Sahyadrica

Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve from 16th May 2009 to 23rd May 2009, a Report Introduction Dandeli-Anshi Tiger reserve is an 874 sq. km area of a variety of habitats, situated in Uttara Kannada, the northernmost district of Karnataka. Karnataka has four tiger reserves including Dandeli-Anshi. This tiger reserve is a merged area of Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary and Anshi National Park, along with adjoining forestlands (10th May 2007). The habitat ranges from moist-deciduous and semi-evergreen to rainforests, with the panorama changing from mountain to mountain. The climate is humid and pleasant with off-season showers quite often besides with hot, sunny days. The flora is diverse, and harbors a myriad of life forms, from insects to large mammals. Everything in these forests is huge in proportion to everything that is seen in my backyard, like huge spiders, huge skinks, huge snakes (and longer) and huge trees, least I forget, ants and etc. I followed all of these, (pardon me botanists!) fro...

These two Lycaenids cause much confusion in amateur butterfly watchers. Here's one note on how to distinguish them. Gram Blue on a Shrub Gram Blue, Euchrysops cnejus – is a common Lycaenid of India. Distributed throughout the southern and western regions, it is not found in the higher altitudes. Gram Blue male - upper side Male Gram Blues are smaller compared to the female counterparts. The males have a shade of blue and black on the upper wings compared to the females, which have more of a brown shade with blue near the body. Gram Blue Female - upper side Although found in all the seasons, they are abundant during post-monsoon. They prefer flying on low ground, feeding on various flowers of weeds as well as important plants. The larval food plant is Vigna trilobata, generally called as Wild Bean, which is in abundance during monsoon and flowers post-monsoon. The larvae, like most of the Lycaenid larvae, are attended by ants. Gram Blue on Vigna trilobata flower The adults...