Arthropod course participants visit Symbiosis campus
The participants of the arthropod courses got an opportunity to visit the lovely campus of Symbiosis International University at Lavale, near Pune. This was facilitated by Shilpa Avate, the biodiversity officer at Symbiosis, an avid bird watcher and nature enthusiast herself. She is also the author of the recently published book ‘Fauna of Symbiosis University’.
The campus is spread over an area of 335 acres in the foothills of Sahyadri. It
still maintains quite a bit of native flora and fauna. The visit at the tail end
of monsoon season presented an opportunity to observe the wonder insect and
arthropod fauna of these lands. The highlight of the day were the amazing
praying mantis, stick insects, paper wasps building its nest, an ootheca (egg
case) of a praying mantis and numerous butterflies. Here are a few pictures from
the day.
A stick insect decides to explore Dr. Sharma’s hand! Photo by Rajgopal Patil.
The lovely Leopard butterfly. Photo by Rajgopal Patil.
Haunting eyes of a Robberfly. Photo by Rajgopal Patil
A paper wasp busy on its nest. Photo by Vijay Deshmukh
A pretty jewel beetle. Photo by Sushil Behere.
An intricate web around the flower. Photo by Rajgopal Patil.
Such eyes! A close look at a dragonfly. Photo by Vijay Deshmukh.
Moth are beautiful too! Photo by Chaitrali Gore.
Dr. Bastawade engrossed in his subject. Photo by Sushil Behere.
A mantid ootheca. Photo by Sushil Behere.
Close look at a moth caterpillar. Photo by Rajgopal Patil.
A Rufous treepie decides to watch us! Photo by Vijay Deshmukh.
The group.