rocksea and sarah

parjanya

rocksea — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:09:45 +0000

Parjanya, our baby girl.
Born: 19 Jan 2012, 11:17AM IST @ the Ruby Hall Hospital, Pune.

Parjanya (pronounced par-janya) is a sanskrit word, symbolizes “source of life” and “fertility”. In the vedas, parjanya is the one who brings the rain.

Roxy (rocksea), Juby (sarah) & Pratyahara

striped panchax

rocksea — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:27:34 +0000

The striped panchax has always fascinated me with its iridescent white spot on top of its head. It not only has the ability to flaunt it like a princess with its ornament, it can also hide the spot to avoid attention. The tail, with orange lines and dark spots, add to its beauty.

The striped panchax and its variants are found in the streams, rivers, paddy fields, throughout the Western Ghats. This fish lives just by the water surface, in look out for the aquatic and terrestrial insects and larvae, which consists a significant part of its diet. It is possible that it acts as a natural control of mosquitoes, and mosquito-borne diseases. In its natural habitat, it looks like a dull fish as you see it from the top. It is only when you see it from the sides, in clear water, that sparkling colors come out.

Species: aplocheilus lineatus
Common Name: Sparkling Panchax, Striped Panchax or Malabar Killie
Malayalam Name: Nettiye Ponnan, Nettiye Pottan
Location: Meenachil River, Kottayam, Kerala, India
Camera: Nikon D80 + Tamron SP AF90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Lens

pied paddy skimmer

rocksea — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 16:00:43 +0000

The pied paddy skimmers, with their white-banded black coloured wings, are one of my favorite dragonflies. They bring back all the nostalgic childhood days, as I remember them from the time since when I was a kid – when I used to play out in the fields.

The pied colors and the habitat give them the name pied paddy skimmer. It is the males which have the black colored wings as above, while the females have golden yellow wings with dark spots/tips. These paddy skimmers are often found around ponds, fields, and all kind of pools of water. Their flight is also conspicuous, undulating and floating in the air, much like a butterfly.

Though seen throughout the year, studies show that they are most abundant during the summer monsoon – when the water supply is plentiful – and increases the survival rates of the larvae.

Species: neurothemis tullia Family: libellulidae
Common Name: Pied Paddy Skimmer
Location: @ home, Kottayam, Kerala

Reference:
Che Salmah M., S. Hassan, A. Abu Hassan, and A. Ali, 1998: Influence of physical and chemical factors on the larval abundance of Neurothemis tullia (Drury) (Odonata: Libellulidae) in a rain fed rice field, Hydrobiologia, 389, 1, 193-202.

caterpillar stitching

rocksea — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 17:56:53 +0000

You might have seen a tailor bird stitching its nest. Have you, but, seen a caterpillar stitching out its haven?

Species: unidentified moth caterpillar
Location: Kottayam, Kerala (Western Ghats)
Host Plant: Tabernaemontana divaricata (Crepe Jasmine)

the mother’s day spider

rocksea — Sun, 15 May 2011 14:44:58 +0000

Mother. Struggling to carry its egg to a safe position.

The Mother’s Day Spider

Species: theridula angula Family: theridiidae
Common Name: Pearl Spider
Location: Kottayam, Kerala