Massive declines in insect biodiversity and biomass are reported from many regions and habitats. In urban areas, creation of native wildflower meadows is one option to support insects and reduce maintenance costs of urban green spaces. However, benefits for insect conservation may depend on previous land use, and the size …
In the current issue of Science, researchers at the University of York report that the brown argus butterfly has spread its reach in England northward by about 50 miles over 20 years as a warmer climate allow its caterpillars to feed off wild geranium plants, which are widespread in the …
Despite being home to an ever-expanding concrete jungle and rapid deforestation, Mumbai’s butterflies have managed to survive the odds and continue to delight nature enthusiasts. Now, a first-of-its-kind book on the 153 species of butterflies found in and around the city will document these winged insects. Launched on Tuesday at …
‘Spread of the Bt gene could make brinjal a problematic weed' An independent enquiry has revealed that the cultivation of genetically engineered (GE, also called genetically modified, or GM) Bt brinjal poses risks to the environment and possibly to human health. The occurrence of wild, weedy and also cultivated relatives …
Forest department to start preliminary works at Upper Anicut reserve forest Preliminary works for the establishment of a tropical butterfly conservatory in Srirangam is set to begin soon with funds being granted to the Forest Department for this purpose. The State government has sanctioned Rs. 1.61 crore as first instalment …
Climate change will make conserving the world’s biodiversity — including the human benefits associated with conservation, such as clean air and water — much more challenging and expensive, research reveals. Sustainable Brands Conference 2012 According to a group of international researchers convened by Conservation International, climate change may in some …
NUMALIGARH: With a view to providing a proper home to butterflies in the unique Butterfly Valley in Golaghat district, especially the endangered varieties, the North East Institute of Science and Technology is trying to locate and nurture plants there on which they breed. The valley is situated inside the Numaligarh …
Butterfly wings are not just beautiful. They are also sophisticated collectors of solar energy that help butterflies stay warm, and researchers say that their shinglelike structure could provide valuable clues into developing better solar technology. “Light manipulation and light-harvesting abilities are important for the performance of solar energy devices,” said …
Fears of global warming, climate change, and irreversible loss of the planet's life support systems notwithstanding, plants and animals thrive within even the seemingly degraded habitats. Life is resilient. And, it is the resilient plant or animal that brings a bit of cheer to the desolate soul, as is evident …
The Cabinet yesterday added six birds to the list of protected wild animals in Bhutan under the Forest and Nature Conservation Act. This, forestry officials said, was the first change since the Act’s introduction in 1995, taking the total number of protected wild animals to 30 different species. The bird …
A three-day survey in the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary has recorded 176 species of butterflies. The findings of the survey, conducted jointly by the Travancore Natural History Society (TNHS) and the Kerala Forest Department from November 11, make the 171-sq km sanctuary one of the richest butterfly-diverse areas in the Western …
Itanagar: A new species of moth has been sighted in Arunachal Pradesh, bringing joy to nature lovers who noted that many moth and butterfly varieties were on the verge of extinction in India. The moth was photographed by nature enthusiasts of Ngunu Ziro, led by Dr Tage Kano, during their …
Tropical South America is rich in different groups of pollinators, but the biotic and abiotic factors determining the geographical distribution of their species richness are poorly understood. We analyzed the species richness of three groups of pollinators (bees and wasps, butterflies, hummingbirds) in six tropical forests in the Bolivian lowlands …
Lieutenant-Governor launches International Year of Forests celebration by planting a sapling Amid a growing demand from nature lovers that Sanjay Van, a city forest spread over 783 acres near Neela Hauz, be made a bird sanctuary, the 2011 International Year of Forests celebration was launched by Lieutenant-Governor Tejendra Khanna on …
The Kodigahakanda forest in the Olabouwa North Grama Niladhari division in Horana will be declared a sanctuary in November under the Forest Conservation Department, MEDEF President K.Munagama told the Daily News. "This is the first wildlife sanctuary in the Kalutara district," he said. Kodigahakanda bio-diversity centre at Gonapola was opened …
India is a paradise for butterflies with a record of nearly 1501 species, of which, the presence of nearly 962 species is known from the biodiversity rich hotspot sectors of North East India. Records of the Zoological Survey of India published under the state fauna series have shown the occurrence …
With a view to increasing the forest/tree cover as per the national forest policy, 64 lakh saplings will be planted across the State, Forest Minister K.T. Pachamal told the Assembly on Tuesday. Replying to the debate on the demands for grants to his department, he said the ambitious programme would …
The Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change, a panel of international experts assessing the current scientific knowledge on climate, has asserted that warming of the earth's climate system is ‘unequivocal', Fr. Ignacimuthu, Director, Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College, Chennai, said here recently. Inaugurating an international congress on “Global Warming on Biodiversity …
Plants and animals are responding up to three times faster to climate change than previously estimated, as wildlife shifts to cooler altitudes and latitudes, researchers said on Thursday. Scientists have reported this decade on individual species that moved toward the poles or uphill as their traditional habitats shifted due to …
If you happen to see a swarm of butterflies flying above the terrace of your office in the crowded Bengaluru city, count yourself lucky. You are witness to the largest annual butterfly migration in southern India. Every year between October and December, swarms of Dark Blue Tiger and Double Branded …
