Chasing leopards by the falls!
Source: Chasing leopards by the falls!
Wild at heart: the Giant honey bee
Source: Wild at heart: the Giant honey bee
Wild at heart: the Giant honey bee
The Giant honey bee (Apis dorsata) is a large (17–20 mm long) bee, which occurs in India and S E Asia. (1) There are four subspecies; the one shown here … Continue Reading Wild at heart: the Giant honey bee
Hitching a ride on a giant wasp
Source: Hitching a ride on a giant wasp
Hitching a ride on a giant wasp
I came across this very large (c. 5 cm in length) digger wasp which was searching the leaf litter in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, northern Thailand. It is a scoliid wasp … Continue Reading Hitching a ride on a giant wasp
Ant-attended aphids
Source: Ant-attended aphids
Ant-attended aphids
Many homopteran species, including aphids, have evolved mutualistic relationships with ants. Such symbiotic relationships are beneficial to both species and will endure as long as the costs do not outweigh … Continue Reading Ant-attended aphids
A trick of the tail!
Source: A trick of the tail!
A trick of the tail!
When we look at an organism, we see a host of different adaptations which have evolved to improve or enhance the fitness and survival of that species. One such trait … Continue Reading A trick of the tail!
Black-rimmed snout hoverfly: the Heineken Fly!
Source: Black-rimmed snout hoverfly: the Heineken Fly!
Black-rimmed snout hoverfly: the Heineken Fly!
The Black-rimmed snout hoverfly, Rhingia campestris Meigen, 1822 (Diptera: Syrphidae) is a common and widespread fly which is often seen visiting flowers or resting on nearby vegetation. The larvae live … Continue Reading Black-rimmed snout hoverfly: the Heineken Fly!
Oak apple galls
Source: Oak apple galls
Oak apple galls
The leaves have only just started to open on this oak tree, a Sessile oak I think, yet it is already covered by many galls. These rounded disfigurations – called … Continue Reading Oak apple galls
Stabilmenta: spider’s web decorations
Source: Stabilmenta: spider’s web decorations
Stabilmenta: spider’s web decorations
Stabilmenta are conspicuous patterns or decorations made by spiders – particularly orb-web spiders – in their webs. Google ‘stabilmenta’ (singular: stabilmentum) and you will see many wonderful examples of these … Continue Reading Stabilmenta: spider’s web decorations
Bright iridescent patches are honest signals!
Source: Bright iridescent patches are honest signals!
