The submerged city of Cleopatra’s Alexandria was built around the 8th century BC off the shores of Alexandria, Egypt.Cleopatra’s Alexandria is at least 2,000 years old and was lost to the sea for over 1,600 years, as a result of geological and cataclysmic phenomena. A major portion of the city is still intact, with historians […]
Common name : Giant centipede Scientific name : Cormocephalus rubriceps Family : Scolopendridae Native to : Australia, Solomon Islands, New Guinea, Indonesia, South-East Asia and China Interesting fact : The giant centipede uses modified claws (located on its head) to puncture quickly and deliver venom into its prey. Almost 7.5 to 16 cm in length,
Common name : Ladybug Scientific name : Coccinellidae Family : Coccinellidae Native to : North America (now worldwide distribution) Interesting fact : Its scientific name has been derived from a Latin word meaning ‘scarlet’, on account of its colouring. Hardly 8 to 18 mm in length, these small rounded bugs are not considered ‘true bugs’
Common name : Convolvulus hawk-moth Scientific name : Agrius convolvuli Family : Sphingidae Native to : New Zealand Interesting fact : The kumara moth in the caterpillar stage is quite distinguishable with its horns. This moth is large and has a wingspan of 80-105 mm. Its diet is comprised of flowers and various plants, which
Common name : Kowhai moth caterpillar Scientific name : Uresiphita polygonalis maorialis Family : Pyralidae Native to : New Zealand Interesting fact : While the moth looks like most other moths, the caterpillar of the kowhai moth is distinctive with its speckled appearance and hair-like structures all over its body. While the moth has a
Common name : Kissing bug Scientific name : Triatominae Family : Reduviidae Native to : America, Asia, Australia and Africa Interesting fact : Also known as assassin bugs, these insects are well known for sucking the blood of vertebrate creatures. As an adult, the kissing bug has 2 sets of wings, which it acquires after
The Yonaguni monument, an underwater rock formation, was discovered in 1987 off the coast of Yonaguni, in Japan. Ever since its discovery, this monument has come under a lot of debate as to whether the ‘pyramid-like formations’ are naturally formed, or man-made making them possibly 2,000-3,000 years old. The structure comprises tall pillars, columns, a
Common name : Kawakawa looper Scientific name : Cleora scriptaria Family : Geomitridae Native to : New Zealand Interesting fact : The caterpillar of the Kawakawa moth is known as the kawakawa looper because of the loop-like motion it moves in. While the moth has a wingspan of 40-50 mm, the looper is green and
Common name : Common garden katydid Scientific name : Caedicia simplex Family : Tettigoniidae Native to : Australia Interesting fact : These insects are named so because of the song they create when they try to attract females, ‘katydid’. Like other member in its species, the common garden katydid rubs its forewings to create
Common name : Katipo spider Scientific name : Latrodectus katipo Family : Theridiidae Native to : New Zealand Interesting fact : Katipo spider gets its name from the local Maori language, where it means ‘night stinger’. 8 mm in length, and legs measuring up to 32 mm in length, the Katipo spider is a medium-sized
Common name : Kaiser-e-hind Scientific name : Teinopalpus imperialis Family : Papilionidae Native to : Nepal, North India and Vietnam Interesting fact : The wings of this beautiful butterfly are three-dimensional with a photonic structure creating a green iridescent colour. 90-127 mm in wingspan, the Kaiser-e-hind is one of the most beautiful butterflies in the
The Georgia Guidestones is a monument made of granite that was constructed in 1980 in Georgia, United States. Often referred to as the ‘American Stonehenge’, this monument was meant to provide basic guidelines that are required to rebuild a shattered civilization. 5.87 metres in height, this structure contains 10 guidelines inscribed in 8 modern languages
Common name : Joro spider Scientific name : Nephila clavata Family : Nephilidae Native to : Japan, Korea, China, and Taiwan Interesting fact : The joro spider is famous in Japan, as the legendary joroguma, which is believed to be a spider that can change its appearance into a beautiful woman in order to lure
Common name : Emerald cockroach wasp Scientific name : Ampulex compressa Family : Ampulicidae Native to : Tropical parts of South Asia, Africa and Pacific islands Interesting fact : The unusual metallic blue green colouring of this bug has given it the name ‘Jewel wasp’. The jewel wasp is approximately 22 mm in length. Its
Le Mont Saint-Michel is an island commune that was founded by an Irish hermit in Normandy, France around the 8th century.Le Mont Saint-Michel was used as a strategic fortification since it was discovered. The town is constructed in a manner that represents feudal society, with God and the monastery at the top, great halls, stores