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
Common name : Australian guava moth Scientific name : Coscinoptycha improbana Family : Carposinidae Native to : Australia Interesting fact : Due to its affinity for the guava fruit, this insect has been given the name ‘guava moth’. The guava moth has a small wingspan, not exceeding 15 mm in length. Its diet is comprised
One summer day, Alice was sitting next to her sister who was reading a book. Her sisterhad been reading all morning and Alice was now very bored and sleepy. Suddenly, she saw a little White Rabbit wearing a waistcoat; he ran past her. The Rabbit kept looking at an old watch. “Oh dear, I’m late,”
Common name : Grey house spider Scientific name : Badumna longinqua Family : Desidae Native to : Australia Interesting fact : The female of this species never leaves her web, unless and until a predator forces her to. About 11 mm in length, the male is smaller than the female. It resides in tree trunks,
The Acropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel comprising of several historically significant buildings that were constructed between 447 BC and 438 BC, in Greece. The word Acropolis comes from the Greek words, ‘Akron’ (meaning highest point) and ‘Polis’ (meaning city). The Acropolis is 80 feet high and 50 feet wide and comprises various architecturally
Common name : Green vegetable bug Scientific name : Nezara viridula Family : Pentatomidae Native to : Australia & New Zealand Interesting fact : A plant-feeding stink bug, the green vegetable bug is considered to be a pest of agricultural crops specifically legumes, soyabeans and beans. While the male at 12 mm is slightly smaller
Common name : Green stonefly Scientific name : Leuresthes sp. Family : Stenoperla Native to : New Zealand Interesting fact : The nymphs of the green stonefly live in water bodies, and are an indicator of good water-quality conditions. The green stonefly is predominantly green in colour and has tentacles-like gills protruding from its abdomen.
Common name : Green blotched moth Scientific name : Cosmodes elegans Family : Noctuidae Native to : Australia and New Zealand Interesting fact : Due to the wavy green pattern on a brown background, this moth has been given the name green ‘blotched’ moth. With a wingspan of 40 mm, the green-blotched moth has a