Our fungal and insect diversity – only a tip of the iceberg has been touched
Geastrum triplex-a rare earthstar
mushroom
Puffballs….Gasteromycetes
Marasmius sp. Form a fairy ring pattern
Parasol mushroom-
Macrolepiota procera is common
A toxic mushroom-Cortinarius sp.
Campus supports a variety of lives;
It is a biologically rich oasis….
Take a stroll along the library cirlce during rain; you will invariably notice these mushrooms:
From the campus:
(copied from maria’s thesis)
Carissa flowering
Ficus fruiting
On live leaves show symptoms of leaf-spots
Microscopic examination reveals presence of stroma, conidiophores and conidia
Mononematous
Blastic
Foliicolous fungi on Ficus tree leaves in the campus
Mound building, fungus cultivator termites rule the subterranean world in the campus
Termites play a powerful role in aboveground litter decomposition
The red arboreal weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina dominate the campus vegetation build foliar nests and herd scale insects
Various leaf nests of red weaver ants
Stick insects camouflage so nicely in surrounding grass.. Many such species are seen in the campus after monsoon
Wild honeybees are enterprising main pollinators
Social wasps believe in team spirit….
Countless beetles appear from nowhere…
Photuris sp. –fireflies are seen from June to October
Better than the hydrofoil-the water spider