shaping leaf

When I noticed this leaf during my walk near a lake in Kerala, I was thrilled looking at it shape and the colors at different stage. What a beauty this!

Cicada molting

In the final nymphal instar, they construct an exit tunnel to the surface and emerge. They then molt (shed their skins) on a nearby plant for the last time and emerge as adults. The abandoned skins remain, still clinging to the bark of trees.

When I saw this I wondered and asked a friend. Thats when I got to know this interesting fact. There could be many more such life cycle stages in many other species as well. 

Here is an animated picture of how the molting happens:
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cicada_molting_animated-2.gif

more to wonder

wonder case



Case Moths: These are moths whose larvae live within silken causes, covered either with pieces of stick or leaves, attached or just more or less smooth. The female never leaves the case—she is wingless and lays the eggs within it. The male emerges from the end of the case, the pupal shell being pushed right out, and hangs from the tip of the case. The male moth is winged and is not very conspicuous. 



For more information on the "Case Moths", please refer this wiki link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagworm_moth

more to wonder

delicate darling

Wonder the process involved in creating such a delicate beauty. Delicate as it looks, a gorgeous beauty it is!

Mimosa pudica - a 'touch-me-not' flower

it unfurls....

A fern unfurling beautifully. Picture taken in the sholas of  Tadiyandamol peak, Coorg

Jewel in the wood

I encounter many such wonders in nature, this time a natural 'Jewel' from Coorg

Wonder if this is the inspiration for the artificial jewels we see.

Gorgeous

One such leaf creation in the woods of Western Ghats. Photograph taken on 5th Feb, 2011 in the Coorg region of Karnataka.