Tailor Bird
"Tooweet-tooweet!" goes the tailor bird while she stitches together leaves to make her eco-friendly nest. Perhaps she was the very first tailor on Earth, using her beak as a needle and cobwebs twisted to create fine threads. She takes the precaution of ensuring that the upper surface of the leaf is on the outside of the nest as it makes a safe camouflage for her chicks from the eyes of predators.
Weaver Ants
Weaver ants have earned the notorious reputation of using child labour to stitch the margins of leaves together to construct their communal homes. Several adult ants hold the leaves in position while one of the workers holds a young larva in her mouth and runs it along the leaf margins, taking advantage of the young one's ability to secrete silk. The adult workers don't have silk glands.
Weevils
The skilful manner in which weevils make cuts in leaves and then create neat, compact rolls out of portions of the leaf lamina is simply fascinating. It is a kind of tricky origami; they do not use any silk or glue. The young larvae shelter inside, as snug as bugs in a rug, until they are old enough to look after themselves.
Leaf-cutter Bees
This story is from the September 16, 2022 edition of RobinAge.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 16, 2022 edition of RobinAge.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Quirky Creatures Of The Ocean
Scientists say that life first began in the oceans. Yet, so far, we have discovered only 10% of the life in our oceans. Much of it has the most bizarre, flummoxing appearances and behaviours. Let's dive into the oceans and explore some of these quirky creatures.
THE MAN WHO LOST HIS HAIR
This story starts with a man called Babur.
The History of Electrification In India
Look around you. You are surrounded by electricity. Lights, fans, air-conditioners, washing machines, fridges and even reading devices all work on electricity or electrical charge. Without electricity, our lives would be very different. AMRITA GANERIWALLA, a class 12 student of Bombay International School, Mumbai, tells you how electricity changed India.
THE OVERHEAD TANK
Hey Hi! am a Shola tree. In groups, we form the Shola forest Solaivanam in Tamil). We are a native species of the Nilgiris. Did you know, we Sholas act as overhead water tanks’ and form the main source of water for South India? Wonder how? Let me tell you.
Town Musicians of Bremen
GRANDMA’S TALES: A SERIES BY INDIRA RAJAGOPAL
The Mass Communication Industry
Many years ago in India, people gathered around the radio to hear an important news announcement or listen to the leader of the nation speak. People also got together at small tea stalls to discuss the day's newspaper. Fast forward to about five decades, the internet and telecommunications industry have transformed the way news, information and entertainment get delivered to people across the country. LAKSHMI MITTER throws light on this change.
BUILDING FUTURE DECISION-MAKERS, TODAY
Children are the future of the nation. Many of today's children will grow up to be adults who will lead India in various spheres. It is therefore vital that children are well-informed and develop leadership and decision-making skills at a young age.
What Is Nuclear Energy?
Nuclear energy is the energy stored inside an atom by the forces that hold together the nucleus of an atom. Scientists have learned how to capture large amounts of energy from these forces, which can be used to generate electricity.
Karnataka & Scotland
Coorg in Karnataka is known as the Scotland of India. Both places have similar climate, terrain and hill ranges. Interestingly, even the traditional clothes worn by Coorgi men look very similar to the Scottish kilt! Let's learn more about these two places.
AMIGO THE PROTECTOR
\"Mom, I'm telling you, there is a monster in the loft. You must listen to me. Siddy and I hear sounds every night,\" Amigo the beagle told Ambika, his pet parent, as they waited for their turn at the Paw Counsellor Clinic. Ambika wanted a pet dog and companion for her baby boy Siddharth, but it now seemed like Amigo was causing too much trouble, and she was getting tired of running to the pet counsellor so often.
