Tag: Insects

European Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)

We have, of course, seen European Honey Bees in our garden since we moved in. However, until today we had not seen a hive. This one was discovered by Richard when he was mowing the grass around the house. The hive is hanging beneath the nest of a Red Wattle Bird in a native Australian … Continue reading European Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)

Abantiades hyalinatus

This blog began with the question “What is it?” and I still find myself asking this question most days.   The other night we came back from a meeting, and found this beautiful moth fluttering around on the path. It seemed to be in the act of dying, as it couldn’t get off the ground … Continue reading Abantiades hyalinatus

Australian Painted Lady (Vanessa Kershawi)

Along with the Common Brown butterflies, the Australian Painted Lady butterflies are plentiful at the moment.  I’ve photographed this one on a 1.5 m high  Xanthorrhoea (grass tree) flower spike. These flowers are a magnet for butterflies and honeyeaters. According to the field guide I am using, ‘Butterflies: Identification and life history‘ by Ross P. Field, … Continue reading Australian Painted Lady (Vanessa Kershawi)

Hot Bats

On Wednesday, we had a fairly warm day which must have heated the space behind the fascia board on the deck, where there is a small bat colony.  All of the bats were clambering over each other to get out of their den and into a place where they could cool down. Some bats chose … Continue reading Hot Bats

First Scented Sundews of the season

I’ve been watching the buds on the tiny Scented Sundew plants grow over the last week or so, and today I’ve had the good fortune to see the first flowers of the season.  Consisting of five white petals and stamens tipped in a clear yellow, these flowers are the definition of simple beauty. The leaves … Continue reading First Scented Sundews of the season

Granny Moth (Dasypodia selenophora)

We found this moth in October 2013. It seemed quite willing to sit still while we photographed it. Since then, I’ve been trying to work out the species.  Most of the moth identification websites I’ve found seem to be organised around the scientific names of species, so if (like me) you don’t know what you’re … Continue reading Granny Moth (Dasypodia selenophora)

Gum Leaf Katydid (Torbia viridissima)

Yesterday, as I stepped out to get the mail, I noticed a large green insect on the deck.  It turned out to be a “leaf insect” or Katydid. Initially I took photos with my standard lens, but I soon realised it was an ideal subject for my new macro lens.  The insect kept moving, so … Continue reading Gum Leaf Katydid (Torbia viridissima)

Marbled Xenica (Geitoneura Klugii)

For months now, it has puzzled me why so many butterflies hover low to the ground above bark and leaf litter, and in thick grassy areas with no flowers in sight.  I’ve always associated butterflies with flowers.  Thanks to a wonderful book given to me by my sister for Christmas, I can now answer that … Continue reading Marbled Xenica (Geitoneura Klugii)

Hairy Caterpillar

I found this very hairy caterpillar a week or so ago.  This morning, I thought I might identify the species, but I can’t find an exact match.  My best guess is that it belongs to the ARCTIIDAE family, otherwise known as ‘Woolly Bears’.  In Australia, there are quite a number of ‘Woolly Bears’ so I wasn’t able … Continue reading Hairy Caterpillar

Soil Analysis by Anthill

Last week, I noticed a very sculptural looking lip around the entrance to an ant nest.  It took me by surprise.   Shortly after moving in, I had  just stopped noticing anthills. We have so many of them they become unremarkable.  On this day, I was actually looking for fungi and flowers, but there was something … Continue reading Soil Analysis by Anthill

Arhodia lasiocamparia

I’m starting to look more closely at leaves, bark and buds in an attempt to work out the precise mix of tree species on our land.  Often it is clear that something has been munching on the leaves and if so, I am beginning to look for caterpillars and larvae.  There are still so many … Continue reading Arhodia lasiocamparia

Tall Sundew – Carnivorous plant

I took this photo in November, and was unable to identify the name of the flower.  In my many Google searches to find the species of a caterpillar for a post, I came across a brochure called “Threatened Species of Central Victoria” designed for school children by the Koala Connect project, through the Australian Koala … Continue reading Tall Sundew – Carnivorous plant

Four Spotted Cup Moth Caterpillar (Doratifera quadriguttata)

It has been very humid here for the last few days.  This means we get some rain later in the day, but not much. Just enough to make it hot and moist the next morning.  So it came to be that I was walking more slowly than usual, and taking a look at some of … Continue reading Four Spotted Cup Moth Caterpillar (Doratifera quadriguttata)

Taunting Kookaburras: Photographing our environment

Every night, just when the light is too low to capture them on film, I hear kookaburras laughing in the trees.  It sounds like they are taunting me because try as I might, I simply can’t get a good photo of one.  During the day, the kookaburras call from neighbouring properties, or the opposite end … Continue reading Taunting Kookaburras: Photographing our environment

Golden Stag Beetle (Lucanidae, Lamprima aurata)

Every time we venture into the garden we come across another unusual find – a bird, insect or plant always captures our attention.  This weekend, Richard found a beautifully coloured Golden Stag Beetle.  It has taken me a few days to find out what it was (thank you Google).  I managed to narrow it down … Continue reading Golden Stag Beetle (Lucanidae, Lamprima aurata)