Common name : Horizontal orbweb weaver Scientific name : Leucauge dromedaria Family : Tetranychidae Native to : Australia Interesting fact : These spiders can be easily identified by their silver colour, and black and yellow markings. About 10 mm in length, this spider creates a web, which is at an angle or horizontal to the […]
The Hagia Sophia, which means ‘Holy wisdom’ in Greek, was built in Constantinople (present-day Turkey) between 532 and 537.Built as a Greek orthodox Christian patriarchal basilica, the Hagia Sophia later served the purpose of an Imperial mosque, and is now converted into a museum. Its massive dome, which was the essence of Byzantine architecture, is
The Palatul Parlamentului was built in Bucharest, Romania, between 1984 and 1997. Known as the Palace of the Parliament, this building is said to be the second largest administrative building in the world. 84 metres in height and comprising of an area of 3,65,000 m2, this monument is the third most massive building in the
Common name : Common honeybee Scientific name : Apis mellifera Family : Apidae Native to : Eastern tropical Africa Interesting fact : During winters, bees form a winter cluster’ within the hive to keep the Queen bee warm. While there are many species of honeybees, the common honeybee is one of the most domesticated species. They
The City of Petra, popularly known as the Rose City, was built approximately in 312 BC in Jordan. Known as the Rose City because of the colour of the stone out of which it is carved, Petra was not discovered until 1812 by the western world. The entire city covers 264 square kilometres and is
Once, there was a poor widow who lived with her son Jack. One day she said to Jack, “Take this cow, my dear son, and sell her in the market.” Jack took the cow and started off towards the market. On the way, he met a funny-looking oldman. The old man offered him magic beans
Common name : Hide beetle Scientific name : Trogidae Family : Trogidae Native to : Worldwide distribution Interesting fact : The hide beetle has a very different warty and bumpy outer covering which distinguishes it from other insects. Because of the various species within this family, the size of this beetle can vary anywhere from
The Kotoku-in is a Buddhist temple in Japan renowned for the bronze statue of ‘Great Buddha’ built in 1252. The main hall of the Kotoku-in Temple housed the Great Buddha (Kamakura Daibutsu) and was destroyed on numerous occasions; the last of which was in the tsunami of 1498. Built in 1252, the total height of
Common name : Hibiscus beetle Scientific name : Aethina concolor Family : Nitidulidae Native to : Australia Interesting fact : This beetle is a menace for the hibiscus plant. 2 mm in length, the hibiscus beetle feeds on un-blossomed buds of the hibiscus flower. However, the hibiscus plant too has a defence mechanism, wherein it
Common name : Hessian fly Scientific name : Mayetiola destructor Family : Cecidomyiidae Native to : Asia Interesting fact : A huge pest for wheat, barley and rye crops, this insect is considered to be extremely harmful. 4 mm long, the Hessian fly usually attacks the stem of the above-mentioned crops. However, if it is
Common name : Hercules Beetle Scientific name : Dynastes Hercules Family : Scarabaeidae Native to : Central America, South America and Lesser Antilles Interesting fact : This beetle has been named so because of its impressive body strength. It can lift up to 85 times its own body weight. With males at times reaching 17
Common name : Head louse Scientific name : Pediculus capitis Family : Pediculidae Native to : Worldwide distribution Interesting fact : Small wingless insects, these bugs spend their entire life as ectoparasites of humans. About 3 mm long, the head lice are wingless and generally grey in colour. They are known to reside for their
The Newgrange is a prehistoric monument built between 3000 BC and 2500 BC, in County Meath, Ireland. The Newgrange monument is considered to be one of the best passage-tomb structures in Ireland. It comprises a large circular mound that is 12 metres in height, with stone passageways and chambers. It is assumed that the site
Common name : Harvestman Scientific name : Opiliones Family : (order) Opiliones Native to : Worldwide distribution Interesting fact : Even though this order looks like spiders, they are not even closely related to the arachnid species. However, they are a species that has existed on Earth for over 400 million years. The harvestman is
Common name : Gum leaf skeletoniser caterpillar Scientific name : Uraba lugens Family : Nolidae Native to : Australia, New Zealand Interesting fact : This caterpillar has been nicknamed the ‘mad hatter-pillar’ on account of its exoskeleton feature. As a moth, its wingspan is about 25-30 mm. In the caterpillar stage, this insect keeps shedding