This was a fourth trail at Yeoor Hills. If you tread across all the four trails, you will find a considerable difference in the sightings. It was an interesting trail and as usual, we learnt more as we discovered.Photographs:
Orthosiphon rubicundus: A tall herb with beautiful inflorescence, it is used in medicines in India. It attracts a lot of butterflies. Above is the photograph of the entire inflorescence, and below is an image of a single flower.
Impatiens minor - Also called Lesser Balsam, it is one of the monsoon flowering shrubs growing hardly 10 - 15 cm. The flower is very small but dots open forest surfaces in white and Purple shades.
Justicia procumbens - Another tiny beauty that dots the forest floor at Yeoor, it is also commonly called as Water Willow.
Polyrhachis sp.? - This image was taken on 21st June (Yeoor - Day 2 Report). I identified it as a Polyrhachis sp. According to a website dedicated to Insects, "Polyrhachis is one of the largest and most diverse ant genera in the old world tropics. These insects are closely related to the cosmopolitan genus Camponotus, but are often ornamented with protective spines. Polyrhachis is found in many different habitat types and show a wide variety of nesting behaviors. Species in the subgenus Cyrtomyrma are weaver ants, nesting in folded leaves held together with larval silk. Others nest in the soil, in rotting wood, or arboreally. One Australian species even inhabits intertidal mud flats and can swim." - Source http://www.myrmecos.net/formicinae/polyrhachis.html
Above is a tighter crop of Polyrachis sp. Identified by their armoured, flat body and spiny petiole.
Camponotus (compressus?) - The above image probably shows a Major Worker of Camponotus sp. As everyone is familiar with the caste system of Ant colony - Queen and Drone, Workers and Soldiers, so on... there is sub-caste system also - literally distinguishing worker ants based on their size and shape. Thus, there are minor, median and major workers. 
Tetraponera (allaborans?) - An arboreal ant, this glossy cute little ant with big eyes can be identified up to the genus level by only looking at it. It's slender body, a uniquely shaped gaster and the walking pattern tell us that it is Tetraponera. This perticular ant will always scan the leaf edges - as also seen in the above picture. I noticed several individuals on approx. 30 cm plants.
Tapinoma sp. - A really tiny ant, photographing it through a digi-cam becomes impossible. In the above photograph, you will notice small ants on a dead moth which was probably preyed upon by a spider. Tapinoma sp. of ants are also called Odour ants since they give out a specific odour, wikipedia notes that odour as that of "pungent coconuts". The species sessile is the highly distributed of all, also commonly seen at homes.
For more on it - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapinoma_sessile
Fly - Another interesting but gross looking fly. It probably belongs to Bombyliidae - I am not sure. It was big in size. And uglier. But none the less a curious creature of the woods!
Grasshopper - A common creature, so green in colour and so fresh - it reflects the moods of Monsoon. Grasshoppers live in well vegetated forests and feed on leaves (some may also feed on other insects). Grasshoppers (Family Caelifera) are one of the members of Order Orthoptera which contains the following other members:
Katydid - Family Tettigoniidae, commonly also called as Bush-cricket, they are the cousins of Grasshoppers. They prefer living just like Grasshoppers, in a well vegetated forest and feed on leaves. Distinguished easily from grasshoppers by a rounded abdomen, extremely long and thin antennae and thin legs as compared to the grasshoppers. A misnomer for these is "longhorn grasshoppers", although they are not grasshoppers, but even closely resemble Crickets (see below).
PS. It has a broken leg - not my mistake! :(
Cricket (Family Gryllidae)- A creature of darkness, they wander out in the open during dark and prefer to live well hidden during day time - such as under stones and fallen logs. They are easily distinguished by a strong and stout body, stong hindlegs as compared to grasshoppers and katydids. They are omnivorous and may also devour their own dead.
An interesting note from Wikipedia - "Crickets are popular as a live food source for carnivorous pets like frogs, lizards, tortoises, salamanders, and spiders. Feeding crickets with nutritious food in order to pass the nutrition onto animals that eat them is known as gut loading. In addition to this, the crickets are often dusted with a mineral supplement powder to ensure complete nutrition to the pet."
Otheris sp. - A large moth that was seen resting in a thicket, it measured atleast two inches in length. It belongs to Noctuidae, Catocalinae. The hindwings of this moth are bright orange with two black spots.
Yellow Orange Tip: Ixias pyrene - A wet season form of the male.
Common Indian Crow: Euploea core - A beautifully dark butterfly very common all around us.
Common Bushbrown - Hard to give it's specific name, the Wet Season Form of it looks beautiful!
Long Brand/ Dark Brand Bushbrown - An unidentified species, this fellow was larger than the earlier image. The Wet Season Forms come on the darkest of the colour combinations, and most beautiful ones at that.
Land Crab - Several big land crabs are seen walking on the forest trails. After a few days of heavy rains, the baby crabs come out of their mother's nursery. This is one of those babies, hardly measuring a cm.
Wolf Spider - I had pleasure photographing this tiny Wolf Spider. It was really small and well camouflaged against the cement pipe. After seeing the image did I notice it feeding on something! Wolf Spiders are interesting spiders and easily identified by those typical eye-pattern - Two large eyes on top and four lined below it, and two more just behind the two large ones. They are ambush hunters and do not make webbed homes.
Spitting Spider (Scytodidae) preying on an Orb Weaver (Araneidae): This was the most interesting documentation of a Spider-related-foodchain. Spitting Spiders do not build webs like Orb Weavers, so this Spitting Spider had probably captured an Orb Weaver unawared - outside its web. Spitting Spiders are aptly named, since they truly spit. However, their range is within 20mm, so capturing an Orb Weaver from it's Orb-shaped-web is an impossible task. Hence it's my theory that this poor Orb Weaver was on the leaf-surface, unaware of the danger. The fight and the struggle for the survivor of the fittest must have been fascinating!
Lynx Spider (Oxyopes superbus?)(Above and below): Two beautiful brightly coloured Lynx Spiders, unidentified as yet, were seen feeding on Hoppers (we spoke of earlier). Many hoppers = ample opportunity = plenty prey = full tummy = happy spider = good photograph!
Giant Wood Spider: Nephila sp. - A wonderful Giant of the Webs is a common sight after the onset of monsoon. This is the season for smaller ones, and as days grow older and monsoon comes to an end, they will be in their biggest of sizes. A full grown Nephila will build webs at great heights. Many fear these spiders for their size - but let me tell you, they are harmless. And beautiful, not to forget. The males are very tiny and often confused to be spiderlings.
Dome/Tent Spider - Belonging to the family Araneidae, this spider however does not make the typical Orb Web. It makes a rather unusual and beautiful form of web that is shaped as a dome. The spider rests just below it's dome. This dome shaped web is often changed as it gets damaged. Above image shows a beautiful coloured Dome Spider in it's home. The image below show's another Dome Spider - probably different species as the above one - that has captured a Horsefly (we spoke on, on previousYeoor Post) - an example of how Spiders help control pest population.
Crab Spider - Of the Thomisidae family, this one is the most unusually shaped fellow Crab Spider I have ever seen. Unidentified as yet.
Unidentified Frog - There were many tiny frogs near a stream (where the Wolf Spider was photographed).
Cob-web Spider - The name "cob-web spider" is a misnomer, this spider most probably belongs to Theridiidae Family, they are very common yet lesser known, small and ugly looking spiders that make up untidy webs. They prefer dark corners and are also seen inside houses. But dont underestimate them for they are the ones who help in keeping mosquito and fly population in check! The spider photographed was about 40 mm in length. Theridiidae family is well known because of the Black Widow Spider which is considered clinically significant. The bite of this spider does have a serious allergic reaction. However, the photographed species is not identified and is probably not dangerous.
Ramanella sp. - A cute little frog, Ramanella is a genus of 
Duttaphytnus melanostictus - A very common toad all around the country side. Very rare in cities now. It was once so common at my residence, now there are no toads surviving here, forget frogs. It is another common fellow to come onto the path at Matheran. Using torch at night is very important you are likely to step on one.
Banded Ground Gecko: Geckoella sp. (deccanensis?) - A treat to the eyes, this beautiful ground gecko rushed on the path through my feet. I first thought it to be the toad, but a glance of it running into the thicket left me mezmerized. We are well accustomed to geckos in our houses and gardens, those dull coloured, easily camouflaged fellows everyone dislikes. This gecko sure took my breath away! This beautiful lizard was an icing on the cake. A first timer for me. They are nocturnal and hunt on the ground - hence the name. They are quick and good hunters.
Green Vine Snake: Ahaetulla nasuta - A common resident of Matheran, yet so uncommon that only keen and trained eyes can spot it. A beautiful snake, it is also commonly referred to as Whip Snake. It is semi-venomous, meaning it causes a mild allergic reaction if bitten. They are arboreal but will use ground to go onto an unreachable tree. Their main diet is frogs, lizards and insects - some are also recorded eating other snakes and small birds. The above picture was taken during a night trail, in a dense bush. It was foggy and raining.
A side-view of the Bamboo Pit Viper lying in wait for food. This was another fellow seen just besides the path, lying in wait of a passing prey. Here you can see the "turns" on it's body, and how the forked branch is holding its weight. He will lie like for for several hours! It measured approximately 30 cm. The above image was taken in a natural, undisturbed pose.
The above is the last image of a pit viper - known for it's heat-sensing pits. Those two holes just below the eyes are the heat-sensing pits. The vision of Bamboo Pit Vipers is not so good, so they depend on a "third eye" and that's those pits. They make the snake see a "thermal image" of either a cold or a warm object. Just adjacent and a little below the heat sensing pits are the nostrils unlike us, snakes "smell" through their forked tongue. Those eyes are typical of a nocturnal hunter, but it's those pits that set this extreme predator apart from others. Amazing creature!
Bonnet Macaque: Macaca radiata - The menance of Matheran, they can, however, be subtle and loving. We observed this mother and child for a long time as we sipped our chai. Many tourists also noticed them and took their pictures. It was her restless kid. In this photograph, she was seeing her other troop members while her kid was busy playing with himself. Adorable monkeys!
While going Garbet Point
A Nature Trail was organized by WWF MSO, India to Mahuli. Mahuli is a fort, the highest point in Thane district at 2815 feet. The forest surrounding Mahuli Fort has been declared as a sanctuary – Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary. The place is dominated by semi deciduous forests, and gives a different picture in wet and dry seasons. It is near Asangaon – a station on the Central Railway line, which easily connects Asangaon to Mahuli. The State transport bus service is an economic way to reach the Mahuli Gaon (from Asangaon), but there are auto-rickshaws that might take you there too. However, having own vehicle will save a lot of effort.
Vitex negundo - It is a common shrub common along roadside and river banks. It is a food-plant of Death's Head Hawkmoth. This shrub attracts a lot of butterflies, and thanks to the Vitex bloom, I was lucky to find many butterflies on it. - 
Leea indica - A small tree that blooms during Monsoon, also attracts many butterflies. We saw more than 20 butterflies on a single tree feeding on it's flowers. It was a sight to watch! It is, as it is clear, a strong butterfly attractant, but other insects such as Beetles and Weevils, Bees and flies and spiders that come to prey on these are commonly seen on Leea.
Leaf Beetles - A pair of these were seen hiding behind the leaves.
Another interesting sight was a moth caterpillar making a cocoon. Many moth families make cocoon, before transforming into a pupa. It is woven around in silk, keeping enough room for the caterpillar to transform inside it's new home, safely. 
Phazaca sp. - A moth belonging to Uraniidae, the family of Uranid moths.
Common Leopard: Phalanta phalanta - It is a beautiful brightly coloured nymphalid, it was the commonest one seen at Mahuli. Even P. phalanta were seen puddling on sweat and cowdung. They were seen feeding on Vitex and Leea also.
Painted Lady: Vanessa carudi - A beautiful and common nymphalid throughout, only one specimen was seen at Mahuli.
I managed to click it feeding on Vitex, up close :)
Peacock Pansy: Junonida almana - A beautiful nymphalid but not so beautifully captured. I managed this horrid record of Peacock Pansy feeding on Vitex. A beautiful butterfly!
Crab Spider - A tiny Crab Spider was sitting on a bare branch. Perhaps lost, it was looking worried and not so happy by my presence. Crab Spiders are known for their camouflage and will prefer flowers to dissolve into the environment. This fellow was probably blown away by the wind and managed to crashland on this dry twig. Tiny spiders are light enough to glide in the wind. By releasing a long strand of silk in the wind, they easily get carried away by its force but land at undetermined places. This sort of transport is seen in tiny spiderlings. Perhaps it is used by Crab Spiders too?
Lynx Spider - A very common spider throughtout the year, here it is seen guarding it's eggsac.
Forest Calotes: Calotes rouxii - Commonest reptile occuring around Mumbai, the male's often pose nicely and are a good subject to learn photography.
Flameback Woodpecker - A Record shot of a Flameback.
On the way to Mahuli Fort, through Mahuli Village.
Last but not the least, the last stop for all vehicles. Source of many things.
Harvestman - From the family of Opilionidae, Order Arachnida, these creatures closely resemble spiders - and are in fact their relatives. This fellow had recently molted and it's moult can be seen on the right side. The fresh, new Harvestman, is infected by a mite (the red dot).
The lush green tender grass is the result of Monsoon - a season of blessing to everything that lives, and lived, and is to take birth.
A place like none other, SGNP is every naturalists' fantasy. It is the only known forest to be surrounded by a megacity - Mumbai. Being in the city does have many problems, like encroachment, illegal business of liquor etc., poaching and deforestation, but this is the last resort for the wildest of animals to be seen in Mumbai today.
Land crabs are very common during Monsoon, and come in tiniest forms to very large ones. This fellow was on a plateau, threatening me with arms wide open under the monsoon cover.
Hill Turmeric - Cucurma pseudomonata: A beautiful plant which again flowers during Monsoon, decorates the forestfloor with such brilliant colour shades.
Argemone mexicana: It is actually a native of West Indies. A gregarious spiny plant invading degraded lands. It was seen near the tar road and not in the pristene forests.
The last one image shows skyscrapers competing with the mountains in reaching the heaven. But only nature can succeeded in touching the heaven, for it is heaven in itself.
