Mark Ridgway

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• Calochilus paludosus Red Beard-orchid

  16 Oct 2014 • -37.9,145.4 • Mark Ridgway

  A dramatic flower about 300mm above ground on a straight stem (slightly thicker than other orchids in the area)

  

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• Thysanotus patersonii Twining Fringe-lily

  15 Oct 2014 • -37.9,145.4 • Mark Ridgway

  An attractive tiny climbing vine with flowers about 10mm wide but no visible leaves. The wiry stems use anything down to the size of grass stems to wind themselves around.

  

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• Chiloglottis valida Common Bird-orchid

  15 Oct 2014 • -37.9,145.4 • Mark Ridgway

  These were low growing from two oval shaped leaves up to about 70mm above the ground and about 40mm wide. Roughly half a dozen calli occur in the rear part of the labellum plus a single taller stalked callus standing in the back. The calli decrease in size to the front. The orchids dupe male Thynnus sp. (flower wasps) by producing the 'scent' of a female wasp. The flower has a large labellum including a group of dark, shiny calli (stemmed knobs and buttons) with a particular 'insectiform' arrangement. The broader callus at the centre is what the male wasp grasps at causing the labellum to collapse upwards. The wasp’s thorax is then coated with pollen as it fights it's way out.

  

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• Peltoschema oceanica

  27 Jan 2015 • -38.0,145.4 • Mark Ridgway

  Similar to many ladybirds but with rows of fine pitting on elytra. Four even spots across the pronotum. About 6mm long. On acacia mearnsii in a local nature reserve. Peltoschema oceanica

  

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• Tinganina dimorpha

  24 Jan 2015 • -38.0,145.6 • Mark Ridgway

  Unusual looking stink bugs flat, wide, with diminished wings yet obviously not nymphs. Larger one (fem?) was about 18mm long.

  

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• Cryptostylis leptochila Small Tongue-orchid

  31 Dec 2014 • -37.9,145.4 • Mark Ridgway

  Almost leafless orchids about 50cm tall with a dramatic flower designed to attract a particular type of male wasp - the Orchid Dupe wasp.

  

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  1. Chris Clarke  Stunning close-up shots!

     Reply • 12 Feb 2015

  2. • Mark Ridgway  Thanks Chris. I'm no photographer though... just get lucky sometimes with a pocket cam. :)

       Reply • 12 Feb 2015

  3. Russell Best  One of my favourite orchids. An amazing feat of evolution. Surprisingly missing from the Macedon Range with only only record from a century ago nearby by George Lyell, in the Lerderderg area - which a walker friend stumbled across again a couple of years ago - a tiny patch of just a few plants, off track in the middle of nowhere! I see lots down Mallacoota way.

     Reply • 12 Feb 2015

  4. • Mark Ridgway  Hope those goats didn't eat the Macedon ones. :)

       Reply • 12 Feb 2015
• Spilonota constrictana

  11 Feb 2015 • -37.9,145.3 • Mark Ridgway

  Strange little cases built with three offset chambers. About 12mm long overall. Several were found on a single callistemon plant always about midway on a stem. This is Tortricidae, Olethreutinae, Eucosmini, Spilonota sp.

  

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• Tarsostenodes simulator

  30 Dec 2014 • -37.9,145.3 • Mark Ridgway

  A small clerid beetle moving and marked like an ant. About 12mm long. Dark red antennae and legs. Cleridae, Clerinae, Scrobiger seems most likely and this is not the one with yellow antennae. This might be the target of mimicry found in the same area http://natureshare.org.au/observations/54f7c4c3ed2a89097e00027d

  

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  1. Russell Best  Amazing Mark. Fantastic example of deception. My first impression was it looks a bit like a Jumping Jack but it is much more like Rhytidoponera metallica? Do you think the white markings are to make the abdomen look more segmented like an ant?

     Reply • 11 Feb 2015

  2. • Russell Best  I meant to mention too ... Red legs and red antennae match too, as in this observation: http://natureshare.org.au/observations/53b39856e35eb1298400fe41 The bead-like antennae are a pretty good match too.

       Reply • 11 Feb 2015

     • • Mark Ridgway  Yep that ant looks a good mimic target. This beetle is just over the back of our hill so I'm determined to find the exact ant species in the same location. (and maybe a clerid with 2 antennae :)

         Reply • 11 Feb 2015

       • • Russell Best  Good luck looking for Rhytidoponera metallica. I've seen it at a few locations that I visit regularly and at each spot I've only ever seen it once!

           Reply • 11 Feb 2015

     • Mark Ridgway  My goodness Rhytidoponera metallica is very similar. Thanks Russell that will help in the search. The annoying thing is that I saw many similar ants on the day but only did the beetle.

       Reply • 11 Feb 2015

     • Mark Ridgway  Sorry Russell I didn't comment re white markings... yes I'm certainly those markings are too much in exactly the right place to not suggest proportional body segments - all you can logically do with an essential pair of wing covers I guess. The proportions are excellent match to Rhytidoponera metallica.

       Reply • 11 Feb 2015

  3. Justin Bartlett  Hi. This clerid is Tarsostenodes simulator. All the best, Justin.

     Reply • 03 Feb 2017

  4. • Mark Ridgway  Ah brilliant. Thanks so much Justin. I've been searching this one for yonks.

       Reply • 06 Feb 2017

  5. David Francis  Thanks for sorting out the NatureShare Clerids, Justin. Identification by Justin Bartlett (Clerid researcher) Feb 2017.

     Reply • 04 Feb 2017
• Praxis edwardsii Edwards' Praxis

  19 Sep 2014 • -37.9,145.3 • Mark Ridgway

  A winter moth of about 40mm wingspan. Found sheltering in a barbecue area from bad weather under a light fitting. In a local nature reserve adjacent to a large national park.

  

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• Calosoma (Australodrepa) schayeri Green Carab Beetle

  10 Oct 2013 • -37.9,145.3 • Mark Ridgway

  25mm long. Metallic green elytra and head and metallic red pronotum. Attracted to activity or lights at night at the local school yard.

  

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  1. Unknown  Green Carab Beetle - These beetles can emit a strong carbolic acid smell when handled. Active at night hunting slower prey and can be useful in controlling armyworms or cutworms. A very active and aware beetle.

     Reply • 17 Oct 2013
• Diemenia rubromarginata

  11 Oct 2013 • -37.9,145.3 • Mark Ridgway

  Approximately 16mm long not including antennae. Resting on the only dark knot on a large barkless eucalyptus log... trying not to be noticed.

  

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  1. Unknown  family: PENTATOMIDAE subfamily: Pentatominae tribe: Carpocorini genus: Notius

     Reply • 17 Oct 2013
• Tubifera ferruginosa

  11 Oct 2013 • -37.9,145.3 • Mark Ridgway

  Sporangiform process on the base of an old eucalyptus stump in a designated nature reserve. Species is Tubifera ferruginosa.

  

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  1. Unknown  Simple tidy system. All kingdoms allowed? What taxonomic database is it linked to? Test...

     Reply • 17 Oct 2013

  3. Unknown  All kingdoms. NS is for Vic species only but there aren't good Vic lists for many groups, including spiders, beetles, fungi, etc but working on those. If you find a species name isn't on NS let me know and I will upload the name. Sources for Vic data in NS is available at https://sites.google.com/site/naturesharehelp/acknowledgements

     Reply • 18 Oct 2013

  5. Unknown  Thanks Russell. I'll put them into comments in the meantime then.

     Reply • 18 Oct 2013
• Tamopsis spp. Long-spinneret Bark-spider Tree-trunk Spider Two-tailed Spider

  05 Oct 2013 • -37.9,145.3 • Mark Ridgway

  Size 16mm including legs. Abdomen like a milky opal set in gold. Very alert and fast moving. Attracted to arthropod activity around lights at the local school.

  

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  1. Unknown  Family known but not exact species

     Reply • 16 Oct 2013

  3. Unknown  I can only find similar (but different) species. Nothing that matches close enough to be confident. Excellent record given no Tamopsis or Hersiliidae appears near your area: http://biocache.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?q=tamopsis#tab_recordsView

     Reply • 17 Oct 2013

  5. Unknown  Thanks Russell. I should have put it back to Hersiliidae. I thought the system was insisting on species level ID. You're so right about not many such finds even in Victoria. We've seen a couple of different looking ones over the past 2 years... possibly one species though. They might vary with growth.

     Reply • 17 Oct 2013

  7. Unknown  No worries. NS is for Vic species only but there aren't good Vic lists for many groups, including spiders, beetles, fungi, etc but working on those. If you find a species name isn't on NS let me know and I will upload the name.

     Reply • 17 Oct 2013

  9. Unknown  Sources for Vic data in NS is available at https://sites.google.com/site/naturesharehelp/acknowledgements

     Reply • 18 Oct 2013

  11. Russell Best  ID to Tamopsis genus confirmed by Robert Whyte.

      Reply • 18 Mar 2015