by Krishna Mohan
Black and Yellow Flat Millepede
Even though this is a very common millipede in our garden I was not able to identify scientifically. This resembles morphologically the Apheloria genus found in America, but I doubt it belongs to that.
They do not bite humans. Generally found in leaf litter , millipedes tend to avoid light and may discharge a foul odor by secreting 2-Nitroethenylbenzenes to discourage predators. Pachydesmus crassicutis is known to produce hydrogen Cyanide gas to repel predators.
Millipedes, are arthropods that have two pairs of legs per segment (except for the first segment behind the head which does not have any appendages at all, and the next few which only have one pair of legs). Each segment that has two pairs of legs is a result of two single segments fused together as one. Most millipedes have very elongated cylindrical bodies, although some are flattened dorso-ventrally, while pill millipedes are shorter and can roll into a ball, like a pillbug.
Millipedes are detritivores and slow moving. Most millipedes eat decaying leaves and other dead plant matter, moisturising the food with secretions and then scraping it in with the jaws. However they can also be a minor garden pest, especially in greenhouses where they can cause severe damage to emergent seedlings. Signs of millipede damage include the stripping of the outer layers of a young plant stem and irregular damage to leaves and plant apices.
This class contains around 10,000 species. There are 13 orders and 115 families.
The giant African millipede (Archispirostreptus gigas) is the largest species of millipede.
EXIF info…
Camera:
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens:
EF100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
Exposure Mode:
Manual exposure
Exposure Time:
1/200 sec.
Exposure Bias:
0.0
Aperture (F Stop):
f/11.0
ISO Used:
100
Flash Used:
Flash fired, compulsory flash mode.
White Balance:
As Shot
Focal Length:
100.0 mm
Metering Mode:
Pattern
Date Time:
2009:08:02 18:21:13
GPS Location in Google Map:
12° 55' 19.8" N, 74° 51' 57.4" E, 707 m.a.s.l.
Copyright ©
Krishna Mohan
All rights Reserved. This Image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or trasmitted in any forms or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying & recording without my written permission. If you’d like to make usage request, just ask: drkrishi@drkrishi.com
Tags: Arthropoda, Asia, Black and Yellow Flat Millepede, Bondel, Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro, Canon EOS 5D mark II, Canon MT-24EX macro twin light flash, Dakshina Kannada, Diplopoda, India, Insect, Insecta, Karnataka, Mangalore, Mangalore > Dakshina Kannada, Millepede, Myriapoda, Polydesmida
Posted in Nature, Photography, Wildlife | Comments (5)
by Krishna Mohan
Black and Yellow Mud Dauber
I just saw this Black and Yellow Mud Dauber building nest on one of the granite pillars at my courtyard.
As the reflection of twin lights on the round body of the insect was quite harsh, I wanted to try new diffuser on my Canon MT-24EX macro twin light flash. I usually have Gary Fong Diffusers puffers on my twin lights. They are invaluable when used with Canon MP-E 65 f/2.8 1-5X Macro lens. But on Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro they produce harsh highlights on glossy bodies of insects. I wanted to try some cheapo Nylon diffusers I procured at local photo dealers which were copy cats of Lumiquest diffusers. The result is here. I need still more experiments to come out with a better solution.
Black and Yellow Mud Dauber Closeup
Apparently these diffusers are better, as you can see the harsh light is controlled considerably. But diffusers ate lot of power and flash was taking quite a bit (1-2secs) to recharge and be ready as compared to my puffer diffuser. As it made the twin light into a big soft box like light it might be producing a better fill.
EXIF info…
Camera:
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens:
EF100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
Exposure Mode:
Manual exposure
Exposure Time:
1/200 sec.
Exposure Bias:
0.0
Aperture (F Stop):
f/11.0
ISO Used:
100
Flash Used:
Flash fired, compulsory flash mode.
White Balance:
As Shot
Focal Length:
100.0 mm
Metering Mode:
Pattern
Date Time:
2009:07:25 10:51:04
GPS Location in Google Map:
13° 4' 1.8" N, 74° 59' 44.3" E, 1271 m.a.s.l.
Copyright ©
Krishna Mohan
All rights Reserved. This Image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or trasmitted in any forms or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying & recording without my written permission. If you’d like to make usage request, just ask: drkrishi@drkrishi.com
EXIF info…
Camera:
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens:
EF100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
Exposure Mode:
Manual exposure
Exposure Time:
1/200 sec.
Exposure Bias:
0.0
Aperture (F Stop):
f/11.0
ISO Used:
100
Flash Used:
Flash fired, compulsory flash mode.
White Balance:
As Shot
Focal Length:
100.0 mm
Metering Mode:
Pattern
Date Time:
2009:07:25 11:01:15
GPS Location in Google Map:
13° 4' 1.8" N, 74° 59' 44.3" E, 1271 m.a.s.l.
Copyright ©
Krishna Mohan
All rights Reserved. This Image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or trasmitted in any forms or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying & recording without my written permission. If you’d like to make usage request, just ask: drkrishi@drkrishi.com
Tags: Black and Yellow Mud Dauber, Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro, Canon EOS 5D mark II, Canon MT-24EX macro twin light flash, Insect, Moodabidri, Sceliphron caementarium
Posted in Nature, Photography, Wildlife | Comments (2)
by Krishna Mohan
Handmaiden Moth
These mating Amata cyssea moths commonly known as Handmaiden moths that are day-flying members of the Arctiidae or Tiger moth family and Subfamily Syntominae. They mimic wasps in their body and coloration. Even for a predator who does not get deterred by wasps, the occasional bright body colors usually advertise a bad taste, so Handmaidens flourish.
The genitalia are asymmetric in both sexes. In the male the tegumen has prominent lateral lobes. The valves have strong, curved, asymmetric processes from the base of the costa and are themselves asymmetric. The aedeagus vesica contains a row (or rows if it has more than one lobe) of small cornuti, some of which can become very long. In the female genitalia the ostium is set asymmetrically between the eighth and seventh tergites.
EXIF info…
Camera:
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens:
EF100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
Exposure Mode:
Manual exposure
Exposure Time:
1/200 sec.
Exposure Bias:
0.0
Aperture (F Stop):
f/8.0
ISO Used:
100
Flash Used:
Flash fired, compulsory flash mode.
White Balance:
As Shot
Focal Length:
100.0 mm
Metering Mode:
Pattern
Date Time:
2009:06:28 12:44:32
GPS Location in Google Map:
12° 56' 3.8" N, 74° 55' 14" E, 19 m.a.s.l.
Copyright ©
Krishna Mohan
All rights Reserved. This Image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or trasmitted in any forms or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying & recording without my written permission. If you’d like to make usage request, just ask: drkrishi@drkrishi.com
Tags: Amata cyssea, Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro, Canon EOS 5D mark II, Canon MT-24EX macro twin light flash, Gurupur, Handmaiden Moth, Insect, mating
Posted in Nature, Photography, Wildlife | Comments (2)
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