A Gecko Bites the Dust

It must be an evolutionary embarrassment for a vertebrate to meet its fate at the hands (or fangs) of an invertebrate. It happens often. Giant centipedes capture nesting birds and roosting bats; large spiders capture birds, lizards and even small snakes.

We have been watching a large Golden Orb-weaver (Nephila pilipes) just outside our bedroom window and discover this morning that it had somehow captured a fairly large gecko overnight. It is probably an Asian House Gecko as they are fairly common both inside and outside the house. But they don't venture far from human habitation.

The photos are not the best because of the precarious position of the spider, my age, and my wife! But look closely and you will see a male spider on the abdomen of the female as she tends to her prey.

 Note two males.

 The small spider is the male of the species--just waiting for his opportunity to mate

Look closely and you will see the head and eye of the prey.

A not-so-welcome resident

A mall Red-bellied Blacksnake has apparently taken up residence around the place. He probably is attracted by the multitude of baby skinks. So one must look down as you walk, especially in the morning sun.

There's More!

Quite a surprise to meet Mr Cassowary and his 2 bubs for the year. He was a bit over anxious and I could not get any premium shots. The two chick look very healthy.

Cassowary Returns

After about 3 month's absence, we looked into our driveway and found Mrs Cassowary standing there. A welcome sight!

Oh, those big feet!

More Moths from Kuranda, Queensland

Here are some local moths to cheer up your day. These were all photographed at the same place. It has been suggested that perhaps 4000 species of moths occur in the rainforests around Kuranda.

To get an idea of size, the holes on the light sheet are roughly 1 mm across.
All of these moths were photographed at the same locality and within the past 2 weeks.

Click on the photos to enlarge

My world as I see it!

Cosmogonia decorata 

Crocanthes characotis 

Eublemma anachoresis 

Eudocima ?cocalus male 

Pingasa blanda

Tirathaba rufivena

Delgamma pangonia 

Hypena gypsospila 

Pingasa chlora 

Theila siennata 

Spodoptera litura 

Aeolochroma turneri 

Amyna apicipuncta 

Anthela sp 

Asura monospila 

Chaetolopha pseudooxyntis 

Chrysochlororoma  megaloptera  

Cleora goldfinchi

Elusa semipecten

Eumelea sp 

Leucania yu

Pindara serratiliinea?

Phazaca mutans

Bulonga distans 

Cleora costiplaga 

Cosmostola pyrrhogona

Crambidae; Wurthinae

Heterallactis ?stenochrysa 

 Hypena gonospilalis 

Lacalma mniomima

Lamprophaia ablactalis

Glyphodes onychinalis

Megarosticha repetitalis 

Keeping a safe distance: Mocis frugalis

Pantydia sp Noctuidae 

 Glyphodes onychinalis

 Palpita sp 

Maceda mansueta

Phycitinae Pyralidae

 ?Lacera sp 

 ? Tigriodes

Heteroteucha dichroella

 Callimima lophoptera

Casbia fasciata

1. 
2.  Chamaita barnardi 

 Imma sp 

 Spodoptera mauritia 

 Paliga ignealis 

 Pachythrix hampsoni 

 Imma lyrifera Immidae 

 Hyposidra talaca Geometridae 

 Conogethes sp 

 Chorodna strixaria

Eudocima materna 

 Oecophoridae; genus ? 

Ubida sp

Moearchis hypomacra 

Tortricidae; genus ?

 Trigonodes hyppasia 

 Nygmia (Euproctis) actor 

 Naarda xanthonephra 

 Meliattha signfera

 Limacodidae 

Hydriollodes sp 

 Heterallactis stenochrysa

 Crocanthes sidonia 

 Catoria delectaria 

 Casera bella

Asota heliconia

 Trigonobela perfenestrata 

 Spodoptera exempla 

 Oeonisitis altica 

 Agathodes ostentalis 

 Eusabena paraphragma Crambidae

Playing possum; Nygmia (Euproctis) actor 

Tridrepana lunulata Drepanidae