Language: English
This first-of-its-kind field guide is an outcome of arduous fieldwork spanning close to three years in India’s famous Kanha Tiger Reserve situated in Maikal Hills of the central Indian highlands. The book includes sketches of around 40 of the most common insects in over 10 orders, and keys to eye-patterns of 18 spider families, to ease basic field identification. The book is richly illustrated and contains images of over 600 individuals of insects and spiders – most identified up to species-level, some left at genus or family level, with short write-ups on their observed behavior. Detailed descriptions of the insect orders and spider families, and notes on their density and ecological roles in Kanha and Central India as a whole are given. Also included is an extensive bibliography of previously published works on insects and spiders of central India. Uniquely, the book features the first record of tarantulas in Madhya Pradesh; and of two rare dragonfly species.
Aniruddha Dhamorikar has a keen interest in studying insects and spiders, how they spin the wheels of the great ecological machine and keeps it running rust-free. He holds a Masters in Environment and Sustainability, and Zoology, and began exploring the fascinating world of these lesser-known creatures ten years ago.