<h2>Toads are a gardener&rsquo;s best friend</h2>
<p>Toads are bumpy, warty and walk about, as opposed to their jumpier, slimy cousins, the frogs. They shed their skin and eat it; toads breed during the monsoon. Male toads sing to attract females.</p>
<p><img src="https://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/oct/Arefa-Tehsin_1793117049_s.jpg" alt="Arefa Tehsin" width="1280" height="720" /><br /><strong><em>Arefa Tehsin</em></strong></p>
<p>They have great eyesight for preying purposes, but lack strength in their chewing muscles, so they swallow the whole prey. These warty creatures eat beetles, bugs, flies, and keep our gardens from pests.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Macaques make mischief</h2>
<p><img src="https://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/oct/Rhesus-Macaque_1793116958_s.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p>Rhesus macaque can be found across Asia. They are intelligent, can open zippers, untie knots, and operate on locks. These monkeys follow a social hierarchy when it comes to food and grooming. They store food in their cheeks. These mischief-makers leap between rooftops, raid fruit carts, steal food from pedestrians, and perform tricks at temple entrances. They have even travelled to space.</p>
<h2>Silverfish sneak into bookcases</h2>
<p><img src="https://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/oct/Silverfish_1793116978_s.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p>
<p>A nocturnal insect with shiny skin, wiggly antennae, and three long tails, a silverfish darts between bookshelves and cupboards. It isn&rsquo;t a fish but resembles it in its movement. It&rsquo;s been around for over 400 million years, existing alongside dinosaurs. These insects are well-acclimatised to humidity and don&rsquo;t bite or spread diseases. They hate cinnamon and cloves, and can survive without food for a year.</p>
<h2>Bee-eaters are brainy and beautiful</h2>
<p><img src="https://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/oct/Bee-Eaters_1793116999_s.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p>
<p>Green bee-eaters live in India and parts of South and Southeast Asia. They are striking in their appearance with black stripes across their eyes. Because of their colour, they can easily camouflage with leaves and escape predators and prey. They nest in tunnels, eat insects, and give out a gentle, musical trill. They are also smart birds that can guess the thoughts of other animals.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Dragonflies can cross continents</h2>
<p><img src="https://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/oct/Dragonfly_1793117018_s.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p>
<p>Found especially in the tropics, dragonflies too lived among the dinosaurs. There are 3000 species, and the World Wildlife Fund celebrates them by holding an annual Dragonfly Festival. Many species migrate across oceans, like the globe skimmer dragonfly. These insects can see in all directions and fly at top-speeds. Their taste-receptors can be found in their feet. Some kinds of dragonflies in rainforests are in danger of going extinct.</p>
<p><strong>Available:</strong> Leading bookstores and e-stores</p>

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