7NxaxW3Vw11DjooQq4pqk14/s320/Spider+001.jpg" border="0" /></a>, with longer legs. In some cases the male can be one thousandth of the weight of the female. In other cases, the male and female are so different that they may even appear to be different species where males of certain species mimic wasps or ants.<br />Once mature, the male abandons all usual activities such as web construction and prey capture and transforms into a sexual attractions. Spider courtship is hazardous for the male spiders. It requires planning ahead, a good strategy, knowing the whims of your future mate and in some cases, the ability to perform long, arduous routines <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6lj-HOSZNk_rNjmuDcUtl7SGLe2C0Q0Vdmk_OjfKRx4BluAT6myLAWou9Nm9ER2yQh3SeLek3lJLhv2FuQ8if0jq-MY6Ein-JJVsqacVJLBe8iick2pKR1wuS0txEdQFlrM2jCpdWBY_/s1600-h/Spider+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298486316884722994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 286px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6lj-HOSZNk_rNjmuDcUtl7SGLe2C0Q0Vdmk_OjfKRx4BluAT6myLAWou9Nm9ER2yQh3SeLek3lJLhv2FuQ8if0jq-MY6Ein-JJVsqacVJLBe8iick2pKR1wuS0txEdQFlrM2jCpdWBY_/s320/Spider+002.jpg" border="0" /></a>to please her - sometimes at the risk of being eaten by her. Once he has located a mate, the male spider dare not make a false move as it would mean certain death so the female is approached cautiously.<br />As the eggs develop in the female, her abdomen enlarges. After a period varying from 1 week to several months after mating, the female lays her eggs in the safety of darkness. About 1000 eggs can be laid in 8-10 minutes. Some spiders only produce a few eggs while few species can produce up to 9000 eggs and only about 2% survive to maturity. Spider eggs are roughly spherical, and about 1 mm in diameter; they are laid in a compact mass and covered to a greater or lesser extent with silk, forming a sac. The eggs are variously colored, pale brown, pale yellow, pink, even bright green. Underfed females lay less eggs but the size depends upon the species. Some spiders produce more than one sac, but there is a tendency for fewer eggs in the later sacs. Most species however spin much <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGeCggQv_IxLxl7hCw_N7ffIJswvx-Su_2UDmi_Ct8ZEojDuq3Q9MkfbTAZqIinbqO4lDCpvSXSdFQwe7MvYKLSwX4WvsujPleZ_wGD25bEL7tGEovboGoYPzGgCyu4vDS_5_PbWWHIEAP/s1600-h/Spider+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298486319431795842" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGeCggQv_IxLxl7hCw_N7ffIJswvx-Su_2UDmi_Ct8ZEojDuq3Q9MkfbTAZqIinbqO4lDCpvSXSdFQwe7MvYKLSwX4WvsujPleZ_wGD25bEL7tGEovboGoYPzGgCyu4vDS_5_PbWWHIEAP/s320/Spider+004.jpg" border="0" /></a>more substantial cocoons or egg-sacs to hold the eggs safe. This is particularly necessary to species where the mother dies before the eggs hatch. But some wolf spiders however live to see their young hatch.<br />The tiny hairless and blind creature must wait a few days to moult into a more advanced stage, the larva, which has rudimentary eyes and a few hairs but lacks poison and the ability to spin silk. Both of these stages are unable to feed and they subsist off the yolk within them. After a short period, the larva moults into a nymph or spiderling which resembles the adult in general form. At this stage, some cannibalism may take place within the sac, and those spiderlings which are weak becomes meal for others.<br />Yuwaraj Gurjar.</p><p align="justify"><a href="http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/">http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/</a></p></div>Yuwaraj Gurjarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13670118550392331266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434457812827908862.post-48614894155377271372009-01-14T12:12:00.003+05:302009-01-14T12:15:20.756+05:30<div align="justify"><strong> <span style="font-size:130%;">Tiny but still powerful & venomous</span><br /></strong>This is one of the commonest venomous snakes of India known as Saw-scaled Viper or “Furase” in Marathi. It is a small snake, about 1 ft. 6 in. long, though a few specimens grow to 2 ft. or even to 2 ft. 7 in. It is a brown, buff or sandy in colour or may be green. It has got a pale, sinuous, white line along either flank of the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FvdL434idy1xdCP2i-eM2qvFcwPE7FgVGjsywfWOcjQt6ADRJ__ocuz15VJoLyiRU6bJFNJ4gjJ7ViIrDtR6RTYlGLcr-tjWnxqNlfUoHBqT-644GsLBkhUqM6GRmDhRvDL0CBOi9ZcN/s1600-h/Saw+scaled+viper+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291036388383348690" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FvdL434idy1xdCP2i-eM2qvFcwPE7FgVGjsywfWOcjQt6ADRJ__ocuz15VJoLyiRU6bJFNJ4gjJ7ViIrDtR6RTYlGLcr-tjWnxqNlfUoHBqT-644GsLBkhUqM6GRmDhRvDL0CBOi9ZcN/s320/Saw+scaled+viper+1.jpg" border="0" /></a>back. It may have small, white, diamond-shaped and somewhat square patches along the middle of the back, which may join laterally the wavy white line mentioned above. The head is triangular and has got a distinct white mark on it which somewhat resembles the foot-print of a bird, or may be likened to a broad arrow or a trident. The belly is white and covered with light-brown or dark spots. There is no pit between the nose and the eye which shows that, like Russell's Viper, it belongs to the class of pitless vipers. The broad bellyplates, small scales on the head and tail shields which are entire are <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjGl6iLCP-TvnF_MdpJL4fIp6s6ppkOndD7kUTol6dqECPDckqQGWyLYpLhrwB1zkxYK-YCBZBhy54GCYc2QlUFY5MpoYgVhJoob3pckEzZi0wZ_x7yUuFj7LxBUJr2CcTINpr8C8U2CK/s1600-h/Saw+scaled+viper+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291036385199377474" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 250px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjGl6iLCP-TvnF_MdpJL4fIp6s6ppkOndD7kUTol6dqECPDckqQGWyLYpLhrwB1zkxYK-YCBZBhy54GCYc2QlUFY5MpoYgVhJoob3pckEzZi0wZ_x7yUuFj7LxBUJr2CcTINpr8C8U2CK/s320/Saw+scaled+viper+2.jpg" border="0" /></a>characteristic of the Echis.<br />When disturbed or irritated, it throws itself in a double coil in the manner of figure '8' and rubs the coils together continuously, producing a loud rustling sound like the scrubbing of sandpaper. The scales on the back are distinctly keeled and rough, and it is these which produce the sound. The ridge in the middle of each scale on the back is dented like a saw, and hence it is called the Saw-scaled Viper. Being a small snake, the saw-scaled Viper does not inject much poison. It is estimated that 10 to 20 percent of its bite cases are fatal. Death may occur within 24 hours or even after 2 to 20 days following the bite. The local signs and symptoms of poisoning such as swelling and discolouration are<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCGvDZpVdeZeFMfH9wXNQDdFcgHYHUgwrRWNZqioX4M8M5VVGwWc0C6H3M3Y0iAleSb8jI29-PkF5xeeKHq3HX3eEQT35Zf28wj68lzpeqRkQiEV32kyLEZE-lMy48fJZ2rl9L9lQN8cJ/s1600-h/Saw+scaled+viper+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291036389713671794" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCGvDZpVdeZeFMfH9wXNQDdFcgHYHUgwrRWNZqioX4M8M5VVGwWc0C6H3M3Y0iAleSb8jI29-PkF5xeeKHq3HX3eEQT35Zf28wj68lzpeqRkQiEV32kyLEZE-lMy48fJZ2rl9L9lQN8cJ/s320/Saw+scaled+viper+3.jpg" border="0" /></a> very marked, the bitten part may slough and the person die of septic poisoning. There is also a tendency to bleed from various parts of the body a few days after the bite, and so a doctor should be consulted as soon as possible after the bite. This snake is considered to be the world's most dangerous snake because of its highly toxic venom, its abundance near cultivated areas, and its aggressive, easily excitable temperament. The venom is used in the preparation of anti-venom. These snakes keep the locust and rodent population in control and also feed on frogs, toads, lizards and other small insects. Female gives birth to 12 - 15 young ones at a time.<br />Yuwaraj Gurjar.</div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/">http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/</a></div>Yuwaraj Gurjarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13670118550392331266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434457812827908862.post-90379335746312505462009-01-14T12:08:00.002+05:302009-01-14T12:11:24.209+05:30<div></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#6600cc;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Turtles : Fear of extinction</span><br /></span></strong>The turtle is an important symbol in the mythologies of many indigenous cultures, usually representing creation, longevity, and wisdom in these belief systems. Turtles are thus truly ancient beings-both in geological and mythological terms. Turtles are rept<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdODWW-wwPv2pVUKKg24kpb3V0ROJfNtkg1yCGamxsKf8IqQO1HQV6keySOxlOocJSeF5eJ6G6REXumHImEICtTYfzCCZmLe6UYPhZsSxunp4o2hM4z_AM4cEeGHE70pV80QhE79XpMARW/s1600-h/Olive+Ridlay+Turtle+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291035417513736738" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdODWW-wwPv2pVUKKg24kpb3V0ROJfNtkg1yCGamxsKf8IqQO1HQV6keySOxlOocJSeF5eJ6G6REXumHImEICtTYfzCCZmLe6UYPhZsSxunp4o2hM4z_AM4cEeGHE70pV80QhE79XpMARW/s320/Olive+Ridlay+Turtle+1.jpg" border="0" /></a>iles whose soft body is covered by a hard shell. Most turtles can pull their legs, tail, and head into the shell for protection. Like other reptiles, all turtles are cold-blooded; their body temperature about matches the temperature of their environment.<br />Freshwater turtles have a flattened disc-like shell covered with soft skin. The limbs are semi-circular, paddle-like, and have three claws. Their neck is very flexible and extensile. These are commonly seen in ponds, lakes, rivers and even in wells. They prefer basking on rocks and dead tree trunks. Mud turtles swim well but prefer to lie half buried in mud and snap at passing prey with extremely fast th<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrvDzFYSJOgwMRrWsJxJkds_U7hNuPT59OvcDrR_WSn7j4BiBQte17zZXSw-pjS3cGYydWoyq-lVLiVgLR7Pe90Z_T6WzUZsNpOJiwlCIoG4JrHluv4lJFrpkdf8Nfo56Nh_63b8mWDpk/s1600-h/Olive+Ridlay+Turtle+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291035415015958482" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrvDzFYSJOgwMRrWsJxJkds_U7hNuPT59OvcDrR_WSn7j4BiBQte17zZXSw-pjS3cGYydWoyq-lVLiVgLR7Pe90Z_T6WzUZsNpOJiwlCIoG4JrHluv4lJFrpkdf8Nfo56Nh_63b8mWDpk/s320/Olive+Ridlay+Turtle+2.jpg" border="0" /></a>rust of the long neck. The turtle is able to withstand prolonged starvation. A captive turtle lived for two years without taking food. This group is long lived and there is longevity record of 152 years of giant tortoise which lived from 1766 to 1918 in one of the Seychelles Islands.<br />Another type of turtles lived in sea. These Sea turtles are reptiles that spend the majority of their lives in the ocean. Females reach reproductive age after 35 to 40 years, and only then return to the beach of their birth to lay their eggs for the next generation. Although a female may lay hundreds of eggs in one season, only a few of the hatchlings will survive to reach maturity. Between species, turtles vary in size from the bog turtle of about 4 inches long (10 centimeters) to the huge leatherback sea turtle, which can mature to 4 to 8 feet lengths (1.2 to 2.4 meters). Many turtles<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59G9ECDF9N9TyoYKgxj-XyP6I5uhJ592gDi7T8-kNoPnmN2hMOyJUINN1XH5j7tgVmV7Dv96IP-IvgjK_CjvVGs5hVmK_6WM8pblKHecdkrBpQtf5zB8DwBtw-J-zuTigvQfi1DVEpBPy/s1600-h/Olive+Ridlay+Turtle+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291035421714772322" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 218px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59G9ECDF9N9TyoYKgxj-XyP6I5uhJ592gDi7T8-kNoPnmN2hMOyJUINN1XH5j7tgVmV7Dv96IP-IvgjK_CjvVGs5hVmK_6WM8pblKHecdkrBpQtf5zB8DwBtw-J-zuTigvQfi1DVEpBPy/s320/Olive+Ridlay+Turtle+3.jpg" border="0" /></a> spend their entire life within a short distance from where they were hatched, but most sea turtles migrate thousand of miles. Sea turtles are also fast swimmers; but on land most kinds of turtles are slow. Most turtles are omnivores that are they eat both plants and animals but the exact foods consumed vary between the species. Today over 40 species of turtles including most sea turtles and many types of tortoises are endangered, and if turtle conservation and protection does not improve, certain species will become extinct forever.<br />Yuwaraj Gurjar</div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/">http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/</a></div>Yuwaraj Gurjarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13670118550392331266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434457812827908862.post-88687804162086955242009-01-14T12:00:00.003+05:302009-01-14T12:03:38.082+05:30<div></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#6600cc;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Paper Wasps</span><br /></span></strong>Paper Wasp, common name for medium- to large-sized wasps that construct nests made of a papery material. The nests consist of a single upside-down layer of brood cells or compartments for the young. Paper wasp nests resemble an upside down umbrella of cells and are often found hanging under the parts of buildings, in attics, trees, as well as other structuresMost paper wasps measure about 2 cm long and are black, brown, or reddish in color with <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CwUStpiKXk_uutHb49sLX2LSzkIq0NUhwm8NUo9xNh58N4GnUYU6-75oTMYvwiaLT5N8Fs7Wo_3_yfDuMmyUKIv-st-KMiijP6sKoU2IXJrJ3pIH5vGxM1JDSCGGSgq-JPpNA8NLzVpY/s1600-h/Paper+Wasp.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291033178534265810" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CwUStpiKXk_uutHb49sLX2LSzkIq0NUhwm8NUo9xNh58N4GnUYU6-75oTMYvwiaLT5N8Fs7Wo_3_yfDuMmyUKIv-st-KMiijP6sKoU2IXJrJ3pIH5vGxM1JDSCGGSgq-JPpNA8NLzVpY/s320/Paper+Wasp.jpg" border="0" /></a>yellow markings. Paper wasps will defend their nest if attacked. Adults forage for nectar, their source of energy, and for caterpillars to feed the larvae (young). They are natural enemies of many garden insect pests.<br />The nests of most species are suspended from a single, central stalk and have the shape of an upside-down umbrella. Some tropical species make nests that hang in a vertical sheet of cells. Wasp collects water droplets from nearby water source like this in the photo. The paper wasp builds clusters of hexagonal paper cells. Mixing masticated wood pulp with adhesive saliva, these paper nest cells act as larval nesting chambers for the young wasps. The Chinese inventor of paper was legend to have been in<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4Ze6-ja00-WKJIeUhcsvIpXQC0vi1l9jbPlUdVuH4ZqrT10pqCUDq3YIKy00giGt2qHTojmDiiuorfQGuxNxcXQi9H78gRdudxZ8QXKh-PzZLTx1eaywjHtG_Mxe1DXOS7OlWQu_a1VE/s1600-h/Paper+Wasp+Family.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291033178786136690" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 261px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4Ze6-ja00-WKJIeUhcsvIpXQC0vi1l9jbPlUdVuH4ZqrT10pqCUDq3YIKy00giGt2qHTojmDiiuorfQGuxNxcXQi9H78gRdudxZ8QXKh-PzZLTx1eaywjHtG_Mxe1DXOS7OlWQu_a1VE/s320/Paper+Wasp+Family.jpg" border="0" /></a>spired by observing these wasps chewing bark. Other members of the Vespid family, are potters, building their nests from mud and saliva. The nests are constructed in protected places, such as under the eaves of buildings or in dense vegetation. Normally a colony of several to several dozen paper wasps inhabits the nest.<br />In most species of paper wasps, colonies are founded by one female who dominates the colony and lays most of the eggs. This female constructs the nest, lays eggs, forages, and raises the first generation of offspring. She then stops foraging, becomes the queen, and rules by dominating her offspring of workers. This is a classic dominance hierarchy with the queen maintaining control through aggressive interactions. Each individual in line maintains dominance over all others below her through confrontation and aggressive interactions. If the queen dies or is otherwise lost, the most aggressive worker<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibe7Yxu9qA3o6erWo6BLumL_yAqfP1oBE3CCGLJtpr7YkubutZ8synF5UzxqccbZ_CqG-SkOtaqa4G2p5obnX01mWK-noBXm9N-DDIgYunIUIxXoeFALg95R1qvfumOsBcbHQsWd8YehTY/s1600-h/Paper+Wasp+on+Nest.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291033182862597858" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 312px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibe7Yxu9qA3o6erWo6BLumL_yAqfP1oBE3CCGLJtpr7YkubutZ8synF5UzxqccbZ_CqG-SkOtaqa4G2p5obnX01mWK-noBXm9N-DDIgYunIUIxXoeFALg95R1qvfumOsBcbHQsWd8YehTY/s320/Paper+Wasp+on+Nest.jpg" border="0" /></a> takes over. This worker begins laying eggs and continues to dominate all below her. Since the workers have not mated, they can only lay unfertilized eggs, which develop into males, a typical trait in wasps.<br />Some queens that are unsuccessful at establishing their own nest may join another queen, submitting to her dominance and becoming a worker. Studies have shown that such individuals, called joiners, are most often sisters of the queen. Since this individual mated the previous fall, her eggs can develop into workers and she could become the next queen if the founding queen is lost. Occasionally a joiner dominates the founding queen and takes over the nest, a behavior known as usurpation. In such rare cases, the usurper becomes the queen and the previous queen becomes a worker.<br />Yuwaraj Gurjar.</div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/">http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/</a></div>Yuwaraj Gurjarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13670118550392331266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434457812827908862.post-33796741039335192802009-01-14T11:56:00.002+05:302009-01-14T11:58:03.797+05:30<div></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#6600cc;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Stick insect's Pair</span><br /></span></strong>This is pair of "Stick Insects". These insects are very much well camouflaged in the green leaves of the plant. Generally stick insects are always masters of camouflage. Their scientific name "Phasmida" actually comes from the Greek word <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaqWMtVP2XYO8sNOTCdOAnObRghRV07nJQXOXJixC494J6ib3WlqMvPiHGry0bE2zWSZK05rEwswKqBimEl0IhCZg0Pdr93zO1nGkNqQxDZ1LBZ41dfQYWIy50vBtFG8l-OYhncnz98lL/s1600-h/Stick+Insect+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291032116940554162" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 206px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaqWMtVP2XYO8sNOTCdOAnObRghRV07nJQXOXJixC494J6ib3WlqMvPiHGry0bE2zWSZK05rEwswKqBimEl0IhCZg0Pdr93zO1nGkNqQxDZ1LBZ41dfQYWIy50vBtFG8l-OYhncnz98lL/s320/Stick+Insect+3.jpg" border="0" /></a>for ghost, it's a comparison they certainly deserve. There are around 2700 species of Phasmida in the world. Mostly, they live in the tropics, but they also occur in the temperate regions of Australia, New Zealand and Europe.<br />They are also called as "Walking Sticks". As the name "walkingstick" implies, most phasmids are slender, cylindrical, and cryptically colored to resemble the twigs and branc<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkySQktiCuF0zkWqkjVq-2YyflkfjOciuUHEfBNZXM5j4JavqTXAPzUoQgJwoa5JONpeK7whBLdhyphenhyphenLb4f9f0YI0a5oFXK-cXc8SgVWBEscW0aFEh_WaFaxu0tfe4eOBtAQ9A-w7gRAvuzU/s1600-h/Stick+Insect+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291032112438670994" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkySQktiCuF0zkWqkjVq-2YyflkfjOciuUHEfBNZXM5j4JavqTXAPzUoQgJwoa5JONpeK7whBLdhyphenhyphenLb4f9f0YI0a5oFXK-cXc8SgVWBEscW0aFEh_WaFaxu0tfe4eOBtAQ9A-w7gRAvuzU/s320/Stick+Insect+1.jpg" border="0" /></a>hes on which they live. Most walkingsticks are slow-moving insects, a behavior pattern that is consistent with their cryptic lifestyle. In a few tropical species, the adults have well-developed wings, but most phasmids are brachypterous (reduced wings) or secondarily wingless. Stick insects are most abundant in the tropics where some species may be up to 12 inches in length. Females do not have a well-developed ovipositor so they cannot insert their eggs into host plant tissue like most other insects. Instead, the eggs are dropped singly onto the ground, sometimes from great heights. Stick insect's eggs often resemble seeds. The eggs may remain dormant for over a year before hatching.<br />When attacked by a predator, the legs <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9R4GRe0BBoIwU0JUDh7ao8YwQi7aQdS7btYzekesj1WCqVcKeFnMr_xWPHQg4AGmb1pZiytaYpRRDOeahgri9qtCl39A-Lxqw0yh1StxGPLJ0LQa8glwQbQqH0Sdv9yIuGpZJsP-yW1B/s1600-h/Stick+Insect+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291032115687350226" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 188px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9R4GRe0BBoIwU0JUDh7ao8YwQi7aQdS7btYzekesj1WCqVcKeFnMr_xWPHQg4AGmb1pZiytaYpRRDOeahgri9qtCl39A-Lxqw0yh1StxGPLJ0LQa8glwQbQqH0Sdv9yIuGpZJsP-yW1B/s320/Stick+Insect+2.jpg" border="0" /></a>of some phasmids may separate from the body. Some species can even regenerate lost legs. These are the only insects able to regenerate body parts. In addition to their foliage mimicking defensive strategies, there are some glands located on the thorax of stick insects can produce a foul-smelling liquid that repels predators.<br />Most female stick insects lack wings and tends to be geographically localized. In some species, this lack of mobility can result in defoliation of the chosen food plants. A number of stick insect species are capable of parthenogenesis; if no males are available to fertilize eggs, viable female offspring will be produced. Males are usually winged which allows for distribution of populations. Males are also known to stay coupled with females for considerable duration to ensure their own genes are responsible for egg fertilization. Some species are capable of altering their coloration. During the day they will appear lighter green, switching to a darker mode for their active nocturnal period.<br />Yuwaraj Gurjar.</div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/">http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/</a></div>Yuwaraj Gurjarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13670118550392331266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434457812827908862.post-74220696294754326612009-01-14T11:49:00.003+05:302009-01-14T11:54:19.453+05:30<div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#6600cc;">Harmless Vine Snake.</span></strong><br /></span>This is Vine snake and it is very long and thin with very pointed head. It<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR17jBiPuYtbfDEUJwrHPU836RSNr2G0Enly8-xt1ZTRA3QrOjqcTMhqEhHK6Y_UKgwr9r9fkQTYLajbC1rXuv6Y5z7Y_p-PtXJYYpaG81HpPN38XFunZk8r2NzVYkCgS6nSVY9zqbJX59/s1600-h/DSCF0312.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291030770623862514" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR17jBiPuYtbfDEUJwrHPU836RSNr2G0Enly8-xt1ZTRA3QrOjqcTMhqEhHK6Y_UKgwr9r9fkQTYLajbC1rXuv6Y5z7Y_p-PtXJYYpaG81HpPN38XFunZk8r2NzVYkCgS6nSVY9zqbJX59/s320/DSCF0312.jpg" border="0" /></a> is called “Sarpa tol” or “Haran tol” in marathi. The body is uniform parroty-green, often with a thin white or yellow line separating the black scales from the belly scales. The underside is fluorescent green or yellow. When excited it shows the inflated neck and body revealed black and white inter-scale color gave a banded appearance. The scales are very much soft and smooth but not shiny. This is the only snake in India, which have horizontally elliptical eyes and bright golden iris. These, coupled with forward position of the location of the eye, give this snake a very good vision. These eyes are large and give it near stereoscopic vision which would clearly assist it in its hunting techniques. This is a common snake still rarely seen because of their excellent camouflage. It is distributed all over the India except northwest <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkBRQMcDLHAQWew36sqV5ZMx949MSNT93Sdg2lrVoVg7OFSz3RI_12xW4caCesqyoCaMSxJ3icLAaa_gJ1aVor4L_9PcuqOldEn176vLw9bp85X2gtlHHSc8FrhQjUH79Yz_71KEQLQ3r/s1600-h/DSCF0314.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291030772985937874" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 206px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkBRQMcDLHAQWew36sqV5ZMx949MSNT93Sdg2lrVoVg7OFSz3RI_12xW4caCesqyoCaMSxJ3icLAaa_gJ1aVor4L_9PcuqOldEn176vLw9bp85X2gtlHHSc8FrhQjUH79Yz_71KEQLQ3r/s320/DSCF0314.jpg" border="0" /></a>parts and it prefers bushes and small trees. It remains suspended by its long thin tail, the head being held free from the coil.<br />Vine snakes depends on their shape and color to escape detection. They can move at a fair speed. When provoked they open the mouth very wide and swell the body threateningly. Vine snakes are rear-fanged and generally hold their prey until the mildly toxic venom has killed it. During the breeding season, they often bunch together in a cluster, and can be seen hanging in-groups in branches. Females give birth to young ones and they are tiny replicas of the parents with slightly turned-up nose. Their food is mainly lizards, frogs, mice and small b<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrVZ9o243t94ncdnI87KJHE0qPtxmWpjcJfd15XdCyBTP7g-lFeWdi8zyRRlXzUT-2lKo1EmUTV9BQFGalYawRjH9szq-4olBYsmaxH4Z2iiN-wIzY9MRl5_b39M4dU1RTFhZGsO7nzfNO/s1600-h/DSCF0318.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291030773976283794" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 287px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrVZ9o243t94ncdnI87KJHE0qPtxmWpjcJfd15XdCyBTP7g-lFeWdi8zyRRlXzUT-2lKo1EmUTV9BQFGalYawRjH9szq-4olBYsmaxH4Z2iiN-wIzY9MRl5_b39M4dU1RTFhZGsO7nzfNO/s320/DSCF0318.jpg" border="0" /></a>irds. Its superb camouflage enables it to stalk its prey with ease. Once the prey is in striking distance it coils itself and darts towards its prey with lightning speed. The prey is often seized by the neck and killed by suffocation caused by crushing its victims throat with its jaws. Its venom plays a minor role in its hunting but does appear to assist in the killing process. This snake waits until its prey is completely dead before swallowing it.<br />Though it is common, it is greatly feared, this harmless, beautiful snake is always killed when seen. It is foolishly believed that it will dart at a person’s eyes and peck them out or it will jump on head and break the skull.<br />Yuwaraj Gurjar.</div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/">http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/</a></div>Yuwaraj Gurjarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13670118550392331266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434457812827908862.post-68542410766613894912009-01-13T14:05:00.004+05:302009-01-13T14:08:03.411+05:30<div></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#6600cc;">Drosera : Amazing insect eating plant</span></strong><br /></span>This plant is Drosera indica, one of the carnivorous plants. Drosera, from the Greek, droseros (droseros), "dewy, watery" and indica is derived from India. Plant is carnivorous if it attracts, captures, and kills animal life forms. It must also digest and absorb the nutrients from the prey to qualify as a carnivo<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdILTfg59vukPHbjYGwLdjaMif3nxzFGWP8ln8ZRPvZ0z7pDIzGjQVuXYXNK5n4mvJ0a_Yk9_Yu_u3hG4HYVMhB8fsjyFuDLkiJvzHors01Z14H7OluZtCXeFweaN_BHTX9qNlttAmKxhQ/s1600-h/Drosera+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290694487010083090" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdILTfg59vukPHbjYGwLdjaMif3nxzFGWP8ln8ZRPvZ0z7pDIzGjQVuXYXNK5n4mvJ0a_Yk9_Yu_u3hG4HYVMhB8fsjyFuDLkiJvzHors01Z14H7OluZtCXeFweaN_BHTX9qNlttAmKxhQ/s320/Drosera+1.jpg" border="0" /></a>rous plant. There are many noncarnivorous plants that do some (but not all) of these things. For example, flowers attract pollinators (such as insects, birds, and other creatures, even humans!); some plants such as orchids and water lilies temporarily trap insect pollinators to ensure pollen transfer. All plants absorb nutrients either through their roots or leaves. However, even though these plants do some of the things that carnivorous plants do, they do not fulfill all of the criteria necessary to qualify as a carnivorous plant. Only plants which attract, capture, kill, digest, an<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKWWyJCYMZ8yt3idB5eoxLwK9UopnmsQbDMvR2GIcPyn24yQkfD6xo4lFp4y6O7lG6UMg6ee1X1LQHG3PNlOMRSrNsD7MX18WsOBfo3crh0go0dUjlfi-7CHP-LrcRgaOZ4MgnsrTxcU7/s1600-h/Drosera+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290694489193202162" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 318px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKWWyJCYMZ8yt3idB5eoxLwK9UopnmsQbDMvR2GIcPyn24yQkfD6xo4lFp4y6O7lG6UMg6ee1X1LQHG3PNlOMRSrNsD7MX18WsOBfo3crh0go0dUjlfi-7CHP-LrcRgaOZ4MgnsrTxcU7/s320/Drosera+2.jpg" border="0" /></a>d absorb prey are truly carnivorous.<br />Carnivorous plants are just like other plants, except they have a toolbox of abilities that, altogether, allow the plant to be carnivorous. Other plants have a few of these tools, but not all of them. The main tools are the abilities to attract insects, capture them, kill them, digest them, and absorb the resulting nutrients. Noncarnivorous plants have flowers to attract and even capture insects, toxic compounds to kill insects feeding on them, molecules that have digestive properties, and structures like roots to absorb the nutrients. Carnivorous plants just comb<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0oN9xY5_19dJ-nc02bqDTtSryM75Zku8l8_RweX3HVw_47KEEgJuSoSch-B9iruL9cWcClHCdKnnQuG33s9188EZ-j96Ha54MCQZYrZTdgiv3AtHu-DyfQaVvU6Wn7nW3NatUMOIKZ3v/s1600-h/Drosera+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290694491064799906" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 296px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0oN9xY5_19dJ-nc02bqDTtSryM75Zku8l8_RweX3HVw_47KEEgJuSoSch-B9iruL9cWcClHCdKnnQuG33s9188EZ-j96Ha54MCQZYrZTdgiv3AtHu-DyfQaVvU6Wn7nW3NatUMOIKZ3v/s320/Drosera+3.jpg" border="0" /></a>ine these features in an interesting way.<br />This tiny plant is naturally found along muddy soil in its specific habitat. Forms vary mostly in plant and flower color. Plants can be green or red, and flowers may be either white, pink, or orange. Drosera indica is an annual which means under normal circumstances within one growing season it will grow quickly, bloom, set seed and die. In nature the seeds sprout with the onset of the rainy season. It requires very warm and bright conditions to do well. The plants bloom and then die in the fall as the ground dries out. After an insect has been caught, the glandular heads secrete a digestive fluid which dissolves all that can be absorbed from the insect. These work on reducing the fleshy internal part of the insect into a nutrient soup which is subsequently absorbed by the plant. It has been noted that secretion does not take place when inorganic substances are imprisoned. Once digestion and absorption is complete, leaving to dried exoskeleton to be washed away by rainfall, or simply left as a warning to other insects.<br />Yuwaraj Gurjar.</div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/">http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/</a></div>Yuwaraj Gurjarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13670118550392331266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434457812827908862.post-46675707425496425552009-01-13T14:00:00.004+05:302009-01-13T14:03:58.445+05:30<div align="justify"><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"><strong>Digger Wasp<br /></strong></span>Digger wasps are from Order Hymenoptera which includes insects like wasps, bees and ants. This is the third largest o<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9J3uJuYt8PpgQlk3Bnh_cpZIPb_bMLBrINhiBWC2DSqCwVhyphenhypheniTKKtAi6uVAxdIq4MHBy52YygP-LFTz8bA06N0Y52GRoxC8z8gQwL6x6RiiVSC-jSkVWz9S_ERzfau9G6uEqmNNML06kg/s1600-h/Digger+Wasp+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290693237079041298" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 253px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9J3uJuYt8PpgQlk3Bnh_cpZIPb_bMLBrINhiBWC2DSqCwVhyphenhypheniTKKtAi6uVAxdIq4MHBy52YygP-LFTz8bA06N0Y52GRoxC8z8gQwL6x6RiiVSC-jSkVWz9S_ERzfau9G6uEqmNNML06kg/s320/Digger+Wasp+2.jpg" border="0" /></a>rder after beetles and flies that had evolved about 155 million years ago. The digger wasp first<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQIhwKFH-dbmKyp37TGsdSAoTVWl6_rNtLD6aHiwrH8r1b7M2-5IzlMFqhZ3PhLnC1I3fRYujd-EQ_A1ld3Yxn_0pAhNhO7KC4SMfliCdPg8tBl22kJ2N6zpVfF0M3cGw9wBg_XQTr7cR/s1600-h/Digger+Wasp+1.jpg"></a> prepares a burrow in a suitable spot, and then starts digging. When a little hole is made, then she enters it and comes out carrying soils between her curved forelegs and her head, repeating this till there was a considerable heap of soil. This heap she then demolishes by standing and kicking it away with her hind legs, leaving no evidence of its excavation. Before beginning hunting she makes a complex series of short flights around and above the nest site, fixing in her mind a visual pattern of its location and of prominent landmarks by which it can be locates from long distance. A major disadvantage of preparing the nest in advance lies in the necessity of transporting the prey when it is obtained at some long distance. Many times wasp hunts for larger prey, sometimes heavier than herself, and may have a long and difficult task dragging the loa<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8A6SkmQJb816WqmomDISzTaHK4rewy_1D_yRxMdFC3I73U647Z0qt3j0gLSBPefWpym4YlDeh6TsR63VMwHC2twdDn0yQLAwVGojgRQDzttHkR5IjE7S8seX3cT50Clb5Ja_oUNoXaQm/s1600-h/Digger+Wasp+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290693237402701586" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 246px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8A6SkmQJb816WqmomDISzTaHK4rewy_1D_yRxMdFC3I73U647Z0qt3j0gLSBPefWpym4YlDeh6TsR63VMwHC2twdDn0yQLAwVGojgRQDzttHkR5IjE7S8seX3cT50Clb5Ja_oUNoXaQm/s320/Digger+Wasp+3.jpg" border="0" /></a>d over rough terrain and through dense, tangles vegetation.<br />The main prey of this wasp is the caterpillars of butterflies and moths, sometimes far heavier than the wasp herself. On finding such victim she stings it a number of times, puncturing quite accurately. The wasp has an instinctive knowledge of the caterpillar’s anatomy; it is undeniable that in the most of instances she does succeed in paralyzing the prey and not killing it. She grasps the caterpillar in her jaws and straddling it with her long legs, drags and carries it to the nest. The way may be long and tortuous, so that she may occasionally heave to leave the prey and make on orientation flight to set herself on the right track. Eventually she reaches to the prepared burrow and drags the caterpillar down to the chamber. Laying an egg on it, she leaves it and starts filling in the opening of the nest.<br />Yuwaraj Gurjar.</div><div><a href="http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/">http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/</a></div><br /></div>Yuwaraj Gurjarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13670118550392331266noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434457812827908862.post-89025571554714379042009-01-13T13:43:00.002+05:302009-01-13T13:46:17.560+05:30<div></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"><strong>Banded Rock Gecko.</strong></span><br />A widely diversified group of reptiles, the lizards are generally distinguished from the snakes by the presence of limbs. Geckos are another sub group of these lizards. The eye lacks eyelids and <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrpzmC5k-fzF_3KueavJVtAx74zK5XkFlrZp4FzpodO2mNa2FIO9aq8pRAOI9xT4nhRXn1qVVl2IxOk2Z5owH7-BV74srWW2Q_SGsVCjAZQQjkyFlGpv4q6km1MOkCZqakmkqU8M60cYYY/s1600-h/Banded+Gecko+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290688796739009106" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrpzmC5k-fzF_3KueavJVtAx74zK5XkFlrZp4FzpodO2mNa2FIO9aq8pRAOI9xT4nhRXn1qVVl2IxOk2Z5owH7-BV74srWW2Q_SGsVCjAZQQjkyFlGpv4q6km1MOkCZqakmkqU8M60cYYY/s320/Banded+Gecko+1.jpg" border="0" /></a>is covered by a transparent shield in nearly all species. The major feature of geckos is the ability to climb smooth vertical surfaces and to move on ceilings defying gravity. This is due to the minute setae under the toes were believed to act as suction cups.<br />Unlike other running lizards and birds where the limbs are thin and only the tendons activate the limbs but the legs and feet of geckos are heavily muscled. The fibers of the muscles that control the toe movements are arranged like the barbs on a feather permitting more muscular attachment to the setae holding plates. Most geckos have a voice, fe<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2ZwPt42O03cp7q9s0vG0FQcISJ6OvioBWNmJZLGSj6IKeC1-tFFA8ipiayoAB4krb8Cdf5Eh7BwR9DpYDDJXGd-FycDh3GQpmh9JYTyfA7qXmffhZ-7_s8phh3rPN0Z5USh-O_3etomQ/s1600-h/Banded+Gecko+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290688798965131282" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 242px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2ZwPt42O03cp7q9s0vG0FQcISJ6OvioBWNmJZLGSj6IKeC1-tFFA8ipiayoAB4krb8Cdf5Eh7BwR9DpYDDJXGd-FycDh3GQpmh9JYTyfA7qXmffhZ-7_s8phh3rPN0Z5USh-O_3etomQ/s320/Banded+Gecko+3.jpg" border="0" /></a>w even produces a mechanical sound by rubbing specialised areas of the body. Most Indian geckos are nocturnal spending the day in a convenient hideout.<br />Geckos obtain a certain amount of protection from the ease with which the tails breaks off and moves actively after detachment, thereby drawing attention to itself and away from the animal. The tail is superbly adapted for this purpose. All geckos are oviparous, and normally lay 2 eggs. The shell is soft when laid but hardens on contact with air. It is a strong belief that geckos are poisonous but at least no India<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22IVoMNeuuBo8geO6o-tBVUj6EwT1lUJ7Sm5dr7ga0IbIpwJfO0BJ2FRvX6e3VgU81F7XmZ2lD_FWz48a6ZfOBdd6fnBTsu8KNvPm5WZYqgArntfXUyFAgevWER0LknrPTYnBYGH_3SiC/s1600-h/Banded+Gecko+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290688797946701714" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 250px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22IVoMNeuuBo8geO6o-tBVUj6EwT1lUJ7Sm5dr7ga0IbIpwJfO0BJ2FRvX6e3VgU81F7XmZ2lD_FWz48a6ZfOBdd6fnBTsu8KNvPm5WZYqgArntfXUyFAgevWER0LknrPTYnBYGH_3SiC/s320/Banded+Gecko+2.jpg" border="0" /></a>n species are at all poisonous.<br />This is Banded Rock Gecko (Cyrtodactylus dekkanensis). These geckos are easily distinguished from other geckos by the vertical pupil. Most specis are conspicuously and handsomely marked with spots and / or bands on a gray or brown background. In India there are 12 species known till date. Mostly all are nocturnal and dwell among rocks and on the forest floor. This species is widely distributed in the western and eastern Himalayas, the desert of Kutch and the forests of Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats and in the Andamans.<br />Yuwaraj Gurjar.</div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/">http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/</a></div>Yuwaraj Gurjarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13670118550392331266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434457812827908862.post-62642862531613107962009-01-13T13:39:00.003+05:302009-01-13T13:42:15.738+05:30<div></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#6600cc;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Antlion :- Using tools to catch prey.</span><br /></span></strong>In early summer we can see small funnel-shaped pits in dry, fine soil. These pits are usually 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter. As the summertime <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEw5Wri8NDUISZb9xkpzWY9Q_RhZXOkXZpBESxoQY0AJPhju89UI2GnTlIFP5XwLxYrshU2LE1UIjdrNYbNy4cV8-3KlQdb57asVYPbJRKI9ce87qZkWZAfSnulVB5hpDl_hKo0mYRtvZp/s1600-h/Antlion+Adult.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290687802347031474" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEw5Wri8NDUISZb9xkpzWY9Q_RhZXOkXZpBESxoQY0AJPhju89UI2GnTlIFP5XwLxYrshU2LE1UIjdrNYbNy4cV8-3KlQdb57asVYPbJRKI9ce87qZkWZAfSnulVB5hpDl_hKo0mYRtvZp/s320/Antlion+Adult.jpg" border="0" /></a>progresses, the pits become larger in diameter and more widely spaced apart. Hidden under the soil at the bottom of each pit, a predatory immature antlion waits for unsuspecting ants and other small insects to fall into the pit.<br />The funnel-shaped pits are constructed in dry soil or sand using a novel excavation technique. The larva heaps sand or soil onto its head and jaws and then flicks it with some force up and behind it, working in a circle to produce a conical pit. If an antlion larva encounters a small pebble or other object when it is constructing its pit, it will attempt to flick the object out of its pit. If the object is too large to flick but large enough to move, it may literally be "pushed" up a<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1K1QXufc2WGJVN6yVPTX_SiiPiN5JJiT2h4r2wcPZbQXsheXIRptirDmxsGN3fOQcZBuBpoG9HzlbK3oJgnirgehqX6QGQF_bk4s4PJ3n_Q6xT-kypReg1fuM__pmvzcgN979QzuqM7r/s1600-h/Antlion+Nymph+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290687809206243698" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 302px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1K1QXufc2WGJVN6yVPTX_SiiPiN5JJiT2h4r2wcPZbQXsheXIRptirDmxsGN3fOQcZBuBpoG9HzlbK3oJgnirgehqX6QGQF_bk4s4PJ3n_Q6xT-kypReg1fuM__pmvzcgN979QzuqM7r/s320/Antlion+Nymph+1.jpg" border="0" /></a>nd out of the pit by the larva. When the pit is completed, the larva lies motionless on the bottom, concealed beneath the sand, with only its long, piercing mandibles exposed, and lies in waiting for unsuspected prey.<br />Antlions, as their name implies, prey mainly on ants. The lion part of the names comes from the ferocity with which they attack any ant that comes within range of their huge jaws. Ants stumble into the pit by accident and, because it is constructed of friable soil or sand and has steep sides, they have to struggle to get out. The task is made more difficult by the antlion. While the ant is scrabbling about trying to get up the sides of the pit<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxIvAHe8D8YfBU4Ir5e_PEGw3znBFxvBqOhLslcb_6KRBhuXEosMfMKprNxaD4hNM5_yLBoCDnJkXByT1EBffohQ7H3QupfHHmruxloUJ1ZxlcGNKn3Oafl2UL6Nrua6Bk1pGbBcck_9Y/s1600-h/Antlion+pit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290687811538534130" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxIvAHe8D8YfBU4Ir5e_PEGw3znBFxvBqOhLslcb_6KRBhuXEosMfMKprNxaD4hNM5_yLBoCDnJkXByT1EBffohQ7H3QupfHHmruxloUJ1ZxlcGNKn3Oafl2UL6Nrua6Bk1pGbBcck_9Y/s320/Antlion+pit.jpg" border="0" /></a>, the antlion is busy chucking sand at it, again using its head and jaws. Eventually the shower of sand may knock the ant within the antlion’s reach. Once seized, the ant is dragged into the sand at the bottom of the burrow where it is consumed. Adults Antlion have short antenna which thicken towards the tips. They are medium to large size with long wings. Most of them are predators on other insects although some feed on pollen. They have two pairs of membranous wings like the dragonfly, but Antlion flies slowly and short distance.<br />Yuwaraj Gurjar.</div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/">http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/</a></div>Yuwaraj Gurjarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13670118550392331266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434457812827908862.post-34867387504862758292009-01-13T13:33:00.001+05:302009-01-13T13:38:31.003+05:30<div></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#6600cc;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Tortoiseshell Beetles</span><br /></span></strong>Tortoise beetles range between 9 and 12 mm (less than 0.5 inch) in length and resemble a tortoise because of the f<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFg34vu0-Qu8vPjqC_JNjg4LE1EOUhePELq7DPSM0T2Y0Eop71NErAn2xmTDrS4IcUIlRPqlgmJlwlR9cL6uHVmF7eq_Xw7LHjOaPk1IoR5F_pDCNUnZnnSGSGOcGx8MeuTiVU4yKWT0o/s1600-h/Tortoiseshell+Beetle+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290686897516400514" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 235px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFg34vu0-Qu8vPjqC_JNjg4LE1EOUhePELq7DPSM0T2Y0Eop71NErAn2xmTDrS4IcUIlRPqlgmJlwlR9cL6uHVmF7eq_Xw7LHjOaPk1IoR5F_pDCNUnZnnSGSGOcGx8MeuTiVU4yKWT0o/s320/Tortoiseshell+Beetle+1.jpg" border="0" /></a>orward and sideways extensions of the body. In some western countries tortoise beetles are among the most brilliantly colored coleopterans and are used in making jewelry.<br />These insects easily attract the attention of nature lovers due to their brilliant and attractive metallic golden colors. The golden tortoise beetle is associated with sweet potato and related species such as morning glory, Ipomoea species. On this plant, the entire life cycle takes place. Eggs are laid in-groups and are cemented together in a paperlike egg capsule whose thin brown laye<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAh7XHJUDTXplcoQgG1Ff-AusqRMP9GVbFXadGKJuP4Cqv9x-NAQDZYnHuXqIHQPApDQHZ9HrvFfkukb8wv0fV43XwO5Av7vvrNCCC89porSXRvOsuz8HC5Uw90Tt0MJz5cBnHS912m21/s1600-h/Tortoiseshell+Beetle+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290686900227208722" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 234px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAh7XHJUDTXplcoQgG1Ff-AusqRMP9GVbFXadGKJuP4Cqv9x-NAQDZYnHuXqIHQPApDQHZ9HrvFfkukb8wv0fV43XwO5Av7vvrNCCC89porSXRvOsuz8HC5Uw90Tt0MJz5cBnHS912m21/s320/Tortoiseshell+Beetle+2.jpg" border="0" /></a>rs separate and camouflage them. The larvae, which hatches in four to six days burrows directly through the egg capsule and feed on the leaf epidermis. Larvae are broad and flattened and adorned with branched spines. Their thoracic legs are short and thick. The color of the larva is yellowish to gray. There are three larval instars. The larvae display the habit of carrying their cast skins and fecal material attached to spines arising from the posterior end of their body, a structure called an "anal fork." The anal fork is movable, and is usually used to hold the<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrE9BXX6Im1qGNr4K2R0TvFixVsjPCrmzQ_jofeuWNx1HsNGi-4Ef73imUW_HrPrejjmRVXRWXqz774YMCxr2C8GTiHlDBOx0lY1EaRqCE5ZHlEcGX-GDRKUokx3xSmv_3k4iTfMQelNIr/s1600-h/Tortoiseshell+Beetle+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290686902516915890" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 285px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrE9BXX6Im1qGNr4K2R0TvFixVsjPCrmzQ_jofeuWNx1HsNGi-4Ef73imUW_HrPrejjmRVXRWXqz774YMCxr2C8GTiHlDBOx0lY1EaRqCE5ZHlEcGX-GDRKUokx3xSmv_3k4iTfMQelNIr/s320/Tortoiseshell+Beetle+3.jpg" border="0" /></a> debris over the back of the body, forming a "shield" which deters predation. Larvae mature in 14-21 days. They are always in groups say 30 to 40 upto 100 on a single underside of the leaf. When the beetle emerges it is white in color then it changes its color gradually into orange and then finally metallic gold.<br />The adult beetles are distinctive in that the margins of the prothorax and elytra are expanded, largely concealing the head and appendages. The expanded margins are not pigmented, appearing nearly transparent. The beetles vary slightly in color but invariably are orange colored, often golden metallic, and are sometimes called "goldbugs." There are some tiny metallic green varieties also in our forests.<br />Yuwaraj Gurjar.</div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/">http://www.yuwarajgurjar.com/</a></div>Yuwaraj Gurjarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13670118550392331266noreply@blogger.com0