Asian ant mantis (Odontomantis planiceps)

Asian ant mantis or grass mantis (Odontomantis planiceps) is a species of praying mantis (Order Mantodea). The young ones mimic ants to earn the name Asian ant mantis.

The reason to mimic ants is probably protection. Ants being very aggressive, moving in numbers, acidic in taste and possess stings.

The adults are green in color and grow up to an inch long. People love to keep these as pets.

• Odontomantis planiceps (Wikipedia)
• http://www.usamantis.com/odonto_log.html
• https://featuredcreature.com/alright-asian-ant-mantis-you-fooled-me/
• https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/366712

Common Rose (Pachliopta aristolochiae) caterpillar with parasitic wasps

Common Rose (Pachliopta aristolochiae) is a swallowtail butterfly. The caterpillar is maroon colored with a white belt like band.

If you check this caterpillar carefully, there are several while colored larvae of parasitic wasp larvae coming out of its body. The eggs are laid inside the eggs of the butterflies or in very early stages. As the caterpillar is growing, the wasp larvae grow inside the caterpillar and when matured, come out killing the caterpillar.

• Pachliopta aristolochiae (Wikipedia)
• Parasitic wasp (wikipedia)
• Pachliopta aristolochiae (I Found Butterflies)

Common Crow Butterfly (Euploea core)

The common crow (Euploea core) is a common butterfly found in South Asia to Australia. In Australia it is sometimes referred as the Australian crow. It belongs to the crows and tigers subfamily Danainae (Danaini tribe) of Family Nymphalidae.

This chrysalis or pupa I photographed in Bangalore, India just looked like a pure gold pendent, though the beauty is difficult to capture in camera.
















References:

• Euploea core (Wikipedia)
• Euploea core (Butterflies of India)