Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)

Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata) also called as Spotted Munia is fairly common bird in peninsular India. This is also a popular cage bird in pet trade and is called as Nutmeg Mannikin or Spice Finch. Also known in popular culture due to songs like "चलत मुसाफ़िर मोह लियो रे पिंजड़े वाली मुनिया". 

This Munia is distributed from India to Indonesia and has been introduced and established in Australia and Puerto Rico & Hispaniola. They feed on grass seeds and small insects. They form flocks of up to 100 individuals. 

References:

• iNaturalist records 21613164, 367786, 20474525
• Wikipedia 

Flame of the Forest (Butea monosperma)

Flame-of-the-forest (Butea monosperma) is a species of Butea which is member of Fabaceae, is native to tropical and sub-tropical parts of the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia, ranging across India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and western Indonesia. Common names include flame-of-the-forest and bastard teak.

It is used for timber, resin, fodder, medicine, and dye. The wood is soft and durable under water, is used for well-curbs and water scoops. Spoons/Ladles made of this tree are used in various rituals to pour Ghee into the fire. Good charcoal can be obtained from it. The leaves are usually very leathery and not eaten by cattle. The leaves are used to make food plates or patravali.

If one travels in central India in the months of March or April, it is hard to miss the trees even from long distance.

References:

• Butea monosperma (Wikipedia)
• Butea monosperma (FRLHT's ENVIS)

Red Silk Cotton Tree (Bombax ceiba)

Red silk-cotton tree (Bombax ceiba or Bombax malabaricum), it is sometimes known as red cotton tree; or ambiguously as silk-cotton or kapok, both of which may also refer to Ceiba pentandra. Other trees of the genus Bombax, is commonly known as cotton tree. This belongs to Malvaceae family.

Deciduous tree from Asian tropics, bears beautiful red flowers in spring before the leaves start reappearing. Dry cores of the flowers are used in Thai cuisine nam ngiao spicy noodle soup as well as kaeng khae curry. Used in Ayurveda, Siddha and Folk medicine in India.

The tree looks spectacular when it is totally leafless and full of flowers and it attracts a lot of birds and insects for food.














References:

• Bombax ceiba (Wikipedia)
• Bombax ceiba (FRLHT't ENVIS)

Slender dwarf morning-glory (Evolvulus alsinoides)

Slender dwarf morning-glory (Evolvulus alsinoides) is an herb with beautiful flowers, is a member of family Convolvulaceae. Seen in a wide range of habitats, from marshy places to wet forests to deserts. In India seen almost all over except higher Himalayas. शंखपुष्पी in Sanskrit and शंखवेल in Marathi.

• More images, vernacular names in most Indian languages and distribution map

Celandine Spider Flower (Cleome chelidonii)

Celandine Spider Flower (Cleome chelidonii) 'पाण तिळवण' (in Marathi) family Cleomaceae but was placed in family Capparaceae earlier. Usually seen near water. This genus has more than 250 species according to recent taxonomic studies.

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

Red Cotton Stainer (Dysdercus cingulatus)

Red Cotton Stainer (Dysdercus cingulatus) are true bugs (Hemiptera) of family Pyrrhocoridae. It is considered a serious pest on Cotton and several other crops, because the bugs as well and nymphs feed on flowers and bolls of cotton by sucking the juice and in the process transmitting fungus and other disease. 

This occurs from India to Australia. It feeds on variety of hosts like Cotton, Okra, Hibiscus and even some trees like Silk Cotton trees. When host plant are not available they survive on fruits or can even go hungry for days. 

• Dysdercus cingulatus (Wikipedia)
• https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/366710