As we were gearing to start, we were welcomed by a male Mocker Swallowtail (Papilio dardanus) and later on a large graceful Regal Swallowtail (Papilio rex) that is among the largest butterfly species and a near-perfect mimic of the toxic Beautiful Tiger/Monarch (Tirumala formosa) butterfly. As if that wasn’t enough of a welcome, we got … Read more
Today I had the privilege of joining a Dudu Walk-a deep dive into the micro-wilderness-led by National Geographic Explorer and entomologist Dr. Dino Martins at the Giraffe Centre Sanctuary in Nairobi. It was a diverse and joyful gathering: from a bright 4-year-old boy to veteran conservation photographers like Martha Nzisa and Boniface Muthoni, people of … Read more
The journey started by attending a Dudu Walk with the Insect Committee of Nature Kenya in November and I was ecstatic when I saw that it was not focused on creepy crawlies, but rather to “encounter, identify and learn more about Butterflies and Moths”! It started of slow as it was an overcast day, but … Read more
When you think of bees, the first things that comes to mind are yellow and black stripes, a buzzing sound, and the possibility of getting a painful sting. Can you imagine bees without a sting? Actually, those do exist! Such bees are called meliponines or simply stingless bees. Worldwide, more than 600 species of stingless bees exist. … Read more
One of my favourite plants (after cacao that produces chocolate!) is the avocado. They are one of the most delicious and nutritious fruits around… Avocado trees are one of the many different crops that depend on wild insects pollinators. I recently spent some time in the Kerio Valley looking at the insects visiting the avocado … Read more
In honour of World Environment Day, here are a few amazing insects from the rainforest in Western Kenya to remind us of the incredible and wonderful creatures that we share this planet with… I’ve been travelling around Kenya for the past few weeks, and here are some of the strange and fascinating creatures I came … Read more
Dear All Many greetings. Am very pleased to share with you a book featuring and celebrating pollinator diversity in East Africa. You can download the book through link by clicking on the cover image below: To whet your appetite here’s a sneak preview of some of the pages from the book: You can … Read more
Dear All – greetings from the Turkana Basin Institute in Northern Kenya. This afternoon while I was working in my lab I heard a soft rustling noise coming from the waste-paper basket. At first I thought that yet another careless gecko had gotten itself trapped, but on closer inspection found a small scorpion hiding within. … Read more
Dear All I have been exploring the Kakamega Forest in Western Kenya over the last few days. The forest is sparkling with life after the heavy rains from earlier this month. It has been wonderful taking long quiet walks in the forest to look at insects and birds and ponder the meaning of life. Here … Read more
Dear All Greetings from the Kerio Valley in Northwestern Kenya. This beautiful valley, an extension of the magnificent Great Rift Valley, is one of my favorite places. It is a veritable paradise for bees and other insects that live in the valleys’ forests, acacia-woodlands and rugged escarpments. The Kerio Valley is also home to thousands … Read more