Two new antlion species discovered from Kerala

Two new antlion species discovered from Kerala

Researchers from the Shadpada Entomology Research Lab (SERL) at Christ College (Autonomous), Irinjalakuda, Thrissur, have discovered two new species of antlions belonging to the family Myrmeleontidae under the order Neuroptera. The first species, Indophanes keralaensis, was identified from the forest regions of Sairandhri and Siruvani in Palakkad district as well as Pampadum Shola National Park […]

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Researchers identify new tuber species from Western Ghats in Kerala’s Wayanad district

Researchers identify new tuber species from Western Ghats in Kerala’s Wayanad district

Dioscorea balakrishnanii | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Researchers from Kerala have identified an edible tuber found in the Western Ghats region of Wayanad district as a new species of the genus Dioscorea. The species, named Dioscorea balakrishnanii after V. Balakrishnan, environmentalist and current secretary of the Kerala State Biodiversity Board, holds potential as a tuber […]

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Researchers identify new tuber species from Western Ghats in Kerala’s Wayanad district

Researchers identify new tuber species from Western Ghats in Kerala’s Wayanad district

Dioscorea balakrishnanii | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Researchers from Kerala have identified an edible tuber found in the Western Ghats region of Wayanad district as a new species of the genus Dioscorea. The species, named Dioscorea balakrishnanii after V. Balakrishnan, environmentalist and current secretary of the Kerala State Biodiversity Board, holds potential as a tuber […]

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New butterfly species, Zographetus mathewi, discovered in Western Ghats

New butterfly species, Zographetus mathewi, discovered in Western Ghats

Zographetus mathewi, the newly discovered skipper butterfly from the Western Ghats. A team of lepidopterists have identified a new butterfly species in the Western Ghats, one of the world’s eight “hottest hotspots” of biological diversity. Named Zographetus mathewi, this newly described skipper butterfly belongs to the family Hesperiidae and adds a new entry to the genus […]

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Deadly fungus threatens endangered Western Ghats tree 

Deadly fungus threatens endangered Western Ghats tree 

Fungal infection on critically endangered Dipterocarpus bourdillonii, a tree endemic to the Western Ghats. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Scientists have sounded the alarm on a newly detected fungal disease attacking Dipterocarpus bourdillonii, a critically endangered tree endemic to the Western Ghats. The phytopathogen, Corynespora cassiicola, a highly aggressive fungus, is known to infect more […]

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An ode to the hills: Sky Islands, a digital platform featuring stories from the Western Ghats, set to be launched

An ode to the hills: Sky Islands, a digital platform featuring stories from the Western Ghats, set to be launched

The Kodaikanal hills | Photo Credit: THANGARATHINAM N When Rajni George came back to her hometown of Kodaikanal after spending several years in Delhi and abroad, she was dismayed to see how much the hills had changed. “It really hit home how bad things were in our hill stations,” she says. “The older generation had […]

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The Nilgiris Earth Festival begins from December 19

The Nilgiris Earth Festival begins from December 19

Foraged produce | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Indulge in a feast for the senses and savour a seasonal spread of indigenous cuisines representing the communities of the Nilgiris Biosphere at The Habba, the heart of the four-day event — The Nilgiris Earth Festival (TNEF) which begins December 19. This is the festival that turns the Blue […]

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Goa’s Echoes of Earth festival pays an ode to the Western Ghats 

Goa’s Echoes of Earth festival pays an ode to the Western Ghats 

Nestled amidst a lush forest at Chopdem Morjim in Goa, a line-up of over 40 international artistes perform live music on four uniquely-designed stages at sunset. The three-day Echoes of Earth festival celebrates the magic of music and the beauty of nature with focus on sustainability. The stages include a dramatic ‘Big Beak’ modelled after […]

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How to photograph wildlife? Hear it from an expert

How to photograph wildlife? Hear it from an expert

Wildlife category | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Rooted in the belief that every photograph tells a compelling story, Sony BBC invited entries for the third edition of the photography competition Earth In Focus. This year’s theme Pride of India celebrated India’s architecture, cultures, and people. The month-long photography contest featuring subcategories such as Wildlife, Portraits, and Monuments, received over […]

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