BunyipCo: October 2018

Thursday, 4 October 2018

New Cassowaries for 2018

Well it's happened and it seems that this year the Cassowaries have appeared with the young about a month or so earlier than usual. We first saw them around the 25th of Sept. The bubs were so small, smaller than a bantam hen. But 10 days later they are growing and very skittish. They seem especially bewildered when the female is present. Just too much action and confused about the guttural calls from the male. We have not observed the female do anything aggressive towards the chicks but the male gives way when she approaches.

Click on the photos to enlarge

Mr Cass and the 3 bubs 3.x.2018

Look carefully. There are 3 chicks in the photo. They blend in with the undergrowth.

Mr Cassowary and the 3 bubs from above.

The chicks have fresh contrasting colours and patterns.

Bye till next time

Wednesday, 3 October 2018

Around the Traps

Some highlights of a rather sparse spring.

See also: https://www.flickr.com/photos/naturenoises/

Remember to click on the photos to enlarge.

Amusugus tinka Trigonidiidae

Amusurgus sp responded immediately to a chip drooped on the leaf litter. Food seems to be scarce and anything will do in a pinch.

Phricta spinosa, Giant Spiny Forest Katydid, nymph. Common on rainforest understorey vegetation after dark.

Phricta spinosa, Giant Spiny Forest Katydid, nymph.

Phricta spinosa, Giant Spiny Forest Katydid, nymph.These katydids perch on large branches or tree trunks during the day. This colour patter is a good example of disruptive colouration.

Phricta spinosa, Giant Spiny Forest Katydid, nymph. Note the mites on the surface of the pronotum.

Phricta spinosa, Giant Spiny Forest Katydid, nymph. Cluster of mites on the pronotum.

A female Balta fratercula. Males come to the lights but the females appear to be flightless so you have to go hunting for them.

This adult female Euscyrtus hemelytrus suggests that this cricket either overwinters as an adult or late instar to mature as spring approaches.

Carbrunneria sp. This genus and Beybienkoa are common in leaf litter as nymphs and as adults on foliage. In the last few years their numbers have diminished. Reasons?

Rhabdoblatta sp Blaberidae

Johnrehnia concisa male. (Click on the photo to enlarge.) In this species the white border of the pronotum is broken at the corners. In an unrelated but strikingly similar species, Parasigmoidella atypicalis, the white border is entire all the way around.

Johnrehnia concisa, female. Check the Cockroach album on the Flickr site to see P. atypicalis.

Tree-runner mantid, Ciulfina sp, probably rentzi, nymph. During the day these mantids are found only on tree trunks, rarely on termite mounds in the rainforest. But after dark they often go abroad on adjacent vegetation to feed or possibly seek new habitats.

Tree-runner mantid, Ciulfina sp, probably rentzi, nymph. Same as above but during the day.

A Migratory Locust, Locusta migratoria. A vagrant and does not breed in the eastern tropics.

A last instar female Short-winged Spider Katydid Meiophisis likkaldin, a micropterous nocturnal predatory katydid. This individual must have overwintered as a nymph. It is about ready to become an adult.

An adult male Yungaburra Spider Katydid Paraphisis alumba. This individual probably overwintered as an adult.

An adult female Chopard's Spider Katydid Paraphisis chopardi. This individual also probably overwintered as an adult.

Purple-mouthed Emerald Emeraldagraecia munggarifrons female (Tettigoniidae; Conocephalinae; Agraeciini)

Purple-mouthed Emerald Emeraldagraecia munggarifrons female (Tettigoniidae; Conocephalinae; Agraeciini). Purple jaws and ventral surface of fastigium black are important identifying features.

A male Balsam Beast Anthophiloptera dryas, first of the season. Pollen and nectar-feeding katydids commonly attain adulthood during the winter when many trees and shrubs are in flower. This species seems to spend most of its time in the treetops.