Common name : Scarab Scientific name : Scarabaeidae Family : Scarabaeidae Native to : Worldwide distribution Interesting fact : Charles Darwin has described this species of beetle as ‘the sacred beetles of the Egyptians’. With body length ranging from 1.5 mm to 160 mm, the scarab beetle has a stout body and is usually of […]
Uluru, also known as the Ayers Rock, is located in Australia. It is believed to be 700 million years old. The Uluru is an enormous sandstone formation that lies within the Uluru-Kaka Tjuta National Park. This structure is considered to be sacred to the native Australians and the area surrounding the Uluru is comprised of
Common name : Sapho longwing butterfly Scientific name : Heliconius sapho Family : Nymphalidae Native to : Mexico, Ecuador Interesting fact : While the origins of the name of this butterfly is not certain, many believe it to have been named after the mythological Queen Sapho, as it was named so by Dru Drury in
Common name : Blackfly Scientific name : Austrosimulium sp. Family : Simuliidae Native to : New Zealand & Australia Interesting fact : There are 31 species of black flies distributed in Australia and New Zealand. With a body length of 3.6-4.8 mm, the blackfly is a small, biting, and bloodsucking fly. Its bite creates rashes
Common name : Red harvester ant Scientific name : Pogonomyrmex barbatus Family : Formicidae Native to : South-West United States Interesting fact : The red harvester ants are known for their foraging behaviour. The ant workers are divided into 3 groups–nest patrollers, trail patrollers and foragers. 5-7 mm in length, these ants are very often mistaken
Common name : Green rose chafer Scientific name : Cetonia aurata Family : Scarabaeidae Native to : Southern & Central Europe Interesting fact : This insect is known as the rose chafer because of its diet, which amongst other things includes prominently and predominantly, the rose plant. 20 mm in length, the rose chafer has a
The Sagrada Familia is located in Barcelona. While the construction began in 1882, the estimated completion date is said to be 2026.The Sagrada Familia was initially a Roman Catholic Church that in 2010 was consecrated and proclaimed a minor basilica by Pope Benedict-XVI. On completion, the basilica will have 18 towers, 12 representing each of
Common name : The richmond birdwing Scientific name : Ornithoptera richmondia Family : Papilionnidae Native to : Australia Interesting fact : The Richmond birdwing is the second smallest species of birdwing butterfly. An extremely strong flyer, the richmond birdwing flies high in the rainforest canopy. The males are known to chase after the females during courtship, which
Once Sinbad, the young sailor, was sailing on a merchant ship. The ship stopped at a small beautifulisland in the middle of the sea. The sailors decided to spend the night there. The next day, Sinbad explored the island. After a while, he felt tired and fell asleep. When he woke up, the ship had
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Common name : Mexican red rump Scientific name : Brachypelma vagans Family : Theraphosidae Native to : Mexico Interesting fact : Due to the prominent red hair on its abdomen this spider has been named the ‘red rump tarantula’. This tarantula can grow up to 5 inches in legspan. The male is smaller and thinner
Common name : Red admiral Scientific name : Vanessa atalanta Family : Nymphalidae Native to : Asia, temperate Europe & North America Interesting fact : The males in this species are territorial and can be found in the same area day after day. 45-50 mm of wingspan, the red admiral is a beautiful colourful butterfly.
Common name : Hoverfly, Rat-tailed maggot (larva), Dronefly (adult) Scientific name : Eristalis tenax Family : Syrphidae Native to : Europe Interesting fact : The larvae of the hoverfly or dronefly, are known as rat-tailed maggots because of their affinity for sewers, drainage ditches, manure piles, etc. The hoverfly has a 15 mm wingspan,
The Brandenburg Gate was built in Berlin, Germany, between 1788-1791. The Brandenburg Gate is a neoclassical triumphal arch, which has witnessed significant damage first in World War-II and in the post-war partition of Germany. However, it was restored and returned to its former glory in 2002. Till date it stands as a reminder of Germany’s
Common name : Rajah brooke’s birdwing butterfly Scientific name : Trogonoptera brookiana Family : Papilionidae Native to : Australasia, Indo-Malaya ecozone Interesting fact : Black and electric green in colour, the pattern on its wings is extremely unique to this butterfly alone. With a wingspan of 15-17 cm, this butterfly is a protected species.
Common name : Rainbow shield bug Scientific name : Calidea dregii Family : Scutelleridae Native to : Worldwide distribution Interesting fact : The colouring of the rainbow shield bug varies depending on the way in which the light falls on its body and is reflected. 14 mm in length, this bug has a beautiful iridescent