Thyas coronata (Yellow Underwing) - Sikkim Moth

Place: Shantinagar, Singtam (04.08.2022)

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum:         Arthropoda

Class:         Insecta

Order: Lepidoptera

Family:         Erebidae

Genus:         Thyas

Species:         T. coronata

Binomial name: Thyas coronata (Fabricius, 1775)

 

Other Names: Yellow Underwing

 

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Papilio clytia (common mime) - Sikkim Butterfly

Kingdom:            Animalia

Phylum:               Arthropoda

Class:                   Insecta

Order:                 Lepidoptera

Family:               Papilionidae

Genus:                 Papilo

Species:                P. clytia

Binomial name:  Papilo  clytia Linnaeus (1758)

MORE ON GENUS PAPILIO

Argiope anasuja (Signature Spider) - Sikkim Spider

 

Place: Chisopani, Singtam (05.07.22)

Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia

Phylum:          Arthropoda

Class:              Arachnida

Order:            Araneae

Family:           Araneidae

Genus:            Argiope

Species:           A. brought

 

Binomial name:  Argiope brought Thorell, (1887)

Other Names: Signature Spider

Place: Chisopani, Singtam (05.07.22)

Moulting in cockroach

 

In order to grow, cockroaches like many other arthropods shed their old skin. This moulting process helps the insects to grow. This photograph was taken in Shantinagar, Singtam by Arpan Pradhan.

Senna Alata (candle bush) - Sikkim Flora

Sakyong Chisopani JHS (12.09.22)

Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Plantae

Order:            Fabales

Family:           Fabaceae

Genus:            Senna

Species:           S. Alata

Binomial name : Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Poelln.

Other Names:  Cassia alata, Emperor's candlesticks, candle bush, candelabra bush, Christmas candles, empress candle plant, ringworm shrub

Special feature: S. alata is native to most of the Neotropics (from Mexico and the West Indies to Paraguay), and can be found in diverse habitats. In the tropics, it grows up to an altitude of 1,200 metres (3,900 ft). It is an invasive species in Austronesia.

The shrub stands 3–4 metres (9.8–13.1 ft) tall, with leaves 50–80 centimetres (20–31 in) long. The leaves close in the dark. The inflorescence looks like a yellow candle. The fruit, shaped like a straight pod, is up to 25 cm long. Its seeds are distributed by water or animals. The seed pods are nearly straight, dark brown or nearly black, about 15 centimetres (5.9 in) long, and 15 millimetres (0.59 in) wide. On both sides of the pods is a wing that runs the length of the pod. Pods contain 50 to 60 flattened, triangular seeds.

Senna alata (also known as Cassia alata) is often called the ringworm bush because of its very effective fungicidal properties, for treating ringworm and other fungal infections of the skin. The leaves are ground in a mortar to obtain a kind of "green cotton wool". This is mixed with the same amount of vegetable oil and rubbed on the affected area two or three times a day. A fresh preparation is made every day. Its active ingredients include yellow chrysophanic acid.

Its laxative effect, due to its anthraquinone content, is also well-proven. Senna alata is locally known as akapulko in the Philippines where it is used as both an ornamental and medicinal plant due to its laxative, purgative and anti-fungal properties. In Sri Lanka, known as Ath-thora, it is used as an ingredient in Sinhala traditional medicine.  (Source: Wikipedia)