Hampi – insect observation

 

 

In Hampi, I was for the purpose of holiday, rather than insect collection. But as it is common with an interest for nature, one never stops looking and searching.

When I arrived in Hampi in the very early morning, some very nice Lepidoptera, among them a very nice Papilio, most probably Papilio alcmenor, even though I am no genius in identifying Lepidoptera and some Danaus spec. (beat me, if totally wrong ;-)).

After having a superior breakfast in the Mango tree restaurant, which serves good food at cheap prices and really is under a huge old Mango tree with a view over the river and the landscape with all the huge stones, we decided to go for a hike near the river. Really, the landscape is absolutely amazing, huge stones; drier areas and the river build a beautiful and interesting habitat. I found some interesting and metallic green true bugs when walking and also a beautiful big female of Acherontia styx, it really looks slightly different from the North African/European species Acherontia atropos, which I have already bred at home in earlier times: The deaths head is more like a mask in A. styx and looks more detailed in A. atropos. The nature around the river was very interesting; I also managed to take pictures of the very shy and fast hiding agamas, which are almost on every rock. Also, I managed to find some nice and small dung beetles, of course again; it involved stirring the shit, haha.

A pairt of day active moths mating and a small jumping spider, pay attention to the eyes!!

 

On the roadside, I managed to take some amazing pictures of very beautiful jumping spiders, which in my opinion are really cute when having a closer look at them. Their eyesight is extremely good, and I remember that I read somewhere that scientists were quite dumbfounded to find such genius eyesight, comparable to that of humans in a “brainless” creature. In my opinion, there still is a lot of work that needs to be done on these spiders, especially as their behaviour is extremely interesting.

The next day we decided to go to a waterfall, which was a bit difficult to find, as it involved walking through streams, sand and grass areas, a dry river bed, but in the end we were paid for all the trouble with an amazing view and a beautiful landscape. I also managed to catch a nice Cicindela spec. on the sand, but hurt my hand a bit, which turned out to be a very strange infection after a few days, resembling a blood poisoning (scaring me a bit), which after a treatment with antibiotics, antihistamines, pain killers and a tetanus shit disappeared (Long live the Indian medicine, always shot strong even for minor things, haha). Anyways, how did a friend put it in words: India has to bite you to like it.

 

A beautiful male Agama spec. in its beautiful courting colours and a Danaus spec. caterpillar on milkweed

 

Hampi is definitely worth a visit, because of the landscape, the old temple ruins, and also and above all (in my humble opinion) because of the strange and beautiful nature.

Any questions, suggestions, anything else, please write me an email.

 

 

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Stand: 06. November 2007 .

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