Where have you been over the past month and what have you seen? Below are just some of the things observed in our local parks and reserves in March!
The Botany Bay diamond weevil (Chrysolopus spectabilis) is not only spectacular-looking (it was named appropriately!), but it was among the first five insects to be collected on James Cook’s first voyage exploring the Australian east coast in 1770. The type specimen collected by Joseph Banks is still in good condition in the Natural History Museum in London. The diamond weevil feeds on the sap of 28 out of the 1000 acacia species found in Australia. It also uses this plant to lay its eggs by boring a series of holes in the stem, close to the soil level, and depositing a single egg into each one. After hatching, the larvae will burrow further into the main roots of the plant where they find nourishment and then bore their way out again to emerge as adults. Their long snout and powerful mouthparts make easy work of this. Preferred species include Cootamundra wattle, silver wattle, Australian blackwood, and golden wattle. The weevils can become a pest of acacia plants by limiting their water uptake and damaging the bark and shoots of young plants.
Tinges of green are starting to appear again and here’s hoping for a lot more rain to fall this autumn! You don’t have to go far to find peaceful places in nature to slow down and enjoy some fresh air, such as here, along the Swainson Conservation Reserve Nature Trail.
The yellow-bellied water skink (Eulamprus heatwolei) is usually found near water and can often be seen basking on rocks and logs. This one was spotted on a fallen log (along with several others!) along the High Country Rail Trail where it crosses the Kiewa River.
It only takes a tiny bit of moisture for the moss and lichens to green up again and this ladder lichen (Cladonia verticillata) was spotted in a sheltered spot at Swainsona Conservation Reserve. The lichen gets its common name from the structure of the thalli (which are produced by the fungal partner) with tiers of cups stacked on top of each other, growing from the centre of the cup below. Remember that lichens are not plants, but a hybrid colony of algae or cyanobacteria living symbiotically with a fungus.
These gross-looking blobs of goo may take you by surprise and have you scratching your head when you suddenly come across them on the walking trail. The goo has a jelly-like texture and is in fact a kind of defence mechanism produced by the kurrajong tree (Brachychiton populneus) to protect the seed pods, which you can see in the photos, from insect attack. These pictures were taken at Swainsona Conservation Reserve after a heavy rain event. Indeed, this is a common sight after rain in warmer weather on both kurrajongs and Illawarra flame trees (both of which are Brachychiton species). The goo can also be spotted at wounds on the trunk. Apparently, the goo can be quite caustic so it’s better not to touch it with bare hands, and if you spot any at your place, maybe wash it away with a hose.
Heliotrope moths (Utethesia pulchelloides) may be mistaken for a butterfly as they are active during the day. The forewings have a speckled pattern whereas the hingwings are predominately white with only a bit of colour around the margins. Adults feed on nectar while caterpillars feed on several plants that are weeds including forget-me-nots and Paterson’s curse. This one was spotted along the Water Rat Trail in Baranduda Regional Park.
A blue banded bee (Amegilla sp.) enjoying some box mistletoe (Amyema miquelii) nectar along the High Country Rail Trail at Bonegilla. Did you know there are 14 species of blue banded bee in Australia? The colours we see on these bees are similar to the diamond weevil in that they are caused by microscopic stripes on the surface of each hair which diffract light.
This specimen of white punk fungus (Laetiporus portenosus) was spotted back in June last year (top photos) on a stringy bark along the Granite Walking Trail in McFarlanes Hill Regional Park. This is what it looks like after drying out over the summer (bottom photos). It has a wood-like texture, and you can see how it would have served as a portable tinder for Aboriginal people.
Common brown butterflies (Heteronympha merope) are active during the spring and summer and should have been laying eggs around March. The males die shortly after mating in mid-late spring while the females live for three months or more, waiting for autumn grass to grow as this is where they lay their eggs.
We hope you are taking advantage of the pleasant autumn weather to get out and enjoy the parks!
