Sanctuary Asia — January 2018

Sanctuary | Photofeature

Painted grasshopper Poekilocerus pictus

Isn’t this painted grasshopper specimen a treat to

the eyes? However, its conspicuous colouration holds

more than just aesthetic value, it is indicative of the

grasshopper’s toxicity, acquired from feeding largely

on chemical-rich milkweeds.

Lanternfl y Pyrops sp.

The striking snout of this lanternfl y, like that of a

unicorn, can penetrate barks of trees to suck on the

dewy tree sap within. This specimen was collected a

century ago in the pristine, tropical wilderness of the

Western Ghats.

DATE AND LOCATION UNKNOWN

SPECIMEN FROM 1914,

COORG, KARNATAKA