Discover the world of beetles with this nature trail in Mumbai this weekend

Look up Beetle Day August 25 on the Internet and yoursquoll first be greeted by the eponymous petite German automobile followed by the British Fab Four who taught the world how to rock lsquonrsquo roll For a group of animals that make up a fourth of all described species in the world with nearly 400000 recognised species the insects surprisingly finish third Wersquore looking in all the wrong places perhaps This weekend naturalists led by experts from citybased communities Naturalist Explorers in collaboration with Indiarsquos Nature will converge at green covers across the city to dig deeper and explore a day in the life of these complex bugsA firefly rests on a dried leafldquoBeetles exemplify naturersquos resiliencerdquo remarks nature educator Gaurang Tawde These bugs he says have evolved extensively to make their way all around the world ldquoExcept for Antarctica yoursquoll find beetles across continents in diverse habitats such as water bodies forests and desertsrdquo he reveals Tawde attributes this feat to a characteristic adaptation ldquoInsects usually have two pairs of wings When you observe a beetle up close yoursquoll see that the front pair of wings have adapted to form a tough covering called elytra that protects their hind wings This ingenious contraption makes them almost invinciblerdquoParticipants at a previous trail in GoregaonOf this tenacious lot some peculiar species with fascinating stories have made Mumbai their home Clinteria klugi for instance works a day job like most of us Commonly known as flower chafers these beetles visit flowers and feed on nectar pollen and petals during the day assisting the pollination of flowering plants ldquoMy favourite however is the tortoise beetle whose front wings resemble the shell of a tortoise Itrsquos one of the most visually striking designs on a beetle speciesrdquo Tawde points out Spread across the elevated terrain of Kashimira and Yeoor and the forests and lakes of Sanjay Gandhi National Park these diverse species reveal themselves around this time of the year making it the perfect time to catch a glimpseCleonaria bicolor PICS COURTESYGAURANG TAWDEldquoMonsoons play a crucial role in the life cycle of beetles During this season both carnivorous and herbivorous beetles thrive due to the abundance of prey and plant resources that flourish in the wet conditions Many beetle species have even synchronised their reproductive cycles with the increased availability of food during the monsoon ensuring optimal conditions for their offspringrsquos survivalrdquo the researcher revealsWeevilWith the cityrsquos erratic monsoon this year we wonder if climate change will ever be a concern for these tough crawlers It already is we learn ldquoFor instance many people donrsquot realise that fireflies are beetles too They are extremely particular about when they set out to mate With unpredictable weather patterns and growing habitat destruction they might soon not have a safe place to mate In fact the firefly population is steadily decliningrdquo he sighsAs captivating as the pop of colours and flashing lights might be as a naturalist would say never judge a beetle by its elytra Tawde introduces us to the feisty ones on his radar Despite its bright orange coloration distinctly hairy elytra and long antennae we learn that the Cleonaria bicolor is considered a pest due to its association with various host plants where it can cause significant damage especially in agricultural settings Further elaborating with an anecdote that hits a tad too close to home he reveals ldquoI was sprayed by a bombardier beetle once Excruciating pain is the only memory I have from the incidentrdquo he laughsThe clinteria klugi beetle feeds on nectar pollen and flower petalsPriyal Soni a member of the community who stepped into the world of beetles only recently assures us that wersquore safe as long as we stick to our business ldquoI initially believed in the notion that beetles are inherently aggressive But when you spend time with them you realise nothing could be further from the truth Children tend to follow their parentsrsquo footsteps When a parent is spiteful towards insects it is etched in their minds We want children and beginners to join the trail and see these insects as friends and not pestsrdquo she sharesPriyal Soni and Gaurang TawdeThe researcher agrees revealing that the bombardier sprayed him during a research exercise that required interaction ldquoUnprovoked a beetle will rarely ever harm you Itrsquos only when you touch or displace it that it may get aggressiverdquo he shares The best thing to do the next time you come across one of these adorable bugs in the words of Tawde and the insectsrsquo rock lsquonrsquo roll namesakes might be to simply let it beON August 24 730 am August 25 730 am and 830 amAT Sanjay Gandhi National Park Borivali East and Ghodbunder Bombay Natural History Society Goregaon East Karnala Bird Sanctuary Panvel Maharashtra Natural Park SionLOG ON TO naturalistex on Instagram for schedule and pricingMeet the fab trioSpot these species of beetles at green spots around yougtgt Weevils These tiny beetles usually measuring less than 6 mm in length are the ones you see in rice and grain boxes when theyrsquore left unattended gtgt Rove beetles This family of beetles is characterised by short elytra and long bodies often spotted in backyards or bushes across the citygtgt Leaf beetles These vibrant beetles inhabit areas around flowering plants in gardensAlso Read Discover Mumbai Unique walks unveil the citys hidden stories and facts