Scolopendra subspinipes ( Red Headed Centipede) - Sikkim Insect

Scolopendra subspinipes ( Red Headed Centipede)

Place : Shantinagar, Singtam, East Sikkim,

Date: May 28, 2012
Pic: Shital Pradhan

Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia

Phylum:          Arthropoda

Class:              Chilopoda

Order:            Scolopendromorpha

Family:           Scolopendridae

Genus:            Scolopendra

Species:           S. subspinipes

Binomial name: Scolopendra subspinipes Leach, 1815

Other Names:  Chinese Red Head, Giant Centipede, Jungle Centipede, Orange Legged Centipede, Red Headed Centipede and Vietnamese Centipede.

Special feature: It is among the largest centipedes with a maximum length of 20 cm.

Bites from this species are very painful and may cause severe swelling, weakness or fever. S. subspinipes is the only species of centipede that is reputed to have a human death attributed to it. The reported fatal case was in Philippines in which the centipede bit a seven-year old girl on her head and she lived for another 29 hours. (Source: Wikipedia)

Coridius chinensis (Stink Bug) - Sikkim Insect

Coridius chinensis (Stink Bug)

Place : Dalapchand, Rongli, East Sikkim,

Date: January 2, 2012
Pic: Shital Pradhan

Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia

Phylum:          Arthropoda

Class:              Insecta

Order:            Hemiptera (bugs)

Family:           Dinidoridae

Genus:            Coridius

Species:          C. chinensis

Binomial name: Coridius chinensis (Dallas, 1851).

Other Names:  Stink Bug

Special feature: "Coridius chinensis (Dallas) is eaten by one or more Assamese tribes." (Hoffmann, 1947).

"This species is very commonly used in China in an aphrodisiacal medicine and is on sale in Chinese medicine shops throughout China.  It is called 'Chu Shan Chung' or 'Hai Tao Chung' and was written about in 1590 by Li Shih chen and in 1890 by Fang Shui." (Hoffmann, 1947). (Source: ndsu.nodak.edu)

Hydrangea macrophylla (Big leaf hydrangea) - Sikkim Flora

Hydrangea macrophylla (Big leaf hydrangea)

Place : Khechuperi Lake ,  West Sikkim
Date: May 25, 2014
Pic: Shital Pradhan

Hydrangea macrophylla (Big leaf hydrangea)

Place : Khechuperi Lake ,  West Sikkim
Date: May 25, 2014
Pic: Shital Pradhan

Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Plantae

Phylum:         

Class:             

Order:             Cornales

Family:           Hydrangeaceae

Genus:            Hydrangea

Species:           H. macrophylla

Binomial name: Euphorbia milii Des Moul.

Other Names:  bigleaf hydrangea, French hydrangea, lacecap hydrangea, mophead hydrangea, penny mac and hortensia

Special feature: It is a native to China and Japan.

“H. macrophylla blooms can be blue, red, pink, light purple, or dark purple. The color is affected by soil pH. An acidic soil (pH below 7) will usually produce flower color closer to blue, whereas an alkaline soil (pH above 7) will produce flowers more pink. This is caused by a color change of the flower pigments in the presence of aluminum ions which can be taken up into hyper accumulating plants”. (Source: Wikipedia)

Euphorbia milii (Euphorbia) - Sikkim Flora

Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Plantae

Phylum:         

Class:              Magnoliopsida

Order:            Malpighiales

Family:           Euphorbiaceae
Genus:            Euphorbia

Species:          E. milii

Binomial name: Euphorbia milii Des Moul.

Other Names:  crown of thorns, Christ plant, Christ thorn

Special feature: It is a native to to Madagascar.

Euphorbus was the Greek physician of King Juba II (about 50 BC to 19 AD) of Numidia (present day Algeria).  King Juba II was the first person to find a succulent-type Euphorbia, and he named it after his physician. {Source: faculty.ucc.edu}

 

The species name commemorates Baron Milius, once Governor of Réunion, who introduced the species to France in 1821. It is suspected that the species was introduced to the Middle East in ancient times, and legend associates it with the crown of thorns worn by Christ. 

The sap is moderately poisonous, and causes irritation on contact with skin or eyes. If ingested, it causes severe stomach pain, irritation of the throat and mouth, and vomiting. (Source: Wikipedia)