Spring is Springing

 Remember to click on the photo to enlarge

With the warm weather approaching, some interesting things are to be seen in the rainforest after dark.

All of a sudden this fellow, a Boyd's Forest Dragon, has been appearing at the light sheet every so often, cleaning up the larger moths. Could this be the same dragon that used to sleep in the tree next to the light sheet all those years ago? See https://bunyipco.blogspot.com/search?q=forest+dragon

Male Hercules Moth, Coscinocera hercules, a common visitor to the light sheet in late spring. The moths come in the wee hours of the morning, not usually shortly after dark.

This katydid, Austrosalomona destructor, is spending the day on a ginger leaf. It is a nocturnal katydid that is an opportunist. It will feed on floral parts and any insects that is can subdue.

This moth is a member of the family Thyrididae, Oxycophina theorina, and has a distinctive stance.

A member of the family Uraniidae, this moth, Phazaca sp, appears to have torn wings. But they are just folded underneath. It is in perfect condition.

Doddiana callizona is name in honour of Dodds, the Butterfly man of Kuranda.

A member of the family Lymantriidae, Euproctis fimbriata. 

Geslasma orthodesma, one of the many greenish Geometridae.

Most Geometridae are rather drab, relying on their colour pattern to conceal them from predators as they rest during daytime. This one is Noreia vinocea.

Then there is Hypsidia erythropsalis, a member of the family Drepanidae-anything but dull.

Some moths do not look like moths. This is an Arctiidae, Manulea sp.

Pygospila tyres, family Crambidae, is a wonderful example of the family.

An unknown Geometridae.

The Two-spotted Silent Cricket, Unka boreena, like the bane suggests, is silent and produces no calling song. It wanders about on leaf surfaces after dark feeding on the particulate matter that falls out of the canopy.

A member of the family Pyralidae, this moth, Vitessa zemire, is quite spectacular. Note the white annulations on the antennaThis gives the impression that antennae are shorter than they really are. This provides the moth with an "early warning device" to compete with predators.

One of the many fulgoroid treehoppers that can often be found on the lightsheet.

There are probably more than 20 species of the beetle family Scarabaeidae that come to the light sheet.

Batocera longicornes are always a spectacular site when they are found in the rainforest.

A wonderful longicorne, Tricheops ephippiger.

A Flat Bark Beetle, family Cucujidae, Platiscus integricollis, lives under bark but emerges after dark to seek new habitats and mates.

The katydid, Caedicia kuranda, is present almost the year round in the Kuranda rainforests.

Lastly a small cockroach, Celatoblatta sp., with a gooey substance on its posterior segments. Originally thought to be a sexual attractant, it turns out that is acts as a deterrent to would-be predators like spiders and lizards. They get "all caught up" in the sticky goo and quickly earn to avoid these insects.