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.

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.

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.

Inchworm moth caterpillar

This curious looking caterpillar was found inside Kadri Park in Mangalore when I went for a stroll on Sunday afternoon. Light was terribly bright and I had no flash with me nor any method to shade. This moth caterpillar belongs to family Geometridae. Most probably caterpillar of Dysphania militaris moth. It is called Inch Worm because of its peculiar locomotion pattern. It was acting as though it is bud on top of that twig which it had finished eating. the shrub was full of these caterpillars.

Many Geometrids moths have slender abdomens and broad wings which are usually held flat with the hind wings visible. As such they appear rather butterfly-like but in most respects they are typical moths: the majority fly at night, they possess a frenulum to link the wings and the antennae of the males are often feathered. They tend to blend in to the background, often with intricate, wavy patterns on their wings.

The name Geometer (earth-measurer) refers to the means of locomotion of the larvae or caterpillars, which lack most of the prolegs of other Lepidopteran caterpillars. Equipped with appendages at both ends of the body, a caterpillar will clasp with its front legs and draw up the hind end, then clasp with the hind end (prolegs) and reach out for a new front attachment – creating the impression that it is measuring its journey. The caterpillars are accordingly called loopers, spanworms, or inchworms. They tend to be green, grey, or brownish and hide from predators by fading into the background or resembling twigs. Some have humps or filaments (see Filament-bearer image). They are seldom hairy or gregarious. Typically they eat leaves. However, some eat lichen, flowers or pollen. Some, such as the Eupithecia, are even carnivorous.

Oleander Hawk-Moth

Daphnis nerii or Oleander Hawk-moth is a member of the Sphingidae family, whose members are commonly known as the hummingbird, sphinx or hawk moths. This beautiful and attractive species has a wingspan of 8-12 cm. Its forewings are intricately patterned in gorgeous shades of olive green and marked with small blotches of pink and white, including a pale white apical band on each forewing. The hindwings, on the other hand, are greyish green, with a pale white wavy line. Body is mostly olive green too, with white markings and measures about 5 cm from head to tail.

Oleander Hawk-Moth Side Profile

I found this fine specimen at the yesterday evening. moth was quite friendly and did not get alarmed by my photography. I had a opportunity to try macro panorama on this which I will post in the next blog post.