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15 items (100 per page)

Endotricha spp.

17 Feb 2015 • -37.9,145.3 • Mark Ridgway

A very small moth with about 18mm wingspan. Under strong night lights at the local school. I believe this is Endotricha puncticostalis based upon the white markings along the costa. Other specimen images support this although the rest of the wing patterns are highly variable. http://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/Taxbrowser_Taxonpage?taxid=72217 http://lepbarcoding.org/australia/species.php?region=1&id=69277
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Cracticus tibicen Australian Magpie

17 Feb 2015 • -36.5,145.7 • Libby Woodward
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Hylaeus spp.

17 Feb 2015 • David Francis

Tiny bees, only a few mm long, swarming between flowers of a garden-planted Babingtonia. When disturbed the swarm flew off but returned to the same position at the end of the branch. Identified as Hylaeus (Heterapoides) bacillarius by BJ via Bowerbird.
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Heteropsilopus ingenuus

17 Feb 2015 • -37.4,144.6 • David Francis

"Heteropsilopus (the dm-cu cross vein is sinuous) and I think this is the common H. ingenuus (Erichson) because you can see the enlarged modified tarsus II sticking outside the wings on both sides." Ken Walker
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1. Mark Ridgway What do you think of male 'Heteropsilopus ingenuus' ? Wing patterns are close.
  
  Reply • 17 Feb 2015
3. David Francis Yes, Heteropsilopus ingenuus. Confirmed by KW on BB. Thanks Mark.
  
  Reply • 18 Feb 2015
Chrysopilus spp. Snipe Fly

17 Feb 2015 • -37.4,144.6 • David Francis
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Hemicordulia tau Tau Emerald

17 Feb 2015 • -38.1,147.1 • Suzanne Jones

This dragonfly is perched on a Leafless wattle, Acacia aphylla, growing in the garden.
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1. Suzanne Jones Thanks Russell. Just a question though. I thought that the pterostigma of Hemicordulia australiae was black, while the pterostigma of Hemicordulia tau was brown. Is this not correct? That was why I thought it was H. tau.
  
  Reply • 18 Feb 2015
2. - Russell Best You are spot on Suzanne. I was in a rush (doctors waiting room) and I didn't even look at the pterostigma. I first look at the abdomen shape for these two species and made my decision solely based on the shapely abdomen and thin 'waist', which points to H. aus. and not H. tau. But you are spot on in that pterostigma colour is an excellent distinguishing feature and in this case points clearly to H. tau. After your comment I looked at the other differenting features and half point to H. aus.. These features are yellow spot on tail in H. tau is absent, curvy abdomen with thin 'waist' for H. aus. is there, yellow veins on leading edge of wings for H. tau are there, brown pterostigma points to H. tau. I've had a look on the web and I can find no deviation from the black pterostigma in H. aus. so I will follow it up further. It is a very interesting case!
    
    Reply • 19 Feb 2015
  - - Russell Best I meant to conclude that the distinguishing features score is 2:2 between the two species!
      
      Reply • 19 Feb 2015
    - Suzanne Jones I wondered if maybe it was my photo and that the wings were making it just look as if it had a thin waist, so have added another photo of the dorsal view, taken from a very slightly different angle. Don't know if it will help or not. The wings are a bit blurry in all my photos because the insect was moving them constantly.
      
      Reply • 19 Feb 2015
Leiocarpa panaetioides Woolly Buttons

17 Feb 2015 • -36.5,142.2 • Maree Goods

Several plants growing on the side of the road in a grader scrape.
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Maireana rohrlachii Rohrlach's Bluebush

17 Feb 2015 • -36.5,142.2 • Maree Goods
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Sidymella longipes

17 Feb 2015 • -38.2,145.2 • Mark Ridgway

Body length about 20mm. V shaped abdomen. Climbing among twigs and dense leaves of Kunzea.
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Galenia pubescens var. pubescens Blanket Weed Carpet Weed Galenia

17 Feb 2015 • -37.4,144.6 • Russell Best

2 plants near car park, stand out at the moment as lush plants against brown surrounds.
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1. David Francis Well spotted. I could dig them out.
  
  Reply • 17 Feb 2015
2. - Russell Best I think bits of root come off and they regrow - not sure? Roundup doesn't work either because the ends of roots survive. There is a cocktail that works but I don't know what it is. PV might know. If not I can try chasing up alternatives.
    
    Reply • 17 Feb 2015
3. David Francis Two plants still there 27 Jan 2016. They have not spread any further.
  
  Reply • 28 Jan 2016
Ozothamnus ferrugineus Tree Everlasting

17 Feb 2015 • -37.4,144.6 • Russell Best
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Trapezites symmomus Splendid Ochre Symmomus Skipper

17 Feb 2015 • -38.2,145.2 • Mark Ridgway

A large skipper resting on gahnia sp. blades. Langwarrin Not 100% with Trapezites symmomus ?
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Andrenosoma queenslandi

17 Feb 2015 • -38.2,145.2 • Leuba Ridgway

This black robber fly was about 15 mm long. The thorax was flat along the midline and symmetrically lumpy on either side. Eyes were large and facing upwards. Stiff white bristles seen between the eyes and on the face. Legs also had stiff white setae. Wings were dark and folded over the abdomen which had white spots on the lateral aspects of some of the tergites. Spotted flying around dried logs ( Langwarrin Flora & Fauna Reserve). Synonym: Laphria maura
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1. Chris Lindorff Hi Leuba. The name has now been added. Cheers. Chris.
  
  Reply • 06 Mar 2015
3. David Francis Was this identified from brisbaneinsects? http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_robberflies/BlackLeggedBlackRobberFly.htm
  
  Reply • 07 Mar 2015
4. - Leuba Ridgway Yes David. If it is incorrect please let me know. Thanks.
    
    Reply • 07 Mar 2015
  - - David Francis Leuba, your observation is a perfect match to the photos on brisbaneinsects which I always accept as being correct. Great record and photos, by the way - first on ALA for Australia!
      
      Reply • 07 Mar 2015
  - Leuba Ridgway Thank you David. Andrenosoma queenslandi seems to be the accepted name on the Australian Faunal Directory which lists Laphria maura ( on Brisb. insects) as a synonym. I agree Mr Chew does a great job !
    
    Reply • 07 Mar 2015
Paropsisterna pictipes

17 Feb 2015 • -37.7,146.7 • Martin Lagerwey

This species looks like Paropsis but is Paropsisterna pictipes, A pale green leaf beetle with pink trim along the edges of the elytra and suture. The puncturations are strong and random and with no indication of striae, as might be expected for paropsis. Seen once only. Montane.
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1. Chris Lindorff Name available in database to assign. Also, wondering about the dates of your observations. Is Natureshare picking up the date of the photo from the EXIF file correctly? If you upload the photo/s before entering in the rest of the data and saving, this should work ok. Otherwise, you may have to hit the button to tell it to use the Camera Data Stamp. For this photo, wondered if it could be correct, given the date of the same photo on ALA is a day earlier. Cheers. Chris.
  
  Reply • 03 Mar 2015
3. Martin Lagerwey The error occurs because it was brought back and photographed the next day. I collect them in case dissections become important one day. It was seen on the earlier date but camera data is correct too. I can change that to the observed date if you think that is important.
  
  Reply • 03 Mar 2015
4. - Chris Lindorff A day here or there is not important at all. Thanks for the explanation. The same happened for me, when I photographed the beetles today that I collected yesterday. Cheers. Chris.
    
    Reply • 03 Mar 2015
Isopeda montana Mountain Huntsman Spider

17 Feb 2015 • -37.4,144.7 • Ellena Best

I found it in the corner of the wall in front of my bedroom. It caught a moth at about 8:00am this morning.
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1. Suzanne Jones Great photo. The moth is as big as the spider.
  
  Reply • 18 Feb 2015