Western-ghats
Guides
Apicotermitinae
Typical Soldierless Termites and Allies
Apicotermitinae is a highly diverse subfamily of termites within Termitidae, comprising 64 genera and 236 species distributed across the Neotropical, Afrotropical, and Indomalayan realms. The subfamily is predominantly soil-feeding, with most species inhabiting diffuse subterranean nests. A defining feature of most Apicotermitinae is the evolutionary loss of the soldier caste, which occurred independently in at least two separate lineages. In the absence of soldiers, workers have evolved alternative defense mechanisms including increased aggression and autothysis.
soldierless-termitessoil-feedingautothysisdehiscent-organtermite-defensehumus-feedingNeotropicalAfrotropicalIndomalayansubterranean-nestsgut-morphologyenteric-valvemolecular-systematicsCOICOII16Sgregarine-parasitesRuptitermesSpeculitermesTriclavitermesDissimulitermesGrigiotermesAnoplotermes-groupCaatingaAtlantic-ForestWestern-GhatsMacromia
River Cruisers
Macromia is a genus of large dragonflies in the family Macromiidae, commonly known as river cruisers. Species are characterized by their habit of flying long distances along river corridors. The genus has a broad but disjunct distribution, with the majority of species occurring in tropical Australasia, one species in Europe (Macromia splendens), and a few species in North America. Nine species have been documented from the Western Ghats of India, including six endemics.
Teleonemia scrupulosa
lantana lace bug
Teleonemia scrupulosa is a sap-sucking lace bug (Hemiptera: Tingidae) widely distributed across tropical and subtropical regions. It is a specialist herbivore of Lantana camara (Verbenaceae) and has been deployed as a biological control agent against this invasive shrub in multiple countries since 1961. The species exhibits strong microhabitat preferences, thriving in high-light environments but failing to establish in shaded conditions. Its feeding causes characteristic chlorotic damage and can severely impair host plant photosynthesis.