Javed Ahmed · @curiocritters
110 followers · 350 posts · Server ecoevo.social
And yet, this globally invasive, pugnacious little 'tramp ant', tends to the caterpillars of the pea-blue (Lampides boeticus), a legally protected native #butterfly (pictured below).
Javed Ahmed · @curiocritters
109 followers · 324 posts · Server ecoevo.socialEnvironments in which most native plants wouldn't survive.
'Noxious weeds' aren't necessarily noxious everywhere they grow. And under right conditions, actively support native wildlife
📸 31 JAN 2023 (15:48 hrs.) near Lilavati Podar School, #Powai, #Hiranandani, #Mumbai. (3/3).
#powai #hiranandani #mumbai #butterflies #butterfly #pollinators
Javed Ahmed · @curiocritters
109 followers · 322 posts · Server ecoevo.social
Javed Ahmed · @curiocritters
110 followers · 315 posts · Server ecoevo.social
Apefly (Spalgis epius epius).
A rarity among Indian butterflies, the Apefly's caterpillar is a carnivore which feeds on scale insects, and mealybugs.
The delicate looking, snow-white adults are strong fliers, which will often perch on trees.
Females have no specific host plant, and will deposit eggs wherever the intended prey of its future progeny is found.
📸 31 JAN 2023 (16:02 hrs.) resting amidst the branches of Indian Beech (Millettia pinnata), #Hiranandani #powai, #Mumbai.
#hiranandani #powai #mumbai #butterfly
Javed Ahmed · @curiocritters
80 followers · 216 posts · Server ecoevo.socialLooking much like the Water type Legendary #Pokemon #Kyogre, an albino giant river catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) peacefully swims in the waterways of Niravana park, #Hiranandani #gardens, #Powai as visitors to the park (sounds left in), enjoy a slice of #nature in the middle of #India's largest #metropolis, #Mumbai.
Endangered in its native #Thailand, the species has been widely introduced in the country as food, and ornamentation.
#pokemon #kyogre #hiranandani #gardens #powai #nature #india #metropolis #mumbai #thailand #wildlife #fish #zoology #ichthyology #urbanwildlife
Javed Ahmed · @curiocritters
72 followers · 192 posts · Server ecoevo.social📸 :
I & II - 29 NOV 2022 (14:42 hrs.) at Govandi East, Eastern #mumbai
III - 24 FEB 2021 at #Powai, #Hiranandani, Central #Mumbai.
IV - Common Pierrot Butterfly 📸 27 OCT 2020, at #Nagaon, #Alibaug district, #Maharashtra, #India.
#mumbai #powai #hiranandani #nagaon #alibaug #maharashtra #india
Javed Ahmed · @curiocritters
69 followers · 175 posts · Server ecoevo.social
Preying #mantis Ootheca (egg-case), at #IIT #Bombay, #Powai, #Mumbai.
📸 3rd. SEP 2022.
A whole generation of #insect assassins waiting to emerge, and stalk the foliage, and the undergrowth for #bugs to hunt.
#insects #insect #entomology #Arthropods #wildlife #urbannature #urbanwildlife #urbanwildlifephotography #scicomm
#mantis #iit #bombay #powai #mumbai #insect #bugs #insects #entomology #Arthropods #wildlife #urbannature #urbanwildlife #urbanwildlifephotography #scicomm
Javed Ahmed · @curiocritters
69 followers · 168 posts · Server ecoevo.social
Acrobat #ant (Crematogaster sp.) 'Pagoda', near #Powai #lake, #Mumbai, #India.
Largely arboreal, these ants of forests, woodland, and scrubland, can also be found in the parks, and gardens of urban Mumbai, where their large Pagoda style nests are hard to miss.
The waterproof nests are constructed by chewing up bark, and leaves, and further fortified by mixing mud.
#Ants #AntsOfMastodon #Insects #UrbanNature #Wildlife #UrbanWildlife #CityForest #Insects #Entomology #Arthropods #Arthropoda
#ant #powai #lake #mumbai #india #ants #antsofmastodon #insects #urbannature #wildlife #urbanwildlife #cityforest #entomology #Arthropods #arthropoda
Javed Ahmed · @curiocritters
69 followers · 167 posts · Server ecoevo.social
Scarlet skimmer (Crocothemis servilia) ♂️
A stunning orange-red #dragonfly which breeds in many #ponds, #lakes, ditches, and marshlands of Mumbai city.
📸 1 SEP 2022 (17:59 hrs.), near #Powai #lake, inside #IIT #Bombay campus, #Mumbai.
#dragonflytales #Odonata #insectsofmastodon #insects #Arthropods #wildlife #UrbanNature #CityForest
#dragonfly #ponds #lakes #powai #lake #iit #bombay #mumbai #dragonflytales #Odonata #insectsofmastodon #insects #Arthropods #wildlife #urbannature #cityforest
Javed Ahmed · @curiocritters
69 followers · 165 posts · Server ecoevo.social
Common grass yellow #butterfly (Eurema hecabe) #pupa.
Found on Manila Tamarind (Pithecellobium dulcean), an introduced, yet naturalised species of tree which is a hit with local #wildlife.
📸 SEP 6 2022 (17:18hrs.) at #Powai #garden, #Mumbai.
#insects #insectsofmastodon #insectsandplants #butterflies #butterfliesofmastodon #Arthropods #urbannature #CityForest
#butterfly #pupa #wildlife #powai #garden #mumbai #insects #insectsofmastodon #insectsandplants #butterflies #butterfliesofmastodon #Arthropods #urbannature #cityforest
Javed Ahmed · @curiocritters
40 followers · 113 posts · Server ecoevo.social
Chiasmia emersaria (Geometridae).
A dainty #moth with a South Asian distribution - #caterpillars feed on members of the #bean family of #plants.
#moth #caterpillars #bean #plants #powai #garden #mumbai #moths #entomology #insects
Javed Ahmed · @curiocritters
40 followers · 99 posts · Server ecoevo.socialHundreds of Black Kites (Milvus migrans) swarm the salmon pink skies of urban Mumbai one last time, before returning to roost for the night, as the last rays of the sun ebb.
All of this, right next to a busy road, where indifferent traffic rushes past🚦🛺 🚚 (traffic sounds left in intentionally).
Where else in the world can you see such dichotomy?
🎥 MAR 17 2022 (19:03 hrs.) near #Powai, #Mumbai
#birds #birding #wildlife #urbannature #ornithology #raptors
#powai #mumbai #birds #birding #wildlife #urbannature #ornithology #raptors
Javed Ahmed · @curiocritters
37 followers · 88 posts · Server ecoevo.social
Asiatic Bloodtail (Lathrecista asiatica).
A stunning, yet shy #dragon associated with marshlands surrounding freshwater bodies, woodlands, and shallow forest pools.
Has a strong flight.
Males settle often, preferring high perches. Females rarely sighted.
This ♂️ ️📸 1 SEP 2022 (16:20 hrs.) at IIT Bombay campus grounds, #Powai, #Mumbai.
#Odonata #Entomology #dragonfly #wildlife #insects #bugs #dragonflies
#dragon #powai #mumbai #Odonata #entomology #dragonfly #wildlife #insects #bugs #dragonflies
Javed Ahmed · @curiocritters
25 followers · 61 posts · Server ecoevo.social
Malaysian False Pimpernel (Lindernia crustacea).
A moisture loving, ground hugging, mat-forming #herb, bearing dainty pale blue-purple #flowers
Found in wetlands, and urban habitats, thickets can be spotted growing in pavement cracks, in the parks and gardens of #Mumbai.
Native to tropical #Asia, but found growing in most parts of the world, including #Africa, and the #Americas.
📸 25 AUG 2021 (12:16 hrs.), at #Powai Lake promenade, Mumbai.
#herb #flowers #mumbai #asia #Africa #Americas #powai #wildllife #urbannature #botany #plants
Javed Ahmed · @curiocritters
12 followers · 23 posts · Server ecoevo.social
Giant Redeye (Gangara thyrsis thyrsis).
Strong flier. Active only at dawn & dusk.
Found in all habitats, but especially near plams, on which their caterpillars feed
#powai #mumbai #butterflies #insects #pollinators #bugs #wildlife
Javed Ahmed · @curiocritters
9 followers · 19 posts · Server ecoevo.social
Tricolour Pied Flat (Coladenia indrani).
Widespread across India. Skulks underside leaves, in shade, but also flies in the open to nectar from flowers, or bask on the undergrowth.
#powai #garden #mumbai #butterfly #wildlife #urbannature #ScienceMastodon