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
Dear All Many greetings, just back in access to the internet after lots of travelling in the field. A couple of days ago as I was counting ants I noticed a blur zipping through the flowers around me. At first I thought that it was a bee. A closer look revealed that this was a … Read more
Saw these beautiful Dutch floral paintings while in transit to the US through Amsterdam – they are all painted before 1700! There are several insects hidden in them too… These paintings were seen as a metaphor for life, time and changing seasons/growing old etc…
Dear All Many greetings – have been in the Western Serengeti for 10 days training guides… Heavy rains and amazing insects everywhere. Watched these incredible Swallowtails soaring about a hilltop… This is the Citrus Swallowtail, one of the most common and beautiful of East African insects… The butterflies gathering at the tops of hills are … Read more
Dear All Many greetings and thanks for the kind comments. I just wanted to share this interesting encounter that I witnessed in Laikipia about a week ago when I was there collecting ants. I have also been chasing after dragonflies and took a break to visit a small dam at Suyian… As it was really … Read more
Dear All Attempted to start the New Year with a morning run and came across this remarkable little person crossing the road. He was so full of character that I just had to sketch him… He obliged by sitting still on a twig – one of the most cooperative subjects I have ever had! Let … Read more
Dear All – I was lucky to spend xmas with my parents in the forest. As I walked back from a small chapel at the edge of the rainforest in Western Kenya after a Christmas carol service, I noticed something large flapping about in the bushes by the path… At first it looked like a … Read more
Dear All, sorry have been travelling all over the place with little time or internet access. Finally spent a few days in Laikipia where this lovely fellow (a Dik-dik) joined us for breakfast every morning…
Dear All – Have been travelling a lot here – but heading back to the bush shortly and thought that I would share this aerial picture with you. A beautiful and stark picture of the Sahara desert taken from the plane!
Dear All – This morning as I stepped out of my house to find this lovely praying mantis meditating in the morning light…