Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
Floral Net Saree Buy Now
Google Pixel 8 Buy Now
Men’s Premium Skin Care Kit Buy Now
Men's Blazer Casual Sport Coats Buy Now
JW PEI Jana Shoulder Bag Buy Now
Cleaning Gel for Car, Tools, Laptop and Keyboard Cleaner Buy Now
Wide Brim Straw Panama Hat Buy Now
Michael Kors Crossbody Bag for Women Buy Now
BOOMCOOL Men's Gym Outfit Set Buy Now
Georgette Silk Saree Buy Now
Scale for Body Weight and Fat Percentage Buy Now
Elastic High Waisted Wide Leg Dress Pants Buy Now
Sleeveless Slim Crop Tank Top Buy Now
Men's Softshell Hooded Jacket Buy Now
Polarized Retro Sunglasses Buy Now
LISEN 69W Retractable USB C Car Charger Buy Now
AUTOMET Long Sleeve Tee Buy Now
Mommy & Me Pajamas Buy Now
Gildan Cotton T-Shirt Pack, Style G2000 Buy Now
Gildan Crew T-Shirts Buy Now
MoreBack to News Headlines
Peek into the world of Bengaluru’s smallest inhabitants 
Premium

Peek into the world of Bengaluru’s smallest inhabitants Premium

The Hindu
Wednesday, January 8, 2025 3:46 AM GMT

Did you know ants once shared the planet with dinosaurs like the T-Rex and the Velociraptor? Or that termites cultivate food gardens of fungi within their large, intricately constructed mounds? And that it isn’t just honey that will go missing in a world without bees, but also many fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts. Also, not all spiders build webs, cockroaches are a lot more than irritating house pests, butterflies can taste food with their feet, and male cicadas serenade potential mates using a unique sound-producing organ on their abdomen called the tymbal?

Did you know ants once shared the planet with dinosaurs like the T-Rex and the Velociraptor? Or that termites cultivate food gardens of fungi within their large, intricately constructed mounds? And that it isn’t just honey that will go missing in a world without bees, but also many fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts. Also, not all spiders build webs, cockroaches are a lot more than irritating house pests, butterflies can taste food with their feet, and male cicadas serenade potential mates using a unique sound-producing organ on their abdomen called the tymbal?

The world of these minibeasts is indeed both enigmatic and fascinating, as a new book, Commonly Spotted Insects & Spiders in the City of Bengaluru, reinforces repeatedly. “The lives, survival strategies and nature history stories of insects and spiders can range from the calmly simple (or at least what we know so far) to the bizarrely complex,” states the introduction to the book, which has been co-authored by Vena Kapoor, Priya Venkatesh and Vaidya R., designed by Pratyush Gupta and enabled by the Bengaluru Sustainability Forum’s Small Grants Programme.

Filled with mind-boggling facts and gorgeous pictures, it offers a ringside view of the lives and natural histories of some of the city’s many six- and eight-legged creatures — around 135 insects and 25 spiders — serving as “an easy-to-use tool to help you identify and get to know more about the some of the commonly found insects and spiders living their lives around us.”

As Vaidya points out, most of the images in the book were not shot in far-flung, wooded areas with many trees but bang amid the concrete jungle that is Bengaluru. “Most of them have been shot right at homes or just outside them, in gardens, etc,” says the Bengaluru-based nature enthusiast and photographer. “The main point we are trying to emphasise is that there is a lot of biodiversity, even in your backyard.”

Arthropods, the phylum which includes insects, spiders, scorpions, centipedes, millipedes, crabs, prawns and even head lice, is the most successful animal group on the planet, consisting of over 800,000 described species, with many still undiscovered. First emerging in the water around 500 million years ago, before colonising land a few million years later, arthropods are found in every nook and cranny of the planet today. So ubiquitous are these tiny creatures that the combined biomass of terrestrial arthropods alone is believed to be roughly 1 billion tonnes, roughly equivalent to the biomass of all human beings and livestock put together, according to a study published in the open-access journal Science Advances in 2023.

Insects, which form the majority of the arthropods, “pretty much rule the world,” says Priya, the founder-director of The Naturalist School (TNS), Bengaluru. She considers them “the most diverse and fascinating creatures we have on Planet Earth: they come in all shapes, sizes and colours, are also found everywhere, in the air, land and water” and are “a very important part of the entire food chain because of which the whole planet is going around,” she says. Not only are they both prey and predators, but they also play an important role in helping many plants propagate. “Most of the plant kingdom, as you know, are producers, without which there would be no food on this planet,” says Priya. And many of these plants, particularly those that make fruits, depend on insects for pollination. “In that sense, they are very intricately connected to life on earth.”

Vena, a city-based conservationist and independent nature educator, believes that observing and learning about arthropods is also a great way to get people interested in nature and natural systems. Often, too often, there is a deep cognitive dissociation between human beings and insects, she says. “They are all around us but are often kind of hidden. We don’t notice them as much because of their size or the associations we have with them.” She finds it pretty humbling to know that there are millions of organisms around us, playing such crucial roles and that we are only just scratching the surface and getting to know them. “They are as messy as human beings with bizarre habits and behaviours.”

Read full story on The Hindu
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
Police seize 350 kg red sanders in Tirupattur

Tirupattur police seize red sanders worth ₹10 lakh from abandoned car, investigating to identify suspects from Andhra Pradesh.

Walking into a death trap Premium

Tragic incidents of electrocution from illegal electric snares highlight the deadly human-wildlife conflict in Kerala.

Stokes brings the best out of the players, says Moeen Ali

Former all-rounder Moeen Ali praises Ben Stokes' fearless leadership and impact on England's cricketing metamorphosis in Test cricket.

PCCM reviews progress of Amrit Bharat Station works

SCR PCCM reviews freight performance, Amrit Bharat station works, and ticket checking with officers, emphasises modernisation for efficiency.

Car plunges into farm well, youth sustains injuries

23-year-old youth injured after car falls into abandoned well near Tiruvannamalai town, rescued by firefighters, condition stable.

Honey trap row: BJP Minister questions Sharad Pawar and Eknath Khadse’s connection with the accused

Controversy over honey trap allegations deepens as BJP Minister releases photos with accused, questioning opposition leaders' connections.

Seven tribals including two children rescued from bonded labour in Tirupattur

Seven individuals, including children and a pregnant woman, rescued from bonded labour in mango farms near Ambur town.

AAI designs Master Plan for Puducherry Airport expansion

AAI's Master Plan for Puducherry airport includes runway extension for A-320 aircraft, with land requirements shared with local government.

Utpal Kumar Singh to take over as CEO of Sansad TV

Utpal Kumar Singh to replace Rajit Punhani as CEO of Sansad TV, a public broadcaster airing live parliamentary proceedings.

Bengali migrants not under attack; Mamata inciting conflict to garner votes: Mithun Chakraborty

BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty denies allegations of Bengali worker attacks, accuses Trinamool of inciting conflict in West Bengal.

GST notices to traders: A fiasco that could have been avoided with feet on ground

Karnataka GST notice fiasco due to lack of planning, proper assessment, and unrealistic revenue targets by officials.

Bengaluru hosts leaders’ meet for a sustainable future

AndPurpose Forum in Bengaluru unites investors, corporates, and social entrepreneurs to address climate challenges and drive innovation.

Mohan Bhagwat meets Muslims religious leaders in Delhi to promote dialogue between communities

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat meets Muslim leaders in Delhi to promote communal harmony and end hatred, fostering dialogue.

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
A.P. Governor advocates cultivation of oilseeds, pulses to check malnutrition in country

Andhra Pradesh Governor urges farmers to focus on pulses and oilseeds for nutritional security and reduced imports.

Felt redemption of consciousness, say foreign pilgrims after Amarnath shrine ‘darshan’

Foreign pilgrims from six countries visit Amarnath cave shrine, praising the experience and arrangements during the annual pilgrimage.

WHO launches policy summaries on air quality and health to drive sector-specific action

WHO launches Science and Policy Summaries to combat global air pollution, offering evidence-based insights and practical solutions.

V.S. Achuthanandan, the man of the masses Premium

V.S. Achuthanandan: Had it not been for him, many cases and issues deserving public attention and debate would have easily gone under the carpet

More underpasses sought in densely populated areas in Edappally-Muthakunnam NH 66 corridor

Residents and traders demand more underpasses on NH 66 corridor for safety and traffic flow, facing opposition from NHAI.

This urban gardener by day and baker by night dreams of turning Chennai into a sunflower city Premium

This urban gardener by day and baker by night dreams of turning Chennai into a sunflower city

Water Resources Department launches enumeration drive along Adyar river to identify encroachments

Water Resources Department enumerates encroachments along Adyar river in Saidapet for restoration, relocation efforts underway.

Stop unlawful deportation of Bengali Muslims, Human Rights Watch tells govt.

Human Rights Watch criticizes India for deporting Bengali migrants without due process, reflecting discriminatory policies against Muslims.

Doctors stress the need for gender-neutral cervical cancer prevention strategy in India

Doctors advocate for HPV vaccination for boys to prevent transmission and protect against various cancers linked to the virus.

‘Anti-drugs committee should be set up in every school and college’

Udupi Superintendent of Police advocates for 'anti-drugs' committees in schools and colleges to combat rising drug consumption cases.

Exposing children early to concept of disability is the way to go Premium

DEPwD, NIOS, and NCERT partner to reform school curricula for early disability inclusion, highlighting the urgent need for accessibility education.

Assertions like ‘J&K is illegally occupied’, ‘should separate from India’ attract UAPA sections: J&K High Court

J&K High Court rules advocating secession from Indian Union attracts UAPA, overturns discharge order, directs framing of charges.

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us