Natural Jewels + Karkala

Karkala, described as a beautiful location in my earlier post, has it's own share of beautiful insects. As mentioned in my earlier post, Karkala is home to some spectacular nature hotspots which in turn are homes to an array of wonderful insects. During my stay here, I have photographed some striking insects.

Weaver Ant

Weaver ants, unlike most other ants, have adapted to living life on the edge. These ants build fist-sized nests made entirely of leaves, glued together using the sticky silk produced by their larvae. While building nests, these highly social creatures arrange themselves into wonderful formations, together positioning and folding leaves. Weaver ants have a really nasty bite and it is so because they spray formic acid as they bite. When disturbed, their nest swarms with hundreds of ants ready to pounce on the intruder. Once they hold on to something(like your skin), it is quite difficult to free yourself from them.

Frog hopper

Froghoppers are insects which feed on plant sap. When they are in their young form, froghoppers, otherwise known as Spittle bugs make a covering around them with froth which they produce. Their covering is often mistaken to be human spit. When disturbed, froghoppers shoot off to escape.

Dragonflies and damselflies, creatures we often ignore while enjoying nature at a water body. The colours and patterns that enrobe them, many-a-times fail to attract us. There are so many of types, that each one promises to be different from the other, both in shades as well as shapes. I have a collection of photographs which exhibits a small population of these winged beauties of Karkala.

Dragonflies

Long-legged Marsh Glider

Crimson-tailed Marsh Hawk

Blue Marsh Hawk

Common Clubtail

Granite Ghost

Ruddy Marsh Skimmer-male

Damselflies

Blue Grass Dartlet

Golden Dartlet

Yellow Bush Dart

River Heliodor


Emerald Spreadwing

Karkala is home to many more of these six-legged beauties, and as I photograph them, more and more just keep coming!