Blue Oakleaf on a Pink Cassia

Okay, this is going to read like one of those puzzle pages, but .... guess the odd one out in this picture. The one that just doesn't belong here. No way !
No? Need another clue? Okay !

Is that better?
Hmmm..... could it be the orchids which are actually in bloom? No-o-o , they're looking good for a change, but that's not the answer.
Could it be the hairy strands winding around the tree? No again, that's just the roots of the orchid, clinging on for dear life.
Or that big fat fly on the orchid cane?

Look closer! That leaf ... why on earth is that leaf just stuck to the tree like that, defying all the rules of gravity ?
And that tree is a Pink Cassia. Which has lovely feathery leaves. So why am I photographing a leaf... a dead leaf at that? AND making such a big issue out of it?

Okay, I like to tease, so here's another look at this amazing leaf.
Amazing?
Hold your breath while I flirt with danger now (hornet stings can be fatal, you know).
Drum roll, please !
And ... Ta-DAH !!!
Isnt she absolutely gorgeous! Feast your eyes on Miss Blue Oakleaf, the reigning butterfly beauty to beat all beauties, in my opinion. The Blue Oakleaf .... South Indian Blue Oakleaf (Kallima horsfieldi) to be precise ... belongs to that special class that every gardener should love. She's a Leaf Butterfly!

I usually see her in my garden in Mumbai around October and then she lingers awhile. Her favourite haunt seems to be my Pink Cassia tree. Remember that grand party which the hornets threw ? It seems she is partial to Cassia sap. What an interesting leaf!

Vibrant indigo-blue flashes and winks at you every time she fans her wings open. At rest, though, no one would give her a second glance. Wings folded, she's perfectly disguised as an uninteresting dry leaf, complete with midrib and veins! She even has a slight curve of a petiole to help to complete the disguise. She certainly fools the hornets into letting her get up close and personal.

Beauty with brains ... I bet James Bond would've loved her !

Garden Tea-Party ... Butterflies invited

You are cordially invited to the Hornets' Tea Party.

Date : October - November
Time : Sunrise to sunset
Venue : The Pink Cassia tree (Cassia javanica), Mumbai
Dress code : Wings compulsory

R.S.V.P.
Vespa tropica
(Greater Banded Hornets)


Every year, my Pink Cassia trees are the venue for the biggest party in all of insect-dom. In October, the Greater Banded Hornets get to work, chewing and gnawing at the bark of the Pink Cassia until they drill small holes.
They have a whole swarm of flies supposedly helping them, but mostly just looking on. Really! its so tough to get good help these days!

(Dont mess with them, these guys are huge! )

The frothy sap that trickles out seems to send a "come one, come all" call to all the insects in the neighbourhood.
Some ( like the Common Castor ) wait politely till the hornets are done



Others (like the Common Baron below) try to sneak a sip while their hosts are busy at work and not looking.


Others indulge in a bit of push and shove!

This being a classy event, the aristocrats showed up too. They, of course, stuck to themselves and were overheard commenting on the Cassia Sap served. The Baron (in brown) loved his drink, but the Common Nawab (wearing a dash of green in his ensemble) sniffed and said the Cassia Sap of 2007 was much better. This year's Sap lacked a bit in bouquet in his opinion.
He flicked his wings for a waiter to refresh his drink but the waiter was already too deep in the cups to notice.

The Baron got a bit too tipsy and was seen flirting with a Blue Oakleaf. She danced with him and then flew off. It's rumoured that she is seeing one of the Hornets secretly. Watch out, Baron!

By evening, the Common Evening Browns showed up and were seen catching up on family gossip.

A few butterflies who were not on the list were spotted looking very miffed! The Grass Yellow hid among the shrubbery. "How will I ever show my face again?" she cried.

The Hibiscus bush was the hiding place for this gorgeous beauty. I wonder why she was left out?


The Common Sailor, on the other hand, lost his way and couldn't make it to the party!
"No one told me that Mumbai is actually good ol' Bombay," he cursed. "I've been travelling and didn't hear about the name-change" .

A great time was had by all and the hornets were lauded for their hospitality. No one throws a party quite like the Greater Banded Hornets, everyone fluttered contentedly. The Hornets buzzed happily.

P.S. The Baron was spotted sneaking back ...

Someone really must do something about his drinking problem!