#cristatus

I had wanted to take a photo of indian peacocks actually flying for years. The large and heavy birds with their train of feathers are able to fly, but often they prefer walking. Flying is hard work.

Not this one. He and his flock of peafowls where walking on the roofs of the buildings of the Lamido palace in Ngouandéré. Getting around meant flying. And I spent some quality time walking after them waiting for the jump and flight.

The local chieftain/king/Lamido in Nguandere had this old, classic symbol of power and wealth - peacocks wandering free in his private gardens.

They are not elegant flyers.

Royal symbol

The indian name for peafowl is Mayura, meaning killer of snakes. Understandably, a fashion statement that is actually useful probably help them being closely connected to culture and power.

Killing of snakes is also symbolic for cycling of time.

According to myths, the Mayura was created by feathers from Garuda, a highly important birddemigod in hinduism and buddhist culture.

by Vanessa Verdecia

The wheel bug (Arilus cristatus) is common in the United States and can be found here in Pennsylvania during the summer. It is recognized by the crested “wheel” as seen in the lateral image of this Carnegie specimen, and the beak can be seen coming out of the front of the elongated head and angled back towards the body in the close-up image. Wheel bugs can be found during the day, and one should be careful not to handle them, as a bite from this species is very painful. It is reported as causing intense pain followed by numbness, but their toxins do not cause serious health problems.

Wheel bugs, however, are very important predators and should be left undisturbed. They play a valuable role as forest predators, feeding on other insects that would otherwise defoliate trees or cause other destruction.

The wheel bug is classified in the family Reduviidae, which is one of the predatory families in the order Hemiptera (the True Bugs).