Cattana Wetlands Night Walk 11 November 2023

Cattana Wetlands is a developing coastal rainforest north of Cairns, Queensland. It was once a sugarcane field but the Cattana family gifted the area to the Cairns Regional Council for natural replanting. Ponds were already present at the site and have been naturally populated by aquatic plants, fish, insects AND the odd crocodile.  Replanting of thousands of trees and shrubs has been undertaken largely by the volunteers of the Friends of the Cairns Botanic Gardens https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/experience-cairns/botanic-gardens.

It is remarkable to see the growth of trees and shrubs over a ten year period. The Friends have had a number of Night Walks and Moth Nights to stimulate interest. In addition, Bird Walks, Bat Nights and Fish Surveys have proved popular. An astronomical night is planned as some of the open areas and lack of ambient light seem perfect for star gazers. As with many tropical activities, the weather can be a problem.

Remember to click on the photos to enlarge

Green Lacewing, Chrysopidae

Glyphodes multilinealis, Crambidae

Oenospila flavifusata, Geometridae

Thalassodes pilaria, Geometridae

Asura sp, Arctiidae

                                              

  Haritalodes sp., Geometridae BR

Agrotera sp. Crambidae

                                       

Palpita sp., Crambidae

                     

Calolampa sp., Blaberidae, BR

Balta sp female on Lomandra flower spike, Ectobiidae

                                                 Balta sp female on Lomandra flower spike

Carbrunneria maxi, Ectobiidae

                                                           Carbrunneria maxi, Ectobiidae

Neomantis australis, Iridopterygidae

Xanthogryllacris punctipennis, Gryllacrididae, last instar male

Nunkeria sp., Gryllacrididae