{"id":5630,"date":"2018-07-10T17:35:24","date_gmt":"2018-07-10T17:35:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.travelindiadestinations.com\/?p=5630"},"modified":"2020-05-11T07:10:52","modified_gmt":"2020-05-11T07:10:52","slug":"monsoon-creatures-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/travelindiadestinations.com\/monsoon-creatures-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Amazing Monsoon Creatures in India"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

India experiences a hot and humid climate. However, by the first week of June, the Southwest Monsoon winds bring the Southwest Monsoon season. This is also known as the rainy season in India. The monsoon brings in moderate to heavy rains and strong surface winds. This drops the temperature significantly and changes the landscape completely. In the next few weeks, the dry parched brown landscape turns into a lush green space. This is the time when the monsoon creatures in India appear all over the places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many Indians, these creatures are not new or maybe new because most of us haven\u2019t paid enough attention. During the dry summer season, these creatures are almost invisible but they appear after a few spells of rain. These monsoon creatures in India are shy, tiny and they blend into their surroundings with ease. Hence, you need the patience to wait silently as they continue with their activities. It is always advisable to explore nature in monsoon<\/a> to get the best experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

While there is a huge list of insects and reptiles that come out during the rainy season here are some that we have put together for the blog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oriental Garden Lizard<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if you are not a nature person you must have come across oriental garden lizard. They are virtually everywhere from gardens to grassland. Often people think of them as chameleons because they change colour to some extent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Oriental
Oriental Garden Lizard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Like any other lizard, they love eating insects and small vertebraes. Oriental garden lizards have teeth but they use that only to grip their prey. They don\u2019t tear their prey and instead swallow it. These lizards also eat vegetable matter if they don\u2019t find enough insects. Hence, they are found in all types of weather conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Juvenile
The world from the top seems better<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
A bit shy to be photographed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

They are fast runners and they also jump from one plant to another to escape threat. While they are lizards, they do not drop their tails. They are not scared of human beings, if you don\u2019t make quick movements to threaten them. Oriental garden lizards breed during the month of May and June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Oriental
Don’t you dare come near my rock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Young
Isn’t he cute?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

During the breeding season, the males are highly territorial and their head and shoulder area turn crimson or bright orange. They also change this colour after they have won a fight with another male.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Black Hairy Caterpillar<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My first encounter with the black hairy caterpillar was quite unpleasant. These caterpillars are on the leaves and branches of the tree during the rainy season. While they are easy to spot on a bright green leaf, they are hard to see on the branches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Black
I enjoy chewing green leaves<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

During my teens, I accidentally touched a branch that had a black hairy caterpillar. This caterpillar has tiny black spikes all around it which acts as a defence mechanism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Hairy
Touch me only if you want some pain<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It is advisable not to touch this caterpillar because the spikes can put you in a lot of pain. Although these caterpillars are not poisonous, the pain stays for around 15 to 30 minutes before it subsides. These monsoon creatures in India are on the ground level as well. Hence, make sure you don\u2019t step on it if you\u2019re walking without footwear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common Garden Skink Lizard<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike the oriental garden lizard, skink lizard is very shy and will quickly retreat behind the rocks. It is hard to find them during the hot months of May, but with the arrival of the monsoon season, they appear once again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Let’s warm up, baby.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The males are brown-black in colour with a greyish tinge and the females have a yellowish-orange tinge to the underside. The females are bigger in size compared to males. They usually hide and wait for their prey to come to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Skink
I’m watching you closely<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

However, if they are hungry they will hunt the prey. Skinks are expert ambush hunters. They usually hide under the rock to surprise their prey and also to save themselves from large predators like garden birds<\/a>. They are cold-blooded and therefore they usually relax on top of the rocks to warm their blood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
A little bit of rest after the meal is good<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Skinks love all types of insects, worms, and small vertebrates. They love eating cockroaches, spiders, ants, crickets and moths and therefore some people prefer to have skinks in their garden. They also eat bananas and strawberries and other non-citrus fruits. You can find them all over Maharashtra as you take monsoon road trip in Maharashtra<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indian<\/u><\/strong> Bullfrog<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have ever seen a frog in India, it is likely you saw an Indian bullfrog. This is one of the commonest frog species that you can find all over the country. They are also quite popular in other Asian countries like Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
No one loves rain more than me<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Croak Croak<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

These monsoon creatures in India appear as soon as the grassland area is flooded with fresh water. Indian bullfrogs generally live a solitary life, but their breeding season starts with the arrival of the fresh monsoon season. Surprisingly, these frogs turn yellow to impress females during the breeding season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aak Grasshopper<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Monochrome is so boring, colour is better<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you love colour you can\u2019t find a better grasshopper than Aak grasshopper. It is one of the most colourful grasshoppers that you can find in India. The young grasshoppers usually have greenish yellow markings with crimson spots. A mature grasshopper will have yellow and turquoise stripes on the body along with green tegmina with yellow spots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Let nature take its own course<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The tegmina is a leathery front wing that allows the insect to fold and protect its hind wings. Aak Grasshopper usually feeds on the Crown Flower plant and breed on the same plant. They are visible clearly during the month of September. They eject a sudden jet of pale milky secretion when they feel threatened. Hence, it is advisable that you don\u2019t touch them in curiosity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below is an interesting video shot by Sarah that shows close up of Aak grasshopper eating the crown flower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n