Birdwing Publishers

25/08/2025

🦋 Call for Feedback – Field Guide to Indian Moths 🌿

Have you used the Field Guide to Indian Moths in your research, fieldwork, teaching, or citizen science? I’d love to hear from you!

Your feedback will help us understand how the guide is being used for:
🔹 Biodiversity surveys
🔹 Conservation awareness
🔹 Pest identification
🔹 Education & training

Please take a few minutes to share your experience here: https://tinyurl.com/3krce956

Your insights will be valuable for future editions and for showcasing the impact of moth studies in India. Thank you for being part of this journey!

25/08/2025

🌙✨ Moth Documentation Camp at Panchamvan, Karjat ✨🌙

On 23–24 August 2025, 13 passionate moth lovers gathered at Panchamvan, Karjat, traveling from Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Madurai, and Guwahati. 🌍

Coming from diverse professions but united by a single aim – to explore the world of these elusive night dwellers 🦋🌌 and contribute to society as citizen scientists.

Under the guidance of Dr. V Shubhalaxmi – the Moth Lady and author of The Field Guide to Indian Moths 📖✨, participants:
🔹 Learned how to set up a light sheet and observed moths up close
🔹 Understood moth identification techniques using field guides
🔹 Compiled a checklist of moths sighted during the camp
🔹 Explored a nature trail to study moth food plants and habitats 🌿
🔹 Attended engaging presentations to gain in-depth knowledge about moths

And the cherry on the cake 🍒🦋 was a visit to Kehimkar’s Butterfly Garden with the Butterfly Man himself – Mr. Isaac Kehimkar 🌸🌿.

The camp was filled with fascinating moth sightings, hands-on learning, and the shared joy of conservation. Together, we shine a light on the hidden wonders of the night! 🌟

19/08/2025

✨ New Article Out! ✨

This week, I take you into the enigmatic world of slug moth caterpillars (Family: Limacodidae) — tiny, jewel-like creatures armed with venomous spines and dazzling defenses.

In my latest piece, I share the story of identifying the Avatara Slug Moth (Avatara aperiens), reflect on real-life “insect doctor” moments when people reach out in panic after stings, and explore why these caterpillars are more than just garden oddities.

From their alien movements to their chemical defenses, these caterpillars remind us that even the smallest beings can hold big mysteries — and valuable lessons for science.

👉 Read the full article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/touch-me-not-caterpillar-beauty-sting-dr-v-shubhalaxmi-reddy-gnswe

This Sunday, a close acquaintance called me in some panic. Someone in Nagpur had brushed against a strange, jewel-colored caterpillar while working in sugarcane fields — and soon after, the person developed worrying symptoms.

15/08/2025

Wishing us all a very HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY !

12/08/2025

🌿🦗 New Article Alert! 🦗🌿
What do you get when evolution’s “great-grandparents” refuse to follow the family rules?
You get the katydid—a flamboyant, nocturnal rebel with leaf-shaped wings, antennae twice its body length, and a talent for composing intricate night songs.
In my latest piece, I take you inside the fascinating world of these long-horned grasshoppers—their family drama, bat dodging skills, leaf-mimicking fashion sense, and even how they’ve inspired biomimicry breakthroughs in robotics and hearing aid design.
📖 Read the full story here
Expect:
🎶 The science of their ultrasonic serenades
🦇 The arms race with their biggest predator—bats
🌏 Their role in ecosystems & Indian species highlights
💡 How katydids are shaping future technology
If you think grasshoppers are all the same… this might change your mind.

When one looks at the insect family tree, it’s easy to assume that the younger generations are always the ones going astray. But in the world of Orthoptera—the order of grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids—the story is reversed.

05/08/2025

🦋 NEW ARTICLE LAUNCH
“How Mothing Became My Map to Discovery”
📍From the monsoon hills of the Western Ghats to the glow of a bedsheet in Karjat, my journey with moths has been anything but ordinary.

This National Moth Week, I’ve written a personal reflection on how two decades of fieldwork, citizen science, and roadside ecology have shaped who I am—as a researcher, educator, and accidental road-tripper.

🛣️ From my first DIY mothing expedition in 2004 with four incredible women,
🚙 to a solo road trip in 2015 that stitched research with travel,
🧵 to this year’s experiments with checkered light sheets and a car-turned-field-lab...
…it’s been a journey of surprises, discomfort, resilience, and wonder.

🌍 As a new member of the IUCN’s Climate Crisis Commission, I now get to take these field insights into a global space—and remind the world that moths, too, are climate messengers.

🎥 Oh, and yes—I also spoke about moths in Marathi for the very first time, thanks to an 8-day reel series by Maharashtra Times. The response? Incredibly heartwarming.

👉 If you’ve ever felt pulled toward the insect world—or wondered how a passion can become a path—you might enjoy reading this.

📖 Read the full article here: [https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-mothing-became-my-map-discovery-dr-v-shubhalaxmi-reddy-mjlbf]


https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-mothing-became-my-map-discovery-dr-v-shubhalaxmi-reddy-mjlbf

Every year, National Moth Week urges the world to look closer—to see what most overlook. For me, it's never been just a week.

03/08/2025

23-24 Mothing Camp in Karjat: About the camp site: Panchamvan is an intentional community based in the remote tribal village of chaudharwadi, karjat. It is about 25 kms from karjat station.
The owners have built a house of sustainable materials like mud and bamboo living a minimalistic life in harmony with nature. They are developing a food forest on the principles of permaculture to reduce their dependence on external market for food.
They also have 3 dogs and 2 cats (all Indies) who are part of their family.

Register here: https://birdwingpublishers.com/shop/ols/products/masterclass-in-corporate-virtual-volunteering-programmes

01/08/2025

🌙✨ Step into the magical world of moths this monsoon!
Join me for the Moth Documentation Camp at the eco-friendly Panchavan campsite, Karjat (23–24 August).
📌 Rustic mud & bamboo cottages
📌 Night mothing sessions under the stars
📌 Field trails & presentations on moth ecology
📌 Only 10 participants for an immersive experience
💰 Camp Fee: ₹2,500 per head
📍 Register now: www.birdwingpublishers.com

29/07/2025

🦗 New Article: Earwig — Nature’s Origami Winged Insect

Most of us grew up hearing unsettling stories about earwigs.
But behind the myths is an insect with:
✨ Nature’s own forceps, perfected over 150 million years
✨ Origami-like wings that engineers study for inspiration
✨ A surprising role as both pest controller and prey in ecosystems

In my latest article, I unfold the real story of the earwig — its anatomy, ecology, behavior, and why it deserves a new place in our understanding of biodiversity.

🔗 Read the full story here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/earwig-misunderstood-insect-wrong-pr-agent-dr-v-shubhalaxmi-reddy-vmk7f

When I was a child, the word earwig was enough to make people shiver. It carried the weight of a centuries-old superstition — that these little creatures would crawl into our ears at night and burrow into our brains.

25/07/2025

🦋 4 Weeks of Wonder with Moths – Thank You! ✨

We had a wonderful evening on 23rd July, diving into the secret world of Prominent Moths, with 37 enthusiastic participants joining us live! Your curiosity, questions, and energy made it an unforgettable session. 🪄🌙

A big THANK YOU to everyone who fluttered in over the last 4 weeks — your presence made the Moths Wednesday Webinars a glowing success! 💫

Here’s to more magical moth moments together! 💜