The Himalayas are home to a host of biodiversity which has yet to be studied in detail. Taking the first steps to better understand a species of song birds scientists from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and Cornell University explore if the sex of Green-backed tits can be identified by looking at the size of the beak and the thickness of the breast stripe.
The study from IISc found a previously unidentified yeast-like symbiont inside the lac insect Kerria lacca, which gives the insect its distinctive red colour and, may also provide other nutrients in return for shelter.